#Prepared4PA

[bloomsburgu]

Biology intern gets hands-on herpetological experience

Alyssa Williams, a biology major focused on ecology, conservation and field biology, interned this summer at Refreshing Mountain’s Wildlife Center in Stevens. 

She cared for reptiles and amphibians at the facility and taught school groups about herpetology. As part of her internship, she practiced snake identification in the Pocono Mountains. She and her coworkers identified a total of 23 snakes including a copperhead and timber rattlesnake. 

In the photo, Alyssa holds a hog nose snake (who is playing dead!) 

[bloomsburgu]

Bank branch manager completes 17-year college journey with BASTL degree and 4.0 GPA

Alicia Frederick’s (Enola, Pa.) journey to college graduate began more than 17 years ago with baking and pastry art classes at a school in Rhode Island. The journey will reach a climax on Saturday when she walks across the stage at Bloomsburg University to receive a bachelor of applied science in technical leadership (BASTL) with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

In between the start and end of her journey, she became a wife, mother, and leader in the corporate world, working for 15 years in banking, including the last 12 as a branch manager. The opportunity to graduate from BU first started with Frederick going back to school at Harrisburg Area Community College (HAAC).  

“I started at HACC in 2006 when I was an assistant manager at a bank outside of the Harrisburg area,” said Frederick. “However, I stopped taking classes when I was promoted to branch manager and had a longer commute. Life got ahead of me, and I couldn’t make school a priority. Then in 2014, I took a new job closer to home at M&T Bank. My son was now in middle school, and I found that I could make school a priority again. It always bothered me that I hadn’t finished my degree although I spent more than two years in school.”

As a non-traditional student, Frederick juggled the typical problems of working all day and studying at night.

“You give up all of your ‘free’ time to focus on your education,” said Frederick. “Each semester, I carried 9-12 credits and worked through winter and summer semesters while at HACC and Bloomsburg to complete my degrees as quickly as possible. I graduated with a 3.87 at HACC and will graduate with a 4.0 at Bloomsburg. This means that every free night and weekend was spent on projects, papers, and discussion boards.”

“I also keep a busy schedule outside of my schoolwork,” Frederick added. “Depending on the time of year, I could also have up to three events in the evenings representing my employer. It was a challenge when trying to juggle all of those obligations and still get everything done. It was also challenging when I had group projects with traditional learners who wanted to meet during the day.”

Through all her challenges and headaches, did she never once regret putting herself through the process.

“Absolutely not,” said Frederick. “I knew that I had put so much time and effort into my schooling already; it would have been foolish not to finish.  At 17 years of age, I started at Johnson and Wales University for baking and pastry arts and became homesick rather quickly. As you can imagine, not many of those credits carried over to my associate’s degree. However, with the credits I earned at HACC in my early 20’s, I was closer to finishing up my degree when I returned in 2015. Although it took me almost 14 years start to finish, it was incredibly important for me to finish it. Originally I didn’t intend to get my bachelor’s, but the opportunity at BU was too good to pass up.”

At Bloomsburg, the BASTL program was a perfect fit for Frederick.

“Since I had such a mix of credits, my degree from HACC was in business studies,” said Frederick. “Most universities require a student to take additional classes to have an associate degree in business management before it allows you to transfer. Bloomsburg allowed me the opportunity to transfer my existing degree without requiring me to take anything further. Also, all of my credits from Johnson and Wales transferred over as my electives. When it was all said I done, I only needed to complete 43 credits at Bloomsburg and one additional elective to complete my degree.”

For Frederick, the questions become what will she do next, and where does she want to end up.

“As a branch manager for 12 years, the next logical step is to be a regional retail manager or a business banking relationship manager at M&T,” Frederick continued. “But, I would love to work as a community relations manager where I can interact and assist non-profits and be involved in event planning. Volunteering and planning are both passions of mine.”

Whatever Frederick ultimately ends up doing, one thing is guaranteed, she will have savored the journey to get there.

After consulting with employers who are looking for skilled managers, Bloomsburg University created its Bachelor of Applied Science in Technical Leadership program primarily for individuals with associate degrees who work and need flexibility.

The program accepts up to 60 associate degree credits, and half the BASTL classes are online, with the rest taught at Bloomsburg’s partner institutions: Bucks County Community College, Community College of Philadelphia, Harrisburg Area Community College, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Northampton Community College and Reading Area Community College, as well as at the State System of Higher Education campus in Center City Philadelphia.

