2025 Winter Commencement Program

A Brief History of Millersville

Millersville has the distinction of being Pennsylvania’s first state-owned university, founded in 1855 as a normal school. In the mid-19th century, normal schools were developed throughout the East as a way to train teachers for the country’s fast-growing new public schools. In Lancaster County, James P. Wickersham was in charge of the public schools and was convinced of the need for training programs for teachers. He held his own program, a teachers institute, in the little borough of Millersville. After its success, he then convinced the town fathers who had built the school to permit it to be used instead as a permanent normal school.

For the next 100 years, Millersville’s purpose was to prepare teachers, and it did so with great success. Its reputation as an institution of excellence was established during the period when it was operating two-year and later four-year programs to prepare the individuals who taught the children of this Commonwealth.

Over the years, the school’s name changed several times. Wickersham called it the Lancaster County Normal School. In 1859, when it was four years old, the school was officially recognized by the state legislature, and its name became The First Pennsylvania State Normal School. That lengthy title was gradually changed by usage to Millersville State Normal School. It was known by several other names before 1959, when the name was changed to Millersville State College, and soon to follow were a great many new four-year baccalaureate programs in the arts and sciences. Also added were master’s degree programs, at first in teacher education and later in many other fields. On July 1, 1983, the college became Millersville University of Pennsylvania, and the 14 state-owned colleges became the State System of Higher Education.

Millersville University Today

During Millersville’s evolution from a normal school to a university, its reputation as a good training ground for teachers has not diminished. Teacher certification programs are available across all schools in Special Education, Elementary and Early Childhood Education, a wide selection of Secondary Education programs, Technology and Engineering Education, Art Education and Music Education.

The College of Education and Human Services is home to the following departments: Educational Foundations; Early, Middle and Elementary Education; Psychology; Special Education; and the School of Social Work.

The College of Science and Technology is comprised of the following departments: Applied Engineering, Safety & Technology; Biology; Chemistry; Computer Science; Earth Sciences; Geography; Mathematics; Wehrheim School of Nursing and Physics. Offerings in the health fields include Respiratory Therapy; Medical Technology; Nuclear Medicine Technology; Pre-Athletic Training; Pre-Med; Pre-Optometry; Pre-Pharmacy and Pre-Podiatry.

The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is the home of the liberal arts disciplines in humanities and social sciences, including the departments of Art and Design; Communication and Theatre; Criminology, Sociology and Anthropology; English and World Languages; Government, Law and International Relations; History and Philosophy, as well as the Tell School of Music. The College also offers interdisciplinary programs in African American Studies, Entrepreneurship, International Studies, Latina/o Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies.

Originally established in 2019, the Lombardo College of Business is comprised of the following departments: Accounting & Finance; Economics; Management, Marketing, and Information Technology; as well as Wellness and Sport Sciences. The College was officially named in 2020 in recognition of Dr. Samuel and Mrs. Dena Lombardo’s generosity to both the College and University. This is the first named college in Millersville’s 166-year history.

The College of Graduate Studies and Adult Learning was established in fall 2009 following 50 years of graduate program offerings. Today, Millersville offers more than 50 graduate degree and certification programs, and three doctoral programs that serve the needs of adult learners in our community and beyond.

University College is comprised of Exploratory Studies and Student Development, the Center for Public Scholarship and Social Change, the Center for Civic Responsibility and the Career Center, the Francine G. McNairy Library and Learning Forum, Integrated Studies, Multidisciplinary Studies, the Office of Learning Services, Starfish, Success Coaching, the University Honors College and the Writing Center.

The University’s curriculum is continuously studied and adjusted to allow for the development of programs to meet the needs of students. Millersville University’s Multidisciplinary Studies (MDST) major is an innovative and flexible program of study that allows students to tailor studies to meet their academic strengths and career goals with careful advisement.

Integrated Studies is an individualized postsecondary education course of study for individuals with intellectual disability that leads to social and professional networks, careers and bright futures. Students receive support from trained personnel, including coaches, mentors, faculty and staff.

