President's Update

November 2025

President Wubah

As we approach the Thanksgiving recess, I want to express my deep gratitude to our entire Millersville University community for your dedication to our educational mission and to one another. Thanksgiving reminds us to pause and reflect on the blessings in our lives, and I am profoundly grateful for this community and the meaningful work we do together. 

As we take this well-deserved break to rest and celebrate with loved ones, I am thankful for each of you and the vital role you play in making Millersville a place where students thrive and dreams take flight. I look forward to welcoming you back with renewed energy as we make the final sprint toward December graduation, and I'm particularly excited about the wonderful events awaiting us, most especially the Glorious Sounds of the Season Concert that captures the joy and spirit of our community. To our students preparing for finals, I wish you focus, confidence, and success as you demonstrate all you've learned this semester. 

In this edition of my monthly update, you can read more about our nationally acclaimed meteorology program, a professor emeritus competing on the international stage in swimming, and our campus efforts to showcase and support our first-generation students.  You can also catch up on the fall intercollegiate and recreation sports seasons. 

My sincere wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday!

President Daniel A. Wubah

Weather radar being installed on top of the Millersville University water towerMU Students, Grad Assist in Tornado Detection in Lancaster County

Our meteorology program continues to demonstrate why it's recognized as one of the best in the nation. I am proud that our program prepares students not just for careers, but for leadership in the field, and they are making a noteworthy impact. Recently, Millersville meteorology students were credited, along with a graduate who is now a broadcast meteorologist at WGAL, by the National Weather Service for their assistance with relaying reports of a tornado and sharing photos of the aftermath. 

On Sept. 4, 2025, a storm system swept through southeastern Pennsylvania, triggering multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms. At 9:31 p.m., a supercell thunderstorm travelling northeastward through southern Lancaster County produced a brief, EF-0 tornado near Quarryville. 

As a result of the geography of the area, there exist radar gaps where the National Weather Service network of Doppler radars are not able to detect the presence of certain weather systems. The radar gap in the Lower Susquehanna Valley area has been addressed largely by the Climavision X-band radar which was installed on Millersville University’s water tower in 2023. This radar is capable of providing low-level scans of the atmosphere and was able to provide valuable information during this event, including radar signatures associated with a tornado. 

Dr. Sepi Yalda, Professor of Meteorology and Director of the Millersville University Center for Disaster Research and Education, shares how Climavision has transformed classroom learning for meteorology students, “It has been highly impactful in the activities of the Millersville University’s Campus Weather Service and the Weather Information Center, where students have an ability to use this radar data along with other critical sources of information for forecasting and prediction activities.   

Man standing in front of indoor pool, wearing a lanyard around his neckRetired Professor Places in Singapore Swimming Competition 

Dr. Ying Wushanley, professor emeritus of wellness and sport sciences, placed in the top 10 of the international World Masters Swimming Championship in Singapore this summer. 

He competed in the 50-meter breaststroke, finishing in 9th place, as well as in the 200-meter breaststroke, finishing in 10th place.  “I was very happy that I made it to the elite group in the world and that my effort paid off,” says Wushanley. 

Wushanley has enjoyed swimming for most of his life but didn’t start Masters’ swimming, which is a class of competitive swimming for those who are 25 years and over, until 12 years ago. He originally wasn’t optimistic that he would be able to compete due to being overseas until he was inspired by a friend in Germany to commit to training daily for at minimum an hour at the local Lancaster City YMCA. This was all in preparation for overcoming the fear of swimming these two races in the 50-meter-long course pool.

When asked about advice he would give to those interested in staying active and competitive throughout life, Wushanley says, "If we want to live a long and healthy life, we must first see regular exercise as a necessity than an extra effort. The easiest time to form a good healthy lifestyle is when you are in college. Because it is here when you have the most essential resources to pursue such a lifestyle.”

Group of female students holding a sign that says "1st Generation Student"A Closer Look at First-Gen College Students

At Millersville, 40% of students self-identify as first-generation. The University offers specific student organizations, scholarships, housing communities, professional development opportunities and more to ensure these students find their fit at the ’Ville. 

Dr. Christina Pantoja Williams, director of pre-college programs, leads many initiatives and programs to support first-generation student success. “I am actively involved in supporting first-generation students at Millersville University. The work that I do supports the full cycle of the first-generation student experience,” shares Williams. “I promote academic, residential and interpersonal success for first-generation students. My efforts are part of NASPA’s First Gen Forward Network, which comprises over 400 institutions working to improve success outcomes for first-generation college students.” 

