Wilson College and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania are proud to announce a new 4+2 Enrollment Articulation Agreement designed to streamline the academic pathway for students pursuing careers in occupational therapy. This partnership reflects both institutions’ commitment to preparing future healthcare professionals through collaborative and innovative educational opportunities.
Under the newly established “Bachelor’s + 2 OTD” pathway, students will complete a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at Shippensburg University before matriculating into the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program at Wilson College. Shippensburg University will confer the baccalaureate degree prior to students entering the Wilson College OTD program. Importantly, no coursework is shared between the institutions, ensuring clear and distinct academic progression.
“This agreement helps address the growing demand for occupational therapy professionals by creating a clear, efficient pathway for students,” said Michael Gerg, DOT, MS, OTR/L, CHT, associate professor and program director of the Wilson College Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program. “Together, we’re preparing graduates who are ready to meet critical healthcare needs in our communities.”
As part of this agreement, Wilson College will reserve up to two seats per cohort for qualified Shippensburg University students who meet all admissions criteria. This initiative not only enhances access to advanced clinical education but also supports the growing demand for skilled occupational therapy practitioners.
"We are thrilled to partner with Wilson College on addressing the regional demand for occupational therapists,” said Sam Forlenza, Ph.D., acting dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Shippensburg University. “This agreement provides a clear pathway for students and allows them to earn both an undergraduate degree and doctoral degree in only six years. This positions our students to reach their career goals faster and become leaders in the field and their communities."
Shippensburg University will begin pre-screening interested students as early as the spring of their junior year. To be considered for admission into the Wilson College OTD program, applicants from Shippensburg University must earn a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Shippensburg University and meet all Wilson College OTD admission requirements.
This articulation agreement marks a significant step forward in fostering academic excellence and professional readiness in the field of occupational therapy.
By Shelby Bowman '26
On Halloween, Brittany Harman, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, tasked the students in her biopsychology class with creating zombie-themed menus featuring various parts of the brain. Some menus included spooky starters like Spicy Amygdala Dip and Cerebellum Salad with eyeball croutons, along with eerie entrees like Frontal Lobe Fillet.
This activity was just one of the many Harmon designed to make complex content more engaging and memorable.
“When you’re learning about various areas of the brain, or structures of neurons and how they communicate with each other, that can get really tedious and really boring very quickly,” said Harmon.
These hands-on activities make the class more interactive. Other activities include mapping the flow of information from the eyes to the brain, and crafting neurons from modeling putty. “I had them design trading cards of neurotransmitters, and they had a lot of fun with it,” Harmon added. “I noticed that some students did really well on that part of the test.”
“Even though biopsychology seems like a hard class, it’s probably my easiest class this semester because of how Professor Harmon teaches,” said Arianna Winlack ’27. “I really enjoy it.”
The zombie menu assignment will also help students prepare for their final paper, in which they must analyze stereotypical zombie behaviors, such as staggered gait or lack of heartbeat, and determine the impaired brain regions.
Blending science with creativity offers students a unique approach to a complex subject.
“I feel like hands-on activities let you be more creative and help you retain information better than just listening and writing,” said Julia Wilkes ’28. “It helps me understand the material a lot better.”
Wilson College invites the community to begin the holiday season at its 105th Christmas Vespers on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 4:30 p.m. in the historic Alumnae Chapel in Thomson Hall on the college campus. Leading the service will be the Rev. Andrew Hart, D.Min., the Nancy Adams Besch ’48 and Elisabeth Hudnut Clarkson ’47 college chaplain, and Dillon Beede, M.M., Ed.M., director of choral activities and chair of music.
“Christmas Vespers invites us to experience the inbreaking light of hope and peace into the shadows of a weary world,” said Hart. “This service is a reminder that even in seasons of darkness, the promise of light endures and that light calls us to prepare our hearts for joy.”
This year, the service will draw inspiration from the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols first held on Christmas Eve in 1918 at King’s College, Cambridge, England, at the end of World War I. The program will feature readings, anthems, and carols that transcend divisions, affirm shared humanity, and encourage spiritual preparation for the holiday season.
The service will showcase musical performances by the Cumberland Valley Chorale, the BrassWorks brass quintet, organist David Erickson, and pianist Diana Reinert, and readings by members of the Wilson College and Chambersburg communities.
Wilson’s Christmas Vespers is free and open to the public. The service will also be livestreamed. For more information visit www.wilson.edu/vespers.
"Wilson's TCP (Teacher Certification Pathway) Program has fully equipped me with the practical skills and certified credentials required to step confidently into the classroom and positively impact student learning."- Cael Turnball, TCP Completer '25 Turnbull finished the program and received his certification in Secondary English. His practicum supervisor, Dr. Wanda Richie, shared,
"Cael Turnbull’s enthusiasm, eagerness to engage his students, and thoughtful classroom presence make him a real asset to education. He offers creativity and innovation couched in structure and routine, which allows lots of fun within boundaries for rambunctious middle school students. I am thrilled he has chosen teaching as his career path."