[bloomsburgu]

PA’s first professional sales and marketing degree program ready to grow

Bloomsburg University has been granted approval by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in professional sales and marketing effective immediately, becoming the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania.

“There is a need within Pennsylvania that this program will address,” said Monica Favia, chair of the Department of Marketing and Professional Sales. “The addition of the major along with BU's membership in the University Sales Center Alliance represents a distinctive advantage for Bloomsburg University and its students. This fall the first three students will graduate with the major.”

Todd Shawver, dean of the Zeigler College of Business, feels the new major is going to be impactful. “The Professional Sales major is a unique and innovative program within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Shawver. “The program will have a big impact on regional, national, and global economies and will provide our students with boundless and lucrative career opportunities.”

Professional selling is one of the most common jobs for students graduating with a sales degree. Recent research suggests that 60 percent of all business majors and 88 percent of all marketing majors begin their professional careers in a sales-related role.

BU was first named among the top North American schools in 2015 by the Sales Education Foundation’s (SEF) listing of the best universities offering professional sales education. BU is one of only five Pennsylvania institutions included in the listing.

Favia said SEF recognizes institutions for elevating the sales profession through university education. “This recognition will help our students to secure professional sales positions,” she said.

Course requirements for the professional sales and marketing major and its minor are similar. Students also have the opportunity to test their skills at various national sales competitions and internally at the annual on-campus competition. In addition, one of the program requirements is to engage in real-world selling. BU sales students have had great success in the sales profession securing positions with a number of corporations.

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Helping Other Huskies After Finding Himself

Bob Braun's high school counselor recommended Bloomsburg State College because she thought he would be a good teacher. But the truth was that the '85 BU alum, and current Airmatic Sales Director, had no idea what he wanted to do or who he wanted to be. And he wouldn't for quite some time.

"Why she thought that I don't know," recalled Braun. "I wanted to get into business to make money, but doing what, I had no idea."

Even before it was called Bloomsburg University, the Business and Accounting programs on campus had a solid reputation. Braun enrolled and took the advice of his orientation leaders to get involved.  He was accepted as an RA his sophomore year, joined a fraternity in his junior year, and largely credits these and other campus experiences for helping him grow into a confident adult. Still, something seemed to be missing.

"I found myself at Bloomsburg," explained Braun. "I can remember being so happy that a lifelong dream had come true [at graduation], but what am I going to do now? I felt prepared but empty."

Braun found his first position as a merchandise manager trainee through an ad in the classifieds with the toy retail giant, Toys R Us. For those who remember Christmas of 1985, Braun had the historic experience of maintaining and protecting the store's inventory of Cabbage Patch dolls.

"It was a circus," laughed Braun. "It was like we were guarding piles of gold at Fort Knox."

Braun gained valuable experience from the position but said the idea of working holidays and weekends became less appealing. He moved on as a systems representative for ABC Payroll, an early precursor to ADP, where he used computer code parameters and subroutines to create a payroll system for clients. His path forked again when he met the woman who is now his wife and was assigned the payroll contract for Iron Workers Union Local 401. Braun was familiar with the organization through his family history and felt compelled to leave the business world and serve an apprenticeship to become a journeyman ironworker.

"I had always been awestruck by the dangerous and difficult nature of ironworking," explained Braun. "My father, grandfather, and uncles had all been ironworkers."

A work injury six years later forced Braun to rethink his career again. After recovering from a severe back injury, he returned to his Business degree as an entry-level salesperson at Airmatic, a small industrial distribution company in Philadelphia.

"As I learned the industry, I had to catch up for lost time," explained Braun. "I had this degree from Bloomsburg, but I had lost that trail."

 Even as he gained experience and life became more manageable, Braun still had that empty feeling. He became reacquainted with his alma mater after helping a student in his fraternity obtain an internship at Airmatic. That student became a permanent hire after graduation, and Braun has hosted three more Husky interns since that time. He has since become more involved on campus through the ZIPD Conference, Husky Student Leadership Summit, virtual alumni panels, sales and marketing advisory board and the BU Professional Sales Competition.  

"A mentor told me at Airmatic that volunteering gets you out of your comfort zone," recalled Braun. "It's like therapy when you're volunteering and trying to help others do well."

Braun says that he's never had a bad experience in his efforts to help current students on their career journey. In fact, he says volunteering has alleviated the emptiness he once felt. Now, Braun stresses to students the importance of taking advantage of alumni interactions and connections that he wishes he had when he was a student.  He helps students evaluate what they know, what they enjoy, the different things they can do, and the fact that all alumni were once where they are now.

