Success Stories
Discover how Alvernia University students, alumni, and faculty turn education into action. Explore success stories of leadership, service, and innovation that reflect our Franciscan mission. Ready to see where your story begins? Explore how you can join a community that leads with purpose.
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Adult student's drive — and drives — help her persevere
By Susan Shelly Yupha Muzyka ‘21, MBA ‘22, a 39-year-old wife and mother of two teenage daughters, grew up in Thailand, moving to Reading when she was 19 after meeting husband Steve during a visit with her sister, who lived in Singapore. ...
Community need sparks Alvernia grad's entrepreneurial spirit
As a student in Alvernia’s occupational therapy program, Mary Strausser MSOT ’08 did not anticipate a career that centered around children.“I remember telling my classmates I had no interest in working with kids,” she recalled. “I thought I’d be p...
Back to where Mom began
Back to where Mom began By: Sarah Matarella When Carol Klimas ‘84 first stepped onto Alvernia College’s campus in the 1980s, it was a mere handful of buildings tucked on a hill in Reading, Pa., near Shillington where she grew up. Wh...
Veteran soldiers on, overcoming pitfalls to create his comeback
When seeking a place to continue his education, former Army Capt. Jeff Gibboni MACC ’26 discovered that Alvernia’s principles felt familiar.“The Franciscan values line up perfectly with veteran values,” Gibboni said. “But this place itself is a va...