Wilson College will open a new art exhibition titled “Jacques Callot and Those Who Came After” on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 4:30 p.m. in the first-floor gallery of the John Stewart Memorial Library. The exhibition will run through the spring semester.
The show features 18 etchings that make up Jacques Callot’s masterpiece, Les Grandes Misères de la Guerre (1633), or The Miseries and Misfortunes of War. This series is considered the first anti-war statement in Western art.
Curated by Adam DelMarcelle, assistant professor of graphic design, the exhibition was a collaborative effort by Wilson College students during the fall 2025 semester. Students in the Western Art History 1000–1800 course undertook the research and writing, while the Graphic Design II class developed the exhibition’s visual language and way-finding system, enhancing the experience of the powerful work and artifacts. Students in the Typography and the Letterform class built the catalog, and digital photography students contributed striking photographic elements that elevate the artifacts displayed alongside works by Callot, Francisco Goya, Otto Dix, and Ernst Barlach.
“Interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration lie at the very heart of a liberal arts education, and throughout the months of preparation leading up to the opening, this remarkable group of students embodied the very best of what can happen in the classroom—when learning is guided and considered by openness, curiosity, and a touch of romance. To say I am proud of them would be an understatement,” said DelMarcelle.
Callot’s influence spans centuries, inspiring artists such as Goya, Dix, and Barlach to confront the same haunting questions about why humans go to war. This exhibition traces the lineage of protest through printed images, reminding viewers that in the darkest hours, the artist bears witness. It also reflects the collaboration behind its creation, bringing together a multidisciplinary group of students from diverse backgrounds to create an experience that is both rich and nuanced.
by Shelby Bowman '26
For a group of Wilson College students, the start of the new year will mean more than just another semester; it will mean delivering healthcare to the sugarcane fields of the Dominican Republic. Sherri Stahl, RN, MHA, NEA-BC, instructor of nursing, and Wendell Smith, Ph.D., professor of Spanish, will lead the weeklong trip, scheduled for January 4-11, 2026. Together, they will guide students in providing essential medical services to residents of La Romana, a coastal town in the eastern Dominican Republic.
Medical missions trip, 2023
This marks the fourth time Smith has organized the trip. Since 2018, the program has combined service learning with language immersion, giving students the chance to apply both skills in real-world settings. “Speaking Spanish in a classroom is a practice game, and students really don't have confidence in their abilities until they've actually used the language in a real situation,” said Smith. “This experience helps students take responsibility for their own competence in the language and gives them confidence.”
For nursing students, the experience is equally transformative. Throughout the week, they will operate a medical clinic in the remote sugarcane fields, offering services such as blood pressure measurements, wound care, family planning, and even dentistry.
Many students return from the trip inspired to continue serving others. “There's a lot that ignites the need for a continued pathway—to continue to do service trips and serve—that becomes part of their nursing way of life,” said Stahl.
To help support the mission, Wilson College held a fundraiser in late September. The evening featured Christian merengue music performed by Revelación Maranatha, a Latin American orchestra from La Romana. The concert raised $1,000, and during the event organizers announced an additional $5,000 gift to Wilson’s Spanish Department to help cover the clinic costs.
This gift came from the estate of Louise Buttrick-Davies ‘53, whose memories of her Wilson years included a regularly hosted a Spanish conversation hour and special housing on campus in which students spoke only Spanish. “Her fond memories of Wilson College were connected to learning Spanish, and that's why she dedicated it to the Spanish department,” said Professor Smith.
In total, the fundraiser raised $6,000, further supporting the students’ efforts. The trip promises to make a meaningful difference in the community while empowering students to gain hands-on experience and make the world a better place.
Wilson College held the second event in its Strategic Seminar Series, focused on Conflict Management, on November 5, 2025, as part of its annual Career Week. The Q&A style session welcomed attendees from the Wilson campus and local community, offering an opportunity to engage with panelists from diverse professional backgrounds who shared insights on navigating workplace conflict.
“The purpose is to talk about leadership, not just in a business context but in your everyday life,” said Lance Cain, D.B.A, director of business and assistant professor of business. “We all experience conflict from time to time, so we want to have a discussion about what that looks like in everybody’s life.”
In spring 2025, Cain teamed up with Mindy Guinard, director of nursing and health sciences, to collaborate on the first Strategic Seminar. Their partnership highlighted the relevance of leadership and conflict resolution in every discipline.
Linda Boeckman, director of career development, joined Cain and Guinard in planning the seminar’s topic and selecting speakers, making sure to represent a variety of careers and majors. “We want to address challenges in the workplace that are relevant and help prepare students for the professional world,” said Boeckman.
Guinard added, “I think it’s a benefit to each department by showing we all have common threads in our areas of practice.”
The panelists for the conflict management discussion represented a range of industries, including health care, education, and law. Each speaker shared their perspectives on workplace conflict, including causes, and strategies on how to navigate these challenges.