Our Millersville students have shared how much programs like the Fierce First Gen Series and organizations like First Gems of The Ville have impacted their college experience.

Alexa DiMaggio, a first-generation student from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, will graduate with her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education this fall. DiMaggio has been an active member of the campus community, serving as the president of the First Gems of the Ville, vice president of Mentoring Educators for Tomorrow and as a resident assistant on campus. 

She shares, “Millersville has opened so many doors for me. I’ve had the chance to attend conferences, connect with inspiring educators and even mentor high school students who aspire to become teachers. All of these experiences have made my time here incredibly rewarding.” 

male soccer player kicking the ballFall Athletics Wrap-Up/Winter Preview 

The fall season is wrapping up with an exciting winter season already underway. Among the highlights of the fall was the men’s soccer team capturing its third PSAC Eastern Division Championship since 2019 with a 7-1-2 division record. The team, led by Coach Steve Widdowson, finished as the PSAC runner-up. Congratulations to Coach Widdowson for winning his sixth PSAC East Coach of the Year award and for another outstanding season.

The success of the program is, in part, fueled by its strong and supportive alumni base, which was apparent when it celebrated its 65th anniversary as a program in October. More than 50 former soccer players and coaches joined the parade of letterwinners and alumni celebration.

One of the men’s soccer alums is our women’s soccer coach, Matt Procopio ’09, who led the team back to the postseason. Women’s soccer went 3-0-1 in the final two weeks of October to clinch a berth to the PSAC Tournament, and it proceeded to score a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Bloomsburg in the first round. The team defeated nationally ranked Slippery Rock 4-0 in the quarterfinals.

Millersville Athletics is more than its on-field successes. On Oct. 16, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hosted Silas, a 13-year-old boy from Lancaster with a heart condition, for a Make-A-Wish reveal. The committee raised more than $6,000 for Make-A-Wish to earn the opportunity, and the student-athletes made it a memorable day on campus for Silas. He took batting practice and played catch with the baseball team before running the bases and receiving his wish — to go to the World Series! It was a moment our student-athletes and Silas’ family will not forget.

The wrestling team also showed its community spirit when it hosted the Cody Becker Memorial Meet at Cooper Park on Oct. 7. Cody, a 2008 Millersville graduate and two-time national qualifier for the Marauders, was killed in the line of duty in September while serving as a detective sergeant for the Northern York County Regional Police. The event included several speakers who provided inspiring comments about Becker’s life of service, a helicopter flyover and the presentation of colors by the Pennsylvania State Police Honor Guard. It was a moving event that celebrated a hero.

We are excited for the coming winter season. Please cheer on the Marauders as they compete on the court, in the pool and on the track.

A person wearing helmet and climbing equipmentCampus Recreation Update

Campus Recreation relaunched the PIAA Official Certification Prep Program, providing students with foundational officiating knowledge, hands-on training and mentorship. This program also builds a sustainable pipeline of Millersville-trained officials for campus and Pennsylvania sport communities. 

As of Nov. 1, the Ropes Course welcomed 1,864 participants across 22 sessions, offering team building and confidence-focused experiences for Millersville students and external organizations. 

During Family Weekend in October, Campus Recreation and the Club Sports Council hosted the first “Pink Out” Club Sports Weekend to promote breast cancer awareness, with donations supporting the PA Breast Cancer Coalition. Participating teams included Ice Hockey, Men’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Rugby, Men’s Lacrosse, the Dance Team, Softball, Tennis and Women’s Volleyball.

Millersville University’s Club Baseball team excelled at the National Club Baseball Association’s Cortland Fall Invitational in October, going undefeated in pool play and finishing second overall in the championship game. Club Baseball also earned individual accolades, with Brady Laird being named NCBA Chesapeake Central Player of the Week and Justin Eifert being named Pitcher of the Week for both the weekends of September 20 and 27.

Additional Club Sports accomplishments include Bowling’s Brendan Hunsicker placing 6th out of more than 100 bowlers at the Eastern Intercollegiate Bowling Tournament No. 1; Equestrian’s Brooke Wagner, Nicole Stankiewicz and Charlie Teloh earning top-three finishes at Villanova and Delaware shows; and Women’s Volleyball winning first place at the Bucknell University Tournament.