"This is just a step in the process of where they want to go and do, and they can be anything they want," explained Braun. "I'm living proof of that."

 Living proof that while events that seem like detours are really ways of growing toward the kind of person one wants to be.

"I just like being back and helping people," said Braun. "Volunteering makes me feel good. Hiring Huskies makes me feel good. I am learning and growing and living the life of the person I always wanted to be but never thought I could."

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Kreischer Miller Recruiting Continues despite COVID.

Kreischer Miller is a regional public accounting firm of about 200 employees based in Horsham, PA that employs Bloomsburg University alums at every level of the organization.The firm has recruited at BU for over 30 years and has continued despite the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In fact, one responsibility for Kreischer Miller HR Coordinator, Alyssa George, is to lead an internal BU recruiting team made up exclusively of BU alumni. They are regularly on campus for events like the Career Connections Expo and the Zeigler Institute of Professional Development (ZIPD) Conference. They also give class presentations, work with student professional organizations, and routinely recruit BU students for their summer leadership program,The KM Experience. They have even created an open house for first and second-year students to experience networking in a more casual setting.

"BU alums are always happy to go back and connect with students, and it's nice for students to meet someone who was once in their shoes," said George. "In public accounting, there's a lot of competition for good accountants, and we love Bloomsburg – it will always be one of our top target schools."

This spring, of course, has required a few adjustments to how the firm meets potential employees because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kreischer Miller responded to the pandemic by finding ways to connect virtually and worked with the Department of Alumni and Professional Engagement at BU to record a webinar on virtual interviewing.

"I definitely miss student interaction from being on campus, but we are still finding ways to connect and answer questions they have about KM," said George. "Bloom has done an excellent job to assist employers in the COVID-19 environment.”

That level of recruiting enthusiasm draws from a long relationship that speaks to the quality of graduates from Bloomsburg University and its faculty.

"We trust the accounting program at Bloom and have a great relationship with the faculty," said George. "We know the quality of the hire when it's a Bloom student. When we hire entry-level, we look for students who have soft skills and are involved and well rounded."

Not only do BU grads make a good impression while employed with Kreischer Miller, but they also thrive. George says she sees quite a few similarities between the university and the firm, including what she deems its "perfect size" and personal touch. Since Kreischer Miller serves privately held companies, accountants have the opportunity to work with a variety of clients and industries before choosing to specialize in areas of personal interest. George says that the firm invests in helping employees build fulfilling professional lives and fosters a sense of community with team-building events and activities.  

"I always ask students to reflect on why they chose Bloomsburg because our cultures are very similar," said George. "We are small enough that you're not just a number and large enough to be competitive.  At Kreischer Miller, our employees are a valued team member from day one."

"We don't expect them to know where they want to specialize, so we expose them to a variety of clients from investments to manufacturing to realty," continued George. "If you can build your career, you will truly love what you do, and we give them that opportunity. KM is truly a great place to work."

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Husky Helps Keep Pennsylvanians Afloat

Our Huskies on the frontline in healthcare are making us proud every day, but they are not the only ones providing essential service during these uncertain times.

Susan Dickinson ’02 is the Director of the Office of Unemployment Compensations Benefits Policy and is leading her team in their efforts to assist more than 1.6 million Pennsylvanians who find themselves without a job during these uncertain times.

“I have been working on a project for almost two years now to modernize our system which is currently very paper-oriented, we are scheduled to move to the new system in October,” Dickinson says.

Dickinson went from working on a steady, methodical plan to transition from a paper-heavy system to helping her team adjust to processing an unprecedented number of claims online overnight. Prior to the COVID 19 pandemic, the record number of claims the office had seen in one week was 62,000. After the first week of the stay at home order, Dickinson’s office had received 378,900 claims and an average of nearly 270,000 claims each week since March 15.

“I had moved away from working directly with customers for the most part,” Dickinson says, “But when this all started, we knew it would have to be all hands on deck. It was really great to see how everybody stepped up and volunteered to man the phones and provide the service these people needed.”

The extensive efforts were truly all-inclusive. Dickinson and her team including the IT staff at the PA Unemployment Office converted the entire team to be able to work from home and to process claims remotely. This included recruiting many staff members who didn’t typically do this sort of work and even calling some recently retired state employees back into service.

One of those recently retired staff members was Susan’s 76-year-old mother, Joanne, who worked in the unemployment office herself for many years and recruited her daughter to come work for the commonwealth back in 2006.