Mike Cogliano, vice-president at WellSpan Health and president of WellSpan Gettysburg, said “As a leader, it’s very important to practice empathy.” He stressed the importance of consistent, meaningful connection with your employees, adding, “Be empathetic, be understanding, and be sympathetic to whatever they're dealing with.” Building on that idea, Laura Stover, director of HR advisory services at SEK CPAs and Advisors and a board member for Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County, emphasized the role of the workplace environment when she said, “If you have a culture where people feel psychologically safe, which means they can be vulnerable, they can make mistakes, and they can ask for help, that’s when you have great discussion, creativity, and innovation.” When employees feel safe, she explained, they’re more likely to collaborate and less likely to experience conflict.
Guinard hopes insights such as these will encourage students to think critically about leadership and provide the skills they will need in the future. “It’s also a great way for community members to see how eager Wilson students are to learn and network,” she said.
Cain agreed and added that the seminars are great opportunities for students involved in leadership organizations on campus, like the Wilson College Government Association, to shine.
Another strategic seminar is being planned for spring 2026.
Wilson College invites the community to a vital and timely event focused on mental health and safety in today’s digital age. Join us for “Cyber and Digital Safety,” a free public forum addressing the growing concerns around online dangers, including malicious artificial intelligence, social media risks, and digital exploitation.
The event will take place on Monday, November 10, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Harry R. Brooks Complex for Science, Mathematics, and Technology at Wilson College. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.
Special guest FBI Special Agent Geoffrey Ford (Philadelphia Division) will provide expert insight into what can be accessed online and how these digital threats manifest. Tricia Maciejewski, President of the Live Like Levi Foundation, will share her powerful perspective on building resilience and awareness in our youth.
The event will include insights and actionable tools on the following topics:
Mental Health and Social Media Explore how platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat can impact young minds—contributing to anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.
Online Dangers From cyberbullying and grooming to sextortion, fentanyl exposure, and extremist recruitment—learn how these threats are reaching out through the monitor screens.
Artificial Intelligence: The New Frontier of Risk Discover how deepfakes, voice spoofing, and AI-generated relationships are reshaping online interactions—and what that means for safety and trust.
Building Well-Being & Resilience Unpack the science of well-being: positive emotions, meaningful relationships, engagement, accomplishment, and physical health—tools for thriving in a digital world.
Spot the Warning Signs Learn to recognize red flags in behavior, appearance, and social connections that may signal deeper issues or online exploitation.
Tools & Resources for Families and Educators Walk away with practical strategies, vetted resources, and expert recommendations to help protect and empower students both online and offline.
Wilson College is committed to fostering a resilient and informed community by promoting digital safety and supporting the overall well-being of individuals across all age groups. This important event is made possible through the collaboration of several Wilson College offices and programs, including Alumni Relations, Technology and Library Services, Student Development, the Wilson College Government Association (WCGA), and the Sociology and Criminal Justice academic programs.
An exhibit featuring artwork by Wilson College students will open Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at the Coyle Free Library in Chambersburg. The exhibition is designed to inspire visitors with the creativity expressed by a unique group of students.
Visitors can expect to see more than 25 pieces of original artwork from Wilson students enrolled in Drawing I, Intro to Design, Digital Photography and Graphic Design courses. The show will highlight a variety of media, reflecting the diverse talents of students.
This is the third time Wilson College is collaborating with Coyle Free Library to display student work. The library is not only a cornerstone of the community, but it also shares a special connection with Wilson. Lou Cowles, a reference librarian with the Franklin County Library System, is a proud member of the Wilson College Class of 1964. Her support and involvement help to bring the two institutions together for this public showcase.
“The opportunity helps students develop their artistic voices, and the show allows Wilson the opportunity to share creative, scholarly endeavours with our community,” said Philip Lindsey, professor of fine arts at Wilson. “Community engagement is critical to the institutional mission and vision. Wilson College is a huge part of this community, and everyone benefits from these opportunities.”
Students also enjoy displaying their art publicly. “It makes them feel like professional artists,” Lindsey added.
The show runs through December 15, 2025. Admission is free and open to the public.
Conflict is an inevitable part of professional life, but it doesn’t have to hinder productivity, creativity, or relationships. Wilson College invites students, professionals, and community members to explore effective strategies for managing workplace conflict at the upcoming Strategic Seminar Series: Conflict Management on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, in the auditorium of the Harry R. Brooks Complex for Science, Mathematics, and Technology at Wilson College. The event will start with a networking session at 4:30 p.m. followed by a panel discussion at 5 p.m.
Hosted by Wilson’s Health Sciences and Business Programs, this free event features a panel of seasoned professionals from diverse industries, including healthcare, education, law, and human resources. Attendees will gain practical insights into navigating conflict in professional settings, with a focus on communication, resolution strategies, and leadership challenges.
Panelists Include:
The Strategic Seminar Series provides a platform for students and community members to engage directly with business leaders in candid conversations about leadership challenges. This fall’s theme, Conflict Management, aims to equip attendees with actionable tools and perspectives to handle workplace disputes constructively.
The event is open to the public and admission is free. Please register by November 4 at www.wilson.edu/leadership-seminar.