Millersville’s excellent reputation extends beyond the classroom as well. It has outstanding athletic, intramural and recreational programs. It offers a wide range of cultural activities for both educational and entertainment purposes. The Winter Visual and Performing Arts Center houses the Tell School of Music and state-of-the-art facilities, including performance and recital halls, recording suites and piano labs. The Ware Center in downtown Lancaster offers space for academic studies as well as elegant performance areas and cultural events programs.

The 250-acre main campus is well-tended, and the park-like area around the campus pond is regarded as a special place by students where they can sit and enjoy the outdoors and watch the swans, Miller and S’Ville.

All of these factors contribute to a good deal of pride at Millersville University—pride that parents and friends of graduates rightfully share.

ACADEMIC SYMBOLISM

Academic ceremonies are steeped in centuries-old ritual. The elaborate trappings contribute to the pageantry and dignity of the occasion and convey the continuity of academic tradition from medieval times to the present. Incorporating these traditions unites Millersville University with the community of scholars and institutions of higher learning.

THE ACADEMIC PROCESSION
The academic procession that begins and ends most academic ceremonies is a descendant of the clerical procession. Millersville University’s procession, formed in ranks of two, is led by one of the most senior faculty carrying the University mace, followed by the candidates for degrees, the University faculty, the Council of Trustees and platform party, and the University president and guest speaker.

THE MACE
The staff carried at the front of the academic procession is called a mace and represents the authority of the Office of the President.

THE UNIVERSITY SEAL
Millersville University’s seal, a gift of the Class of 1916, is worn on a gold chain by the University president.

ACADEMIC ATTIRE
The academic regalia has always consisted of three parts: the gown, the hood and the cap. It has traditionally been worn at academic ceremonies as a record of the academic achievement of the participants. Its use originated in the Middle Ages, when all undergraduates were required to wear clerical robes, since students were expected to enter the ranks of the clergy. In this country, a color system was adopted in 1893 to identify the academic discipline in which the degree was earned. Some of the most frequently seen hood colors, and the field of learning represented by each, are white, arts and letters; light blue, education; dark blue, philosophy; golden yellow, science; copper, economics; scarlet, theology; and pink, music. The tassels for bachelor’s and master’s degrees are usually black, while the tassel of the doctorate cap is usually gold.

BOARD OF GOVErnORS, COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES, PRESIDENT'S CABINET

• PASSHE Board of Governors
• Council of Trustees
• Daniel A. Wubah, Ph.D., University President
• President's Cabinet

COLLEGES AND DEPARTMENTS

COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND ADULT LEARNING 
Lara Willox, Ph.D., Interim Dean 
 
COLLEGE OF ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES  
Ieva Zake, Ph.D., Dean 

Department, Chairperson 
Art & Design, Shauna L. Frischkorn, M.F.A. 
Communication & Theatre, Lowery Woodall III, Ph.D. 
Criminology, Sociology and Anthropology, Marlene S. Arnold, Ph.D. 
Economics, Kenneth W. Smith, Ph.D. 
English and World Languages, Justin Mando, Ph.D. 
Government, Policy & Law, Richard A. Glenn, Ph.D. 
History, Robyn L. Davis, Ph.D. 
Music, Mícheál B. Houlahan, Ph.D. 
Philosophy, Jen Miller, Ph.D. 

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES
Lara Willox, Ph.D., Dean 

Department, Chairperson 
Early, Middle & Elementary Education, Jennifer Shettel, Ed.D.  
Educational Foundations, Tiffany E. Wright, Ed.D. 
Psychology, Debra S. Vredenburg-Rudy, Ph.D. 
Social Work, Karen M. Rice, Ph.D. 
Special Education, Janet Bertoni, Ph.D. 
Wellness & Sport Sciences, Daniel J. Keefer, Ph.D. 