As a business management major and marketing minor, Dickinson never saw herself following in her mother’s footsteps after she graduated, but now she finds a great sense of purpose in what she does to help make a difference in people’s lives when they need it most.

“I was working on a way to implement modern concepts to help make things better for our customers before all this started,” Dickinson adds. “This forced us to adapt to that quicker than we expected. We’ve been working every minute to help people, and that feels pretty good.”

[bloomuengaged]

BU Grads a “Great Fit” at WebFX

WebFX, a full-service digital marketing agency in Harrisburg, has a significant presence of Bloomsburg University alumni as its employees. As this emerging industry leader continues to build its relationship with the B.U., expect that number to grow.

“We have a large pocket of B.U. alums and they are the ultimate team players," Says Emily Livingston, Talent Acquisition Specialist for WebFX. "They work hard, are incredibly bright and motivated, and are fantastic people; really the best of the best. They sum up everything we look for and are a great fit."

Livingston says it was Bloomsburg University's enthusiastic participation with WebFX that has led to such a strong partnership. The company has a presence with colleges and universities across the Mid-Atlantic region and is a "frequent flyer" on the Bloomsburg University campus, providing both classroom speakers and attending Career Connections Expos throughout the academic year. Livingston notes that even at their highly attended open house events, B.U. students regularly set themselves apart.

"My experiences with them have been out of this world," said Livingston. "They are curious, responsive, ask great questions, and want to connect with team members, and that is fantastic. Some of the most thoughtful follow-up messages I've ever received have come from B.U. students, and we take notice."

Livingston credits the B.U. faculty and staff for the strong student participation and preparedness.   

"We have noticed so much commitment and involvement from the Bloomsburg faculty and staff. It's obvious they are on the students' side and want them to have jobs they will enjoy. They've gone to bat for us by pointing them in our direction, and we love that."

What should be especially attractive to new grads is that WebFX promotes from within, hiring almost exclusively at entry-level and training each new hire in the skill set required. From there, Livingston says that the company allows each employee their path of professional discovery.

"We don't expect you to be an expert, and we don't micromanage," explained Livingston. We aren't afraid to train those with potential; we want them to make mistakes and keep learning and growing."  

That model has allowed the company to grow 250 percent in the last five years and earn the designation of Best Place to Work in PA. WebFX is currently hiring 2020 grads, and Livingston says those from B.U. should not be afraid to apply, even if their major isn't a match for the technical skills associated with a marketing firm.

"We are looking for those coming up college grads who are green and excited to jump in but may not have the tech skills," explained Livingston "Go for it. Give us what you got - we want to see more of everybody and anybody that is connected to B.U."

"A lot of students feel they have to move to these huge cities for careers in marketing," concluded Livingston. "The sky is the limit – You set those big goals and we are dedicated to helping you get there."

[bloomsburgu]

Bloomsburg University nursing program ranked ninth in PA

RegisteredNursing.org, a nursing advocacy organization, has ranked Bloomsburg University’s nursing program ninth in the state.

Nursing programs were assessed on several factors that represent how well a program supports students towards licensure and beyond. The group also analyzed past and present first time NCLEX-RN “pass-rates” — weighted by year. BU’s NCLEX-RN rate was 96.69.

The NCLEX-RN exam is used by all state boards of nursing across the United States to help assess a student’s competency and is required for licensure. Many state boards of nursing use the total overall NCLEX-RN pass rates for a school as one of the main ways to approve a school’s ability to provide a nursing education in the state. It is why the NCLEX-RN pass rates are one of the best ways to determine a nursing program’s student preparedness.

Bloomsburg University offers multiple quality nursing degree programs, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Bloomsburg also offers RN to BSN and RN to BSN to MSN programs, which allow registered nurses to obtain the BSN and MSN online in a condensed timeframe.

[bloomuengaged]

At Clark Associates, Husky Grit Contributes to Employee and Community Development

Clark Associates has supported the U.S. food service industry for nearly a  half-century by providing equipment, supplies, and the kind of first-rate service found only from a company that has a solid commitment to community and employee development.  

Executive Director- Randall McCarty has seen the number of Bloomsburg University alumni working for Clark Associates increase during his five-year tenure. Clark Associates initially connected with B.U. through their charitable foundation via the Zeigler College of Business, but the relationship strengthened through campus recruiting, volunteerism, and event sponsorships for the Career Intensive Boot Camp and the Zeigler Institute of Professional Development. Clark Associate employees, especially those who are B.U. grads, support the professional development of students by engaging in mock interviews, reviewing resumes, and speaking in classrooms.

