A guiding light offers warmth, direction and inspiration. At Alvernia, we embrace this truth — symbolically and through action — as we illuminate pathways for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and the wider community. It was in this spirit that we introduced our luminary tradition during this fall’s new student orientation.
As the soft glow of hundreds of lights filled our Quad, we stood together in a powerful celebration of our shared mission and cherished values, looking ahead to the boundless possibilities for our students and our beloved university. This tradition, much like the stories featured in this issue, reminds us that light shines brightest when it is shared.
In this issue of Alvernia Magazine, you’ll discover how we are lighting the way forward for the university through strategic growth, innovative initiatives and a steadfast commitment to service. We highlight the launch of the SOLAR initiative, which is streamlining and strengthening our long-standing culture of care. Within this framework, the Hope Fund is providing critical support to students in need — four of whom share their inspiring journeys in this issue.
We also reflect on a major milestone: the fifth anniversary of the CollegeTowne Initiative. As CollegeTowne continues to position Alvernia as a leader in experiential learning and community engagement, its momentum shows no signs of slowing down. A key addition to the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne is Total Experience Learning®, which has partnered with the university to expand its award-winning classroom management methodology to even more educators.
Beyond these transformative initiatives, we celebrate the remarkable individuals who embody our Franciscan values in meaningful ways. You’ll read about an alumnus dedicated to empowering youth; a former Army captain continuing his education as an adult student, aiming to launch a private counseling practice to aid those battling the same demons he overcame; and Alvernia’s director of grants, who recently earned national recognition for her poetry.
For those who haven’t visited campus recently, our feature on recent renovations showcases how revitalized spaces foster collaboration, connection, and student growth. As we look to the future, I invite each of you — students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends — to continue your good work as we illuminate the path for generations of Golden Wolves to come.
Together, we shine.
Sincerely,
Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D.
President