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
Marc Harris, Ph.D., Dean 

Department, Chairperson 
Applied Engineering, Safety & Technology, Jack Ogutu, Ph.D. 
Biology, Ryan L. Wagner, Ph.D. 
Chemistry, Daniel Albert, Ph.D. 
Computer Science, Stephanie M. Schwartz, Ph.D. 
Earth Sciences, Lynn Marquez, Ph.D. 
Geography, Jessica J. Kelly, Ph.D. 
Mathematics, Tyrone Washington, Ph.D. 
Nursing, Kelly A. Kuhns, Ph.D. 
Physics, Sean P. Hendrick, Ph.D. 

LOMBARDO COLLEGE OF BUSINESS 
Marc Tomljanovich, Ph.D., Dean 

Department, Chairperson 
Accounting and Finance, Eric L. Blazer, Ph.D. 
Management and Marketing, David J. DiRusso, Ph.D.  

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE 
Rachel E. Finley-Bowman, Ph.D., Dean

Department, Chairperson 
Exploratory Studies & Student Development, Kristen Lawson, Ed.D. 
University Library, Scott Anderson, M.B.A. 

NON-COLLEGE DEPARTMENTS 

Department, Chairperson 
Counseling and Human Development, Joseph F. Lynch, Ph.D. 
Intercollegiate Athletics, Catherine L. Corcoran, M.B.A. 

ART EDUCATION 
Leslie Gates, Ph.D.  
 
ASSESSMENT, CURRICULUM AND TEACHING  
Abdul Ibrahim, D.Ed.  
 
DOCTORATE IN EDUCATION  
Ann Gaudino, Ed.D.  
 
DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE 
Kelly Rotondo, DNP, RN, SCRN, CTC  
 
DOCTOR OF SOCIAL WORK  
Alex Redcay, Ph.D.
 
EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION  
Elizabeth Powers-Costello, Ph.D.  

EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY  
Drew Hunter, Ph.D.
 
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT  
Duane E. Hagelgans, J.D., CSP
 
ENGLISH  
A. Nicole Pfannenstiel, Ph.D. 
  
GIFTED EDUCATION  
Charlton H. Wolfgang, Ph.D.  
 
HISTORY  
Clarence Maxwell, Ph.D.  
 
INTEGRATED SCIENTIFIC APPLICATIONS  
Lynn Marquez, Ph.D.  
 
LANGUAGE AND LITERACY EDUCATION  
Aileen P. Hower, Ed.D.  
 
LEADERSHIP FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING  
TIffany Wright, Ed.D. 
 
MATHEMATICS  
Erin R. Moss, Ph.D.  
 
NURSING  
Bryan Weinberg-Wonsidler, DNP, CRNP, AGNP-C 

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY  
Karena S. Rush, Ph.D.  
 
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY  
Joel Winnick, Ph.D.
 
SCHOOL COUNSELING  
Richard Joseph Behun, Ph.D.  
 
SOCIAL WORK  
Laura B. Granruth, Ph.D.
 
SPECIAL EDUCATION  
Deborah E. Tamakloe, Ph.D.  
 
SPORT MANAGEMENT  
Julie A. Lombardi, D.P.E.  
 
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION  
Scott A. Warner, Ed.D 

Timothy G. Mazya, B.A. ‘18 
Professional Athlete 
Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Tim Mayza, a 2018 graduate of Millersville University, will offer the address during commencement exercises on Dec. 13. Nearly 400 graduates will cross the stage to receive their diplomas at the ceremony, which begins at 2 p.m. in Pucillo Gymnasium.

Mayza has also pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2025), New York Yankees (2024) and Toronto Blue Jays (2013-2024). He pitched a scoreless inning for the Yankees in game four of the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the Blue Jays, he ranks 8th in games pitched with 353 and 2nd in holds with 87.

Mayza earned a bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies with a concentration in sport business from Millersville and a Professional Master of Sports Administration from Ohio University, putting him among the approximately 3.9% of Major League Baseball players with a bachelor’s degree.

As a Marauder, Mayza ranks 10th in innings pitched, 9th in games started and 9th in strikeouts.

He lives in Harleysville, Pa., with wife Darian and their three children. He is an active alumnus, attending Millersville University baseball games and fundraising events. 