“It’s always a benefit to help students see what life post-college is going to look like,” said McCarty. Giving them insights into what employers look for in employees will help them find that first position.��

One company insight B.U. grads can expect is that Clark Associates routinely seeks people who are highly motivated, collaborative, and willing to work hard. McCarty relays that B.U. students tend to be different than other schools where his company recruits.

“We don’t find that B.U. students come to us with the sense of entitlement some others do,” McCarty explained. “We value hard work and willingness to start at the bottom, and we find that the school embraces those skills as well. Work ethic and honesty are a hallmark of B.U. students, and it’s been a very good fit.”  

McCarty explained that to provide the best service to the industry, the company must maintain an environment where people build their career, then stay for its entirety. “For Clark Associates to make such a commitment possible, we provide not only popular physical amenities such as gyms, child care centers, and dog-friendly offices but a professionally supportive culture that helps each associate find where they thrive and grow best as a person and professional,’McCarty continued

McCarty compares the process to first filling a bus with the best people, then finding them the right seats and the right driver.  

“Each path is as unique as each employee. This company is looking for good people who want to create a better life for themselves, who work hard and exhibit ethical behavior. We don’t care how old you are or what your major was, just the skills and interests you have so we can bring them together.”

Now, with their new distribution center in Bloomsburg, Clark Associates will be looking to employ 300-400 people and strengthen their relationship with the town and surrounding areas, as well as the university.  

“We want to integrate ourselves into the community, not only by providing jobs but also support for local nonprofits and the university,” concluded McCarty “It’s all part of what we do.”

[bloomuengaged]

Part of the Village

Enterprise Holding Company continues their decades long partnership with Bloomsburg University through the Professional U initiative.

There is a well-known cliché that "it takes a village" to raise a child, but it also takes a village to groom a college student into a confident professional. And while the university environment alone does much to foster independence and academic understanding, a key piece in student success after graduation is professionalism. Industry partners, like that of Enterprise Holdings, play a crucial role in that success.

The partnership between Enterprise Holdings and Bloomsburg University may be several decades old, but has strengthened in recent years, according to Elizabeth Brindley, Talent Acquisition Specialist for Enterprise Holdings. She stresses that the goal for Enterprise isn't just to recruit grads to the company, but rather to live up to the company's founding values and become involved in university programs that promote professionalism.

"There is a lot of opportunity to partner," explained Brindley. "We want to be in places that match our values and encourage their students to things that are important to them. B.U. checks all the boxes."

By "boxes," Brindley is referring to the ways B.U. weaves career experiences and professional development into the student experience; from the first day they set foot on campus to the day, they leave as alumni. The initiative is called Professional U and gives B.U. grads a unique ability to succeed in the "promote from within" environment that Enterprise offers. That type of dedication to employee development has made the company an attractive option to B.U. grads. In fact, Enterprise Holdings has hired thirteen full-time B.U. grads and five interns in the past three years alone in various roles across the company.

"Everyone learns how to be successful from the ground up," said Brindley. "B.U. students are very well prepared, and we see them continually be top performers. When we talk with them at campus events, they are ambitious. They have lofty goals, and that matches our 'promote from within' mentality."

Professional U events, such as the Career Intensive Boot Camp and ZIPD Conference, as well as Career Connections Expos and campus workshops, offer students the chance to connect with industry professionals like Brindley. She notes that the students who seize the opportunities become easily recognizable to recruiters.

"I tend to see a lot of the same students throughout the school year, and I get to know them," explained Brindley. "That tells me they see the value and take it seriously, and they know that hard work is required. B.U. students know that it’s important to be there, which sets them apart ."

 These events, however, require the investment of partners like Enterprise to be successful. Brindley regularly volunteers at several Professional U events where she can impart her knowledge and experience to help guide students on their path to becoming a professional.

"When I'm able to give my knowledge and best practices of the industry, then we can be a true business partner," said Brindley. "These events are a great opportunity to connect with students and impart some knowledge that they'll be able to take on their career search. It's important to give back, both personally and on behalf of Enterprise."

 "It's about the people doing business with us and if you do right by those people you will be successful," added Brindley "For our employees, it means providing training and development to further their career, for students it's about providing ways to apply what they learn in the classroom. B.U. is a great business partner all the way around."

