Mansfield University Blog

We welcome to Allan Golden as MU interim president.  Dr. Golden served as interim vice president of finance and administration.  The transition was pretty orderly.  He walked from his office on the south end of the fifth floor  to the president’s office on the north end.

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We also welcome James Parker as vice president of Student Affairs.  He comes here from  the University of South Dakota where he served as dean of students.

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Congratulations to Dr. Lynn Pifer, professor of English,  who was presented  the Diversity Ally Award which is given to a person who demonstrates an “exceptional commitment to diversity and cultural awareness and who celebrates individuality and uniqueness.”  President Maravene Loeschke made the presentation during commencement ceremonies on Saturday.

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McDonald’s customers got a holiday surprise when two MU music students rose up, flutes in hand, and presented the first annual McDonald’s Flute Flash.

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Future Picassos created new art during the Saturday Art Program.  The program is comprised of 10 Saturday session with MU Art Instructor Andrew Wales’ Art Elementary Teaching & Curriculum class.  MU students work with local grade schoolers to the benefit of both.  The program is a collaborative outreach program with MU’s Alumni & Community Relations & Art Departments.  A portion of the proceeds from the program goes to student scholarships.

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A plug for Lorena Beniquez ’89 who is producing a documentary on a group beautifying downtown Williamsport.  If she gets enough votes, she qualifies for a Pepsi grant to help her with expenses.  So, all you alumni and friends, go here  vote for Lorena!

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Now for the fastest rising Google searches of the year.  Test your pop culture knowledge and see if you can guess which individuals, organizations and companies made the Top 9 list. (Confession: I’ve never even heard of one person who made the list).

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Happy holidays everyone!  It’s been a great year.  I’m looking forward to 2012.  It has the potential to be so interesting. . . .

I will be doing book signings for my new novel One Woman’s Vengeance, Friday, Dec. 9 at the MU Campus Bookstore from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Saturday, December 10 at From My Shelf Books, in Wellsboro, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.  The book is also available in print or ebook form at Lulu.com and as an ebook at iBooks at the iTunes Store and at barnesandnoble.com.  It will be available soon on Amazon.  You can read the first chapter for free on my One Woman’s Vengeance blog.   All profits from the book go toward a scholarship fund for future MU English majors.

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MU Band Director Adam Brennan and student Devon Polaski are highlighted on a feature piece on WBRE about the band’s invitation to perform at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

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What does it take to create an internationally recognized marching band?  Band Director Adam Brennan gives us a behind the scenes look at the 200 member band’s continual drive for excellence that landed them an Olympics gig? A lot of pre-planning and hard work.  Original scores and  geometry helps, too.

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Here’s one last reminder about and a sneak peak at the annual holiday  concert, “Winter Wonderland,” set for this weekend.

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Several churches are working together to create the Tioga County Homeless Initiative which will provide shelter and food for homeless folks through March.  Each week a different cooperating church will act as host.  One more example of the compassion and generosity of the people in our rural area.

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The opening of this week’s Terry’s Take news blog is guaranteed to get you into the holiday spirit.