A half-dozen retiring Alvernia faculty were honored at the university’s Faculty Awards event in May. The honorees spoke in remarks dubbed Last Lectures. Two of the professors were not able to attend the event; colleagues gave remarks for them. Excerpts are below.
The longtime businessman discussed his second career at Alvernia, which included roles as a professional specialist in the Business Department, director of the MBA Program and director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. His speech opened with a story about how Franciscan sisters in Syracuse, N.Y., helped his family overcome the sudden death of his middle son in the 1990s. He vowed to repay them in some way. That came to fruition when he was transferred to Reading for a job, where he ran into Alvernia President Thomas F. Flynn, Ph.D., at a gathering.
“That was not a coincidence, that was a God wink. And what I would say to each of you is you're not here out of any reason but this is where God wants you right now at a very challenging time in the world.”
“Right now, in our country, we focus more on getting students ready for jobs. But I think over the last several years we've been lax in teaching people how to be good citizens, which leads me to discuss our role as leaders. To be a good citizen, you need to know where we have been so that you can set the future.”
“This university's done a great job by putting the SOLAR program together. And we need to make sure that we execute on that program so that our students have the opportunity to succeed like all of us. We need to challenge ourselves and others to dream and celebrate success with students and all those small wins that they have along the way.”
Stober taught biology at Alvernia for over 30 years. He also taught graduate courses in leadership and acted as a strategic advisor for the Office of Institutional Sustainability, a role he will continue following his retirement. He received Alvernia’s Christian R. & Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2005 and was awarded the Neag Professorship in 2011.
“I'm resistant to retiring, as you know, and it's partly because I feel like I'm still 20 - or not. But this is who I am and what I do. So it's kind of a big, big shock in a way. But recently I went to see the musical 'Groundhog Day.' A message came out of it that I realized applied to me, and that is that I was living today through the lens of tomorrow. And now that I had this time to reflect, I'm starting to look at things a little differently. I'm trying to look at today.”
“Students that I've had in junior high are now doing really special things. And I think all of us have that opportunity to see our students do special things, and I think that's the reason we have optimism. I'm also optimistic because we're a Franciscan university, and we are uniquely positioned because of our values to promote a sustainable future. So for that reason, I think we're optimistic.”
After serving for many years in a variety of psychiatric and behavioral health settings, Penny joined Alvernia in 1999. During his time here, he served as Occupational Therapy Program Director multiple times and chaired the Occupational Therapy department along with teaching occupational therapy and Honors Program courses. He closed his statements with an email he received from a former student.
“‘Dear Dr. Penny, I hope this email finds you well. I'm currently working at an outpatient orthopedic clinic, a role that I'm thoroughly enjoying and learning so much for every day. As I reflect on how I arrived here, I continually come back to the strong foundation you helped build for me. The dedication to teaching, your passion for the field, and the genuine care that you showed to your students played a huge role in shaping both my academic and professional journey. Without your guidance and support, I truly don't believe I'd be where I am today and for that I'm endlessly grateful. Your impact has extended beyond classroom. You've helped mold us into thoughtful skilled and compassionate clinicians. And I carry many of the lessons I learned from you with me, in my day-to-day practice.’”
“And that, I believe, is my legacy, and that I believe is the legacy that all faculty strive for. It's the impact that we will have on the lives of our students as they pass through these hallowed halls of academia.”
A longtime Alvernia professor in the Criminal Justice Administration Department, McFee played a significant role in advancing the program. A full-time faculty member for over 15 years, she served as an adjunct professor for the prior 14 years while working full time in the Allentown court system. An advisor to the Criminal Justice Association, she started the Circle K Club, a service organization for college students at Alvernia, to help the community through various service projects.
“I was able to teach criminal justice courses at all levels, seeing the students emerge, experience change, grow personally and academically, meet their challenges and make decisions about their futures. As a faculty advisor to two clubs, Criminal Justice Association and Circle K, I observed the dedication of students to be involved and deserve the community, and I really mean this from my heart. They exemplify Alvernia's motto: ‘To learn, to love and to serve.’ They do so much volunteer work with little prompting on my part.”
“I'm especially thankful for the opportunity to experience the Assisi Pilgrimage. We came back with renewed energy, great memories, personal spiritual experiences and a deep understanding that Saint Clare was truly a formidable woman."
Ballantyne joined the faculty of Alvernia in 1999. The professor of business also served as faculty advisor for the risk management and fishing clubs. He received Alvernia’s 2015 Teaching Excellence Award (nominated by the students) and a Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching. An avid outdoorsman, he runs the successful YouTube channel Bikes Boats Bivouacs, which spotlights motorcycles, boats, camps and camping, and travel destinations. Spencer Stober, who spoke on his behalf, says Ballantyne asked him to read a quote from “Big Mama,” a woman who helped develop his beloved Florida Keys.
“‘Everybody is born in a box, of wealth or a box of poverty, a box of physical or mental limitation, or a box of family problems or neglect. The fascinating thing to watch is to see how people manage to escape their boxes.’ … The reason Scott asked me to read that quote is because that's one of his major goals in teaching. He helps students escape their boxes.”
Spencer then read a quote from Ballantyne:
“The joy I receive in carrying out my duties as a professor is primarily rewarded by watching students build confidence in themselves through projects and assignments, created and based on actual experiences. … When students develop the skills and confidence to climb out of their box and find creative ways to build confidence, that's what I really enjoy seeing in students. And I like to approach classes as students as champions, and Alvernia as a place for opportunity.”