[bloomsburgu]

Actuary internship leads to job offer for math major

Eric Zalewski said he drawn to Cincinnati Insurance due to its company size and the fact it was on the property and casualty side of insurance.

“The side I was more interested in,” Zalewski said.

Zaleski left a lasting impression, developing a model for which the company continues to use to this day.

“A lot of models use price of a policy as the main input,” Zalewski said. “For a model to be 100% verified in its reporting methods, one would have to know every single price change that occurred in the last five to ten years, depending on how far back the model is being extended.”

This isn’t practical, according to Zalewski, since it happens quite frequently in the underwriting process and sales.

“My model using a different input called exposure,” Zalewski said. “Exposure can be thought of as somethings ‘risk rating.’ Exposure overall is much less volatile then price, and this creates a more stable model.”

In turn, Cincinnati Insurance left a lasting impression on him.

“It was great to be in a professional environment surrounded by other actuaries,” Zaleski said. “Everybody was extremely kind and helpful, and it made going to work a joy. Outside of that, the company is rather smart in their use of interns. “

Zalewski said he especially liked the fact Cincinnati Insurance had the interns involved in important tasks — experimental work or projects that were really good ideas but ended up getting buried under normal workload.

“So, it was always awesome to see my boss or another intern’s boss be extremely happy and thankful when something comes to fruition,” Zalewski said. “… or a project that’s overdue on a to-do list is finally checked off.”

“I can’t say enough good things about our math department,” said Zalewski, adding that John Polhill, professor of mathematical and digital sciences, initially introduced him to the field and Kevin Ferland, professor of mathematical and digital sciences, then pushed him in the right direction. “The classes are rigorous and have taught me all of the math-based skills I need to succeed. I’m very happy I’m a pure math and stats major (rather than) someplace else where I could be an actuarial science major.

“Math and stat programs require a lot more in advanced mathematics and computer coding, while actuarial science programs substitute some of these classes with insurance and business classes,” said Zalewski, who’s on pace to complete three actuary exams before he graduates. “I was actually put on projects this summer due to my experience in SAS and SQL (both classes taught by Dong Zhang, associate professor of mathematical and digital sciences). I noticed that it’s much easier in both the work environment and on the actuarial exams to teach yourself the business and insurance definitions than it is teach yourself the math theory.”

[bloomsburgu]

The sound of success

Enrique Josephs was cooling his jets at LAX waiting for a flight. A call came in on his cell from his agent. A quick trip to the men’s room where he opened up a suitcase on a changing table to reveal his mobile recording studio. Ten minutes later ... mission accomplished. Spot recorded and delivered to the client.

For a voice-over artist, working in strange locations at all hours of the day and night is part of the business. It’s a career that Josephs, better known to his friends as EJ, never even knew existed if not for a chance meeting at a summer event on campus.

It’s already been a meteoric journey for the 26-year old with many big dreams still in his future. Among his credits is work for NFL Films, the History Channel, MLB Network, ESPN and the Emmy-nominated Harry Connick Jr. television show. Along the way though, there were lots of twists and turns and a bit of luck.

Josephs was a highly-recruited football offensive lineman from West Chester. One of his high school teachers, John Adams, the father of a former BU football player Stefan Adams, suggested he give BU a serious look for both its football team and its strong mass communications program.

“The late Mr. Adams really influenced me to attend BU,” said Josephs. “I loved playing football and had dreams of becoming a news anchor. He thought Bloomsburg University would be good for me with both a strong football team and mass communications department.”

“My early goal was to be a news anchor,” said Josephs. Those dreams of being an on-camera celebrity soon changed. “I realized I liked being behind the scenes as an editor or on the radio more. I could let my personality come through without being worried about the camera.”

After his football career ended due to injury, fate would intervene for EJ when former teammate Franklyn Quiteh recommended his friend to the BU athletic department for a job as a PA announcer at the school’s home games. Once the staff heard him on the microphone, Josephs was quickly hired.

“Working as a PA announcer taught me how to make adjustments on the fly in a stressful situation,” EJ continued. “Initially I was fearful of what people would think of my voice, but I grew into enjoying the interaction I had with the fans as well as still being part of a sport without actually playing.”

In the mass comm department, EJ was actively involved in many areas. “I started volunteering more for projects the mass comm department was working on with Jason Genovese, now chair of the department, and Mike DiGiorgio (former assistant in the IT area),” Josephs added.

