About

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

From training sea lions in Florida and New Jersey to coaching athletes in Pennsylvania, Todd Slobodnyak, a 2012 biology major, has embarked on an adventurous career journey since graduating from Westminster just a dozen years ago. Coach Slobodnyak attributes his career wins to the well-rounded and opportunistic education he received at WC.

Monday, July 29, 2024

Gabriela Garza ’25, a rising senior from Westminster College, was granted a 2024 Summer Research Fellowship for her work with kombucha tea fermentation. Garza is a biochemistry major from Spring Hill, Tenn., and one of 10 students selected for this year’s program. Garza’s work, “To Ferment or Not to Ferment: Exploring the Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties of Kombucha Tea,” was examined with her mentor, Dr. Jessica Sarver, associate professor and chair of the chemistry department. Garza is an active member of Student Government Association (SGA), the Sexuality and Gender Alliance club (SAGA), Chemistry Club, Tri-Beta and Greek life on campus.  
 
Why did you apply for the fellowship?
I applied for the fellowship to work on my capstone project in more depth than I can during a regular academic semester and to gain more experience in the lab.

Monday, July 22, 2024

Meet Talia Morgenstern ’26, a rising junior and one of 10 students granted a 2024 Summer Research Fellowship at Westminster College. Morgenstern, a biology major from New Wilmington, is researching “Effects of Neuropeptide Y on S. aureus Biofilm Formation” with her mentor, Dr. Joshua Corrette-Bennett, associate professor of biology. Morgenstern is a member of Pi Sigma Pi Honor Society and serves as the secretary of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) Club.  She also plays guitar for her church worship team.

Friday, July 19, 2024

If you haven’t had a chance to lose yourself in a good book this summer, there is still plenty of time—and Westminster College faculty members have some suggestions to help you while away the hours.

Thursday, July 18, 2024

David LaMotte, award-winning singer-songwriter, peace activist and author of “You Are Changing the World Whether You Like It or Not” will speak at Westminster College at 4 p.m. Monday, July 22, in Mueller Theater of the McKelvey Campus Center.

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Two Westminster College students presented their undergraduate research at the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) Allegheny Mountain Section Meeting at Fairmont State University in West Virginia in the spring.

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Lily Hefner is one of 10 students awarded a 2024 Summer Research Fellowship at Westminster College. A rising senior honors student from Washington, Pa., Hefner is majoring in molecular biology and criminal justice studies. Her project, “Identifying Genes Affected by MAO Inhibition,” was conducted through a research partnership with her mentor, Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Marosh Furimsky. Hefner is an active participant in Westminster’s Model United Nations club, the women’s swim team, All-College Honors Program and serves as the head resident assistant in Russell Hall. She also works as a peer tutor in Westminster’s Academic Success Center.

Monday, July 15, 2024

Dr. Timothy Grieve-Carlson, assistant professor of interfaith studies at Westminster College, has authored a new book, “American Aurora: Environment and Apocalypse in the Life of Johannes Kelpius.”

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Westminster College is celebrating the most successful fundraising year in recent college history after receiving more than $10 million—including four gifts of $1 million or more—during the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Rising senior and honors student Erin DaRe is one of 10 students selected for the 2024 Summer Research Fellowship at Westminster. The history major from Mars, Pa., is researching “Do Hobbyists View History Differently?” with Dr. Angela Lahr, associate professor of history. Outside of the classroom, DaRe is a peer tutor, a peer success coach and has been an active member of the campus’ Gaming Guild.

Why did you apply for the summer research fellowship?
I applied to this fellowship because I think that humanities research deserves a little extra love—it’s much different than working in a lab, and people from other fields may not understand what research in history looks like. It’s not just reading books—it’s about exploring and looking for connections that might have never been noticed before. We go in with a question, but we don’t necessarily have a hypothesis, and that makes the research more fun, in my opinion. I also wanted to further my career in the hopes of writing a paper that can be published. Additionally, Dr. Lahr is wonderful, and I love working with her, so having a faculty mentor to help guide my research was greatly appealing.
 
Can you briefly describe your project?
My project is an oral history, meaning I am conducting interviews regarding a group of people who are interested in a specific antique car—the Tucker 48. I’m looking to see if their hobby has any impact on how they view history—especially since the car was produced right after World War II and at the onset of the Cold War—and if there are any patterns in their viewpoints.