Bertoti has been a physical therapist for nearly five decades, authoring over 20 publications. The sixth edition of Brunnstrom's Clinical Kinesiology, co-authored by Bertoti, became the industry standard, translated into seven languages. At Alvernia, Bertoti served as department chair and program director for physical therapy, athletic training, occupational therapy and healthcare science. Thomas G. Porrazzo, Ph.D., the current healthcare science department chair, offered a revised version of Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” called “Oh, the Places Delores Has Been!”
“For 33 years, you've taught and researched with care. We are astonished and admire how you got there. You've held almost every position, been on every committee. What a feat, so popular you are. Were you vying for Alvernia's presidency? … Oh, the place Dolores has been. Like traveling to Australia, first class was the way, a keynote speaker to about 20,000 people. Must have certainly been a good payday. Presenting with so many colleagues here and abroad, she headed to Hawaii, New Zealand, Spain, England, Ireland, Italy, Germany, France, where she was adored. You certainly soared in height in your career, but we all know how your service to others is so clear. Your love for the children, the lost and underserved, you poured out your heart through Easter Seals, we observed. Through perils and heartbreak, you've always stood strong. Your faith is an example for all to belong. With retirement arriving once more, you'll ride high, ready for anything under the sky.”
Here is a roundup of additional faculty and staff at Alvernia who have made a difference inside and outside of the classroom.
Writing Program Director and Instructor of Communication
In April 2025, Landers served as a documentarian for the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) Annual Convention, held in Baltimore. Documentarians are selected by project leads each conference to participate in an initiative designed to enhance the organization’s understanding of member experiences. Responsibilities included the completion of a preparatory module, participation in daily morning and evening surveys throughout the convention, and a post-conference reflective survey. According to Lindquist et al., data gathered from these instruments enables CCCC to “learn more about the needs and experiences of its members” (1).
In addition to her role as documentarian, Landers also presented a session titled “The Value of Digital Multimodal Composition in First-Year Composition Courses” on April 11. Drawing on her teaching experience, she argued that digital multimodal composition fosters greater student motivation, confidence and self-esteem in writing. Her observations suggest that students engaged in multimodal projects spend more time conducting research, generate a higher volume of written work, and demonstrate increased rhetorical awareness and intentionality in their final compositions.
Landers especially enjoyed attending the convention alongside her colleague, Kris Lowrey, Ph.D. She looks forward to continuing to incorporate digital multimodal projects in her composition and research courses to promote deeper student engagement and more meaningful learning outcomes.
Director of John R. Post School of Engineering, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Mahoney had a research article detailing how running with a stroller affects form and injury risk published in the Washington Post in May and published in Newsweek in October. A longer version of the study, co-authored with Allison Altman Singles, associate professor of kinesiology and mechanical engineering at Penn State University, was published on The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news website.
Mahoney also published a paper that used machine learning to classify footstrike patterns (FSPs) during running. The study showed promise in utilizing wearables for injury prevention. (Mahoney, J. M., Rhudy, M. B., Outerleys, J., Davis, I. S., & Altman-Singles, A. R. (2024). Identification of footstrike pattern using accelerometry and machine learning. Journal of Biomechanics, 174, 112255.)
Assistant Professor of Communication
Lowrey presented "Remixing the Community: Composition Students' Creative Engagement with Local Archives" at the Conference on College Composition and Communication annual convention in April. She also served as a Stage I proposal reviewer for the conference and as a workshop leader for the CCCC Feminist Caucus program, "Can I Get a Beat? Or, Collaboration and Publication in the Field."
In addition, Lowrey facilitated a local run of the Oscar-nominated documentary film about the ongoing war in Ukraine, “Porcelain War,” and led a post-screening discussion of the film in collaboration with Kevin Donnelly, Ph.D., an associate professor of history at Alvernia, and Randall Newnham, Ph.D., a professor of political science at Penn State Berks.
Finally, she served as the conference committee chair for the third annual College of Business, Communication, and Leadership “Because You Matter” Conference.
Professor and Department Chair of Communication & Digital Media, Director of Community News Lab
Professor of Psychology
Radosh and Ruiz received the Office for Teaching and Learning Founding Leadership Award in recognition of their dedication to academic excellence and their leadership in launching the inaugural Office for Teaching and Learning from the Provost.
Radosh was named director of the new Community News Lab, a pioneering initiative designed to provide students with hands-on journalism experience while strengthening local news coverage in Berks County. The initiative, housed at the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne, brings together Spotlight PA Berks Bureau, Berks Community Television (BCTV) and 830WEEU (Treese Media Group) to create a student-driven newsroom where emerging journalists work alongside professionals.
Associate Professor of Business, Header School of Business
In February, Berger successfully facilitated Reading Symphony Orchestra's Board Strategy Retreat. In May, he presented to the PA Department of Labor and Industry's executive and management teams as part of their Leadership Lab.
Professor of Communication and Digital Media
Fitzpatrick served as a judge for undergraduate and graduate submissions for the convention awards in the creative nonfiction and critical essay categories of the Centennial Sigma Tau Delta International Honor Society Convention in Pittsburgh in April. Additionally, she judged the 1924 Scholarships, which celebrated the society’s anniversary and were awarded to applicants who exemplify excellence in language and literacy initiatives. She also served on the Past Presidents Advisory Council of the nonprofit organization.
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Keperling presented “Perseverance and Passion in Nursing Education” at the 2025 International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Conference in New Orleans in March.
Additionally, her manuscript “Developing and Implementing a Service-Learning Course in Prelicensure Nursing Education” was accepted for publication in the Journal of Nursing Education.
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Howard’s manuscript “Nursing Theory Through the Lens of Scripture and Faith” was accepted for publication in the Journal of Christian Nursing. Howard is also starting a new organization at Alvernia, the Nurses Christian Fellowship.