“EJ always had the talent, the golden pipes, but you need more than that, and he knew it,” said Genovese. “He had a work ethic that has already carried him to great heights in the television industry and will continue to do so.”

“As a senior I attended the first Confer Radio Institute held at BU,” said Josephs. “I met Pat Garrett one of the top voice-over guys. I never knew doing that kind of work could be a career. Pat let us use his equipment to record demos and also told us to keep working and not give up. It was great advice that I never forgot.”

But a journey from ‘keep working hard kid’ to NFL Films doesn’t just happen. Along with skill, EJ needed some luck and a few breaks.

By day Josephs was working as a video instructor at the Glen Mills school for troubled youth. By night he was interning for an independent baseball team, the Camden River Sharks, learning as much as he could and getting tips from the public address announcer Kevin Casey, now the voice of the Philadelphia Union professional soccer team.

On a career day at Glen Mills, an engineer from NFL Films was on site. A co-worker of EJ’s introduced him to the engineer. After a brief conversation, EJ was asked to send in a demo.

“I scrambled that night at home to put something together and quickly sent it in,” Josephs continued. “The company surprised me by calling me in for an interview. It went so well, a few months later I was offered a job as a production assistant, ironically just a few days after landing a full-time position with the school.” (He quickly quit his job at the school.)

EJ’s big break came just months later when he was tabbed to be the voice of the post-game spot announcing the opportunity to purchase gear and a highlight DVD of the Super Bowl. Later he worked

on a highlight film of the Super Bowl becoming the first seasonal production assistant hired for that role.

“I had to sleep at NFL films multiple nights to meet the deadline,” said Josephs. “The same producers who recorded his demo gave him a shot to do the narration on the Super Bowl 50 highlights. It was huge. They loved it.”

Later that year EJ caught another big break and landed a spot as the voice of the NFL’s Top 100 when the original voice of the show was arrested. “I was working with the show’s Emmy Award-winning producer doing some training. After the original voice-over artist was dropped, the producer hired me to be the new voice that year. We had to re-record two episodes which had aired already and now I am one of three regular voices of the program.”

Most recently Josephs did the narration for the History Channel’s summer show “Evel Live,” which was the most-watched live show outside of a sporting event on television in 2018 with more than 3.5 million viewers.

“The production company for the show, Nitro Circus, had heard some of my work and asked me to audition,” Josephs said. “A short time after sending in my audition, my agent called me to tell me I got the job.” Of course, that day was also his first day of vacation in Virginia.

“I had to call a friend, who called someone he knew, and I landed time in a studio. In all, it took about two hours to record all the narration so I didn’t lose too much of my vacation.”

While the profession may seem simple to an outsider, just like an athlete, EJ has to train, practice and of course take care of his most valuable asset…his voice.

“Each week I work with a voice coach because it’s easy to strain the vocal chords if you’re not careful,” said Josephs. “Recently, I went to a concert, but couldn’t scream. I also drink a lot of water, tea with honey, and eat lots of apples. I’ve also stopped drinking milk because lactate creates too much mucus. And, my girlfriend’s grandmother put me on to echinacea and I haven’t been sick in more than three years (knock on wood),” said Josephs laughing.

“Originally I was very hard on myself and would critique all my work,” Josephs continued. “I don’t do it as much now. Now I’m just interested in making sure my clients are happy with my work.”

So what’s next for the guy who originally was hoping to be a news anchor?

“It’s been an amazing few years for me, but I do not want to be complacent,” said Josephs. “I see my future in promos, commercials and narrations. It would be great to be able to do a long-term series for Nat Geo or the Discovery Channel. I’d love to be synonymous with one show.”

“Ultimately, the Olympics for voice-over artists are movie trailers. Right now two guys have most of the work in this area. I’m not rushing things; I’ve still got a lot to learn about the industry. But movie trailers is where I hope to one day land.”

Despite his growing status in the voice-over world, EJ still finds time to give back. “I’m mentoring three young men at my church in the voice-over business and recently spent an hour on the phone with an intern from NFL Films answering her questions. “For me, it’s about helping others on their journey,” said Josephs. “I learned a lot by trial and error. My goal is to help others achieve their dreams.”

Dreams. We all have them. For some, the dreams don’t always come true. For others, like EJ, each day is a dream come true and more exciting than the last. Where that dream takes him, only time and his voice will say.

[bloomsburgu]

Criminal justice program ranked seventh in the state

Bloomsburg University’s criminal justice program is ranked seventh in Pennsylvania by Zippia, a job-/career-seeking website — up from 10th a year ago.

