Hello, SRU!

Katie Leckenby, SRU assistant professor of special education, and William Davies, founder and director of the Allegheny Health Network’s Chill Project, stop by to talk about how their partnership in which pre-service teachers in SRU’s education program are acquiring skills to implement mindfulness-based exercises for students in their schools.

Teresa Glasgow, ’10, assistant director of annual giving and donor communication, talks about SRU’s annual Giving Day fundraising event, which is March 26, and how donations support student success. You can give online during Giving Day at givingday.sru.edu or anytime at srufoundation.org/give. 

Cameron Constantine, an SRU senior mechanical engineering major, discusses “living” in the Vincent Science Center, building a racecar with a new racing club at SRU, and helping manage SRU’s 3-D Printing Lab.

Alexes Gomez, an SRU senior social work major, talks about the importance of recognizing indigenous peoples, the University’s land acknowledgment statement and the First Nations Club.

The first episode of a new season of the “Hello, SRU” podcast is with the University’s new president, Karen Riley. President Riley talks about her first impressions of SRU, her goals for the University and what it’s like being at the top of The Rock.

Cierra Mitchell, an SRU senior political science major, talks about being the newest member of the University’s council of trustees. The 12-member governing body of the institution has a seat designated for a student that Mitchell now occupies.

Austin Schoppe, ’23, who, for most of his time as an SRU student, lived a secret life as Rocky, the University’s mascot. Now, he’s able to talk about what it was it like to wear the suit, develop the personality of a cartoonish lion, and follow the mascot code.

Jenny Senko, ’12, an SRU alumna and the University’s new coordinator of blind services, talks about how SRU assists its students who have visual impairments. 

David Skeele, SRU professor of theatre, reflects on his 30-year career at The Rock on the occasion of his upcoming retirement. He’s directed more than 50 SRU productions, and as a playwright his work has been performed on stages from Scotland to Nigeria.

HELICOPTER PARENTS John Rindy, SRU assistant vice president for career and academic progress, discusses the article he wrote for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about “helicopter parents,” and how they can influence the success (or failure) of college students.

Anthony Jones, SRU’s new chief diversity officer, talks about his career journey, explains the purpose of DEIB programming, and talks about the importance of having a diverse campus community at The Rock.

SRU student Sgt. David Duffey recounts his story about rescuing a driver of a crashed tractor tracker on the Pennsylvania Turnpike seconds before the truck exploded.

SRU student and professional bladesmith Eric Finch shares how he won $10,000 as a contestant on the TV show “Forged In Fire.”

Courtney Gramlich, ’00, manager of Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, describes the community impact of therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities offered at SRU’s state-of-the-art, on-campus facility.

Dave Wolfe, a 2013 SRU graduate with degrees in sport management and communication, talks about his job as corporate partnership sales manager for the Orlando City SC Major League Soccer club and the network of Rock alumni working in the Sunshine State.

Victoria Lightfoot, '10, '14M, shares how she was surprised at her school with a $25,000 check for winning the Milken Educator Award, as well as her journey from doubting college to being among the nation’s top educators.

Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Kathy Contres, who is a 1977 SRU alumna, talks about her recent trip to Washington, D.C., as part of the first-ever, all-women veterans honor flight. 

Abby Thomas, a senior and president of the Debate Society at SRU, joins us to discuss how debate tournaments work, including the recent NEDA nationals hosted at The Rock. As the winner of the speaker award at nationals, Thomas might debate Jeremy and Nick on today's important issues, such as: Is a hot dog a sandwich?

With graduation upon us, Renee Coyne, from SRU’s Center for Career and Academic Progress, shares how SRU helps students design their lives and figure out who they want to be.

SRU history professor and St. Louis native, Melissa Ford, talks about her upcoming book, “A Brick and a Bible,” which is about Black working-class women in the Midwest before the civil rights movement, and she discusses current race issues, regional differences, and a little improv, among other topics.

No, this is not a rerun episode of the podcast but instead a conversation about the archives and special collections at SRU’s Bailey Library with Judy Silva, associate professor, librarian and archivist.

Patrick McGinty, SRU instructor of English, steers a conversation about autonomous vehicles, aka driverless cars. As author of a soon-to-be-released novel, titled “Test Drive,” that is centered around the AV industry, McGinty’s become an astute and sought-after observer of the driverless car sector and he has taught seminar classes at SRU on the topic.

SRU alumnus Jordan Grady, ’15, ’16M, checks in to talk about his role as executive director of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce and how he’s partnering with SRU communication students to create videos to promote Butler County businesses and help them recruit employees.

Roxanne Dunn, a 2020 SRU graduate and former pole vaulter, was paralyzed following a car accident just months after graduating. Find out how her rehab and recovery are going and how she remains positive – and realistic – about her life’s circumstances. Also, follow her journey on Instagram (@nicole.roxanne_) and TikTok (@nicole.rox).

Retired FBI agent and SRU alumnus John Ligato, '71, '74M, talks about going undercover with the Italian mafia, authoring five books, creating the state’s first group home, and earning three Purple Hearts after being wounded in combat during the Vietnam War. Not bad for someone who was once expelled from campus only to become one of SRU’s 2021 Distinguished Alumni.