BIOGRAPHY - Marjorie A. Trout
MU Athletic Director Emeritus
Recipient of the President’s Medallion

Millersville University is honored to bestow the President’s Medallion to a true trailblazer in collegiate athletics and a cherished member of the Millersville University community: Marjorie Trout, emeritus athletic director.

For 37 years, Marge devoted her career to Millersville as a coach, educator and administrator. She began as a part-time instructor, teaching early elementary physical education while coaching women’s basketball and women’s lacrosse. In 1971, she was selected to coordinate the women’s athletic program, and in 1981, she became Millersville’s inaugural director of women’s athletics – a role she held with distinction until her retirement in 2001.

Throughout her tenure, Marge championed gender equity and Title IX compliance, expanding opportunities for women by adding six varsity athletic teams to the University’s offerings. Her vision and leadership transformed the landscape of women’s athletics on our campus.

Her influence extended far beyond Millersville. Marge served on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and was elected president three times –becoming the first woman in the nation to lead an athletic conference. She strengthened collaboration within PSAC and helped shape its legacy. At the national level, she contributed her expertise through multiple NCAA committees, including the National Softball Committee, the Division II Management Council, and the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics, where she advanced equitable opportunities for women across intercollegiate sports.

Marge’s commitment to mentorship has impacted generations of coaches, staff and student-athletes. Her dedication endures through the scholarships and annual awards she established to support women in athletics at Millersville.

Her accolades are numerous: the Lancaster County Association HPER Outstanding Service Award, the Millersville University Honorary Alumnus Award, induction into the Millersville University Athletic Hall of Fame, and recognition through the naming of the Carpenter-Trout Strength and Conditioning Facility. She later received the J. Freeland Chryst Award and the George W. Kircher Memorial Award from the Lancaster County Sports Hall of Fame.

Just this year, Marge was honored as one of the 300 most prominent contributors to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in celebration of its 75th anniversary. As one of PSAC’s 75 Distinguished Keystones, she stands among the individuals who have been historically influential in shaping the conference.

Today, we celebrate her extraordinary legacy – a legacy of courage, leadership, advocacy, and unwavering dedication to student-athletes.

THE ALMA MATER

Words by Esther E. Lenhardt, Class of 1910, and Sanders P. McComsey, Class of 1917
Music arranged by Melzer R. Porter

VERSE 1 
Millersville, we sing to thee, 
Hymns of praise and loyalty. 
Sons and daughters staunch and bold, 
Follow ’neath the Black and Gold. 
Here we fight for truth and right, 
Shield and buckler ever bright. 
Rich in truth we’ll ever be, 
Millersville, we sing to thee. 
 
VERSE 2 - (NOT SUNG) 
Stately trees and campus wide, 
We recall with thoughts of pride. 
Rippling lake and ivied walls, 
Memories of thy classic halls. 
Forth we march to bring thee fame, 
Spirits light and hearts aflame. 
Hopeful, faithful, earnest, true, 
Still thy standards to pursue. 
 
VERSE 3 
Honor, fame and glory bright, 
We inherit through thy might. 
Scholarship thy first great aim, 
Proudly still uphold thy name. 
Alma Mater, we adore, 
Thy great spirit evermore. 
Gratitude and reverence may, 
Millersville, be thine for aye. 

---

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
The Star-Spangled Banner

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Evacuation Map Description for Pucillo Gymnasium
The map shows the first floor of Pucillo Gymnasium with seating in the center and a stage on the right. There are four main exits labeled A, B, C, and D with red arrows indicating evacuation routes:

• Exit A: Upper right, leading to Pucillo Fields.
• Exit B: Lower right, leading toward the sidewalk to Brossman Hall.
• Exit C: Lower left, leading to Pucillo Drive.
• Exit D: Upper left, leading to Pucillo Parking Lot.

External landmarks include Pucillo Fields (north), Pucillo Drive (south), Pucillo Parking Lot (west), and sidewalk to Brossman Hall (east).