Zippia’s looked at the data on the institutions of higher learning in Pennsylvania to determine which programs offer the best career opportunities for criminal justice majors.

The website looked at the following data from the NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) and College Scorecard data from ED.gov to understand what Criminal Justice programs offer the best career opportunities:

Career Results

Criminal Justice Emphasis

Percentage of Graduating Class that are Criminal Justice Majors

Admissions Rate (More selective the better)

Graduation Rate

Average Cost Of Attendance (Lower is better)

Median amount of debt

School Performance

Mean Earnings after 6 Years

Mean Earnings after 10 Years

Ratio of people working to not working after 10 years

BU was the only Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education institution in the top 10.

[bloomsburgu]

Communication sciences and disorders program ranked third in PA

Bloomsburg University's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is ranked third in Pennsylvania by Zippia, a job-/career-seeking website — up one spot from the previous year’s ranking. 

Zippia’s rankings take into account data on the quality of the communication disorders sciences program and how students perform after college, among other criteria, when determining the ranking. This is the third year the website has ranked programs.

The website looked at the following data from the NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) and College Scorecard data from ED.gov to gauge which Communication Disorders Sciences departments offer the best career opportunities using the criteria below:

Career Results

Mean earnings after 6 years

Mean earnings after 10 years

Ratio of people working to not working after 10 years

Communication Disorders Sciences Emphasis

Percentage of graduating class that are communication disorders sciences majors (larger the better)

School performance

Admissions rate (more selective the better)

Graduation rate

Average cost Of attendance (lower is better)

Median amount of debt

[bloomsburgu]

College Student Affairs program showcases research

Fourteen alumni and faculty of Bloomsburg University's College Student Affairs graduate program attended the annual conference of the Mid Atlantic Association of College and University Housing Officers in Atlantic City, NJ. 

Denise Davidson and Mark Bauman implemented several presentations, including “Take a Leap: Choosing a Graduate Program in Student Affairs?,” “Is it Time to Eliminate Group Process?,” and “Writing for Publication.”

Mark Bauman

Denise Davidson

Pooja Daya

Jestina Drysdale

Stacey Green

Terrence Haynes

Olivia Naugle Libby

Aaron Lichtenwalter

Thomas Mannion

Sandra Misseri

Joanne Powser

Kendell Rousseau

Becky Shortes Ream

Alex Werenberg

[bloomsburgu]

Never too early to intern

Connor Mart was ahead of the game when hunting for an internship, seeking out an opportunity his sophomore year at Bloomsburg University rather than waiting until his senior year. And in the process, he made history.

This fall the international business major is interning at the Northern Columbia Community and Cultural Center (N4Cs) in Benton. He happens to be the nonprofit organization’s first-ever intern.

“I’ve learned how a nonprofit organization operates and how much hard work it takes to run a nonprofit service,” Mart said. “I’m also learning a lot about marketing in general and how to use social media to enhance it.”

Connor found the internship opportunity through Lisa Olander, student engagement coordinator with the Office of Alumni and Professional Engagement — which consults, educates and collaborates with the BU campus community, alumni and organizational partners to develop students into professionally competent alumni in support of lifelong engagement.

“Lisa actually told me how early I’m doing an internship in my college career will benefit me a lot,” Mart said. “I wanted to see what the real-life workforce was like. This internship has helped me figure out what direct line of work I want to do after my time here at Bloomsburg."

For him, N4Cs was great fit since it was looking for a business intern, specifically marketing. The center provides activities, classes, and various events throughout the year for the small local community, just north of Bloomsburg. Among its popular activities include hosting a rotating art exhibit for local artists throughout the year, various health and wellness programs such as yoga, sit n’ fit and after school youth programs.

“A normal day in the office consists of coming up with new ideas for events and programs,” said Mart, adding he took over the center’s Facebook page and recently expand its social media presence with a new Instagram account. “I’m helping out with anything that deals with marketing and advertising.”

His biggest assignment: the center’s Fall Fundraiser Gala on Saturday, Oct. 26.

The gala is the center’s its largest fundraising event of the year. Mart is doing his part by promoting it on social media. Among the featured offerings, he said, include a catered dinner by the Old Filling Station and live entertainment. 

"Overall, this internship is a great way to get your feet in the water,” Mart said. “I can honestly say it’s been very fun."

For more details about the Gala or about future internship opportunities contact manager@n4cs.org.

  — Samantha Bergan, mass communications major