Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

As a tribute to the renowned opera star and Bradford native, Marilyn Horne, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford changed the name of its six-story downtown property from the Seneca Building to Marilyn Horne Hall. The University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees approved the name change Friday in Pittsburgh. In May Pitt-Bradford will open a 3,400 square-foot museum in the hall dedicated to Horne, who donated her archives to the University of Pittsburgh. “Ms. Horne is beside herself with joy and excitement that a building in the place of her birth is being named in her honor,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, president of Pitt-Bradford. “She is truly humbled by the honor and looks forward to joining us on May 6 for the dedication and opening of the Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center in Marilyn Horne Hall.” Horne, who is Bradford’s most famous native daughter, was born in 1934. Her father, Bentz Horne, encouraged her to pursue her musical dreams. She moved with her family to L...

Dr. Om Singh, associate professor of biology, will receive the inaugural President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, Scholarship and Service at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford during its commencement exercises Sunday afternoon. Dr. Livingston Alexander, president of Pitt-Bradford, will present Singh with the award, which was created to recognize faculty who perform at the highest level in the principal areas of faculty responsibility: teaching, scholarship and service. “We’re fortunate to have on our campus exceptionally talented faculty members who enthusiastically share their knowledge and experience with our students,” Alexander said. “This award will shed a spotlight not only on superior work in the classroom, but also on high levels of productivity in research and service to the campus and the community. Dr. Singh has performed admirably across all three areas and is well-deserving of this award.” Singh, who has been teaching at Pitt-...

Northwest Savings Bank has made a $25,000 contribution to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford to provide tuition support for high school students in the region who are taking classes through the university’s Bridges and College in the High School dual enrollment programs. The contribution comes through a tax credit program offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. This is the third year Northwest has taken advantage of the program to support Pitt-Bradford. “We’re pleased to be able to support Pitt-Bradford and local students through this tax credit program,” said Bill Pantuso, senior vice president, district manager – Warren, McKean, Potter and Tioga counties. “Northwest and Pitt-Bradford both have deep roots in the region, and we look forward to future partnerships that help meet the educational needs of students and employers.” Pitt-Bradford has two kinds of programs in which students can e...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has exceeded its enrollment goals for new freshmen and transfer students for the 2014-15 academic year. Early enrollment numbers indicate that 417 new freshmen and 154 transfer students have joined upperclass students this fall when classes started Aug. 25. Currently, Pitt-Bradford’s total enrollment stands at 1,531, a 4.5 percent increase over the enrollment count at this time last year. Of that total, 1,402 students are full time, a 3.6 percent increase, and 129 are part time, a 16 percent hike. “We are pleased with these enrollment numbers,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, university president, “particularly in light of the declining number of high school graduates in our region and beyond and the number of other institutions in Pennsylvania that are experiencing significant enrollment declines. “This tells us that more and more students are recognizing the value of studying on a student-centered campus ...

More students than ever before want to live on campus this fall at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. With the addition this fall of Lester and Barbara Rice House, which can house109 students, Pitt-Bradford now can accommodate 1,028 students on campus. However, there are around 20 additional students who want to live on campus this fall. Instead of turning those students away, university officials have partnered with the Best Western to provide rooms so all of those students who want housing will be accommodated. “We are pleased that so many more students want to live on campus,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, Pitt-Bradford’s president. “We attribute that increased desire, in part, to our comfortable residence halls and the vibrant campus life we offer our students. We know this to be true because more students living in the region, who could commute, are opting to live on campus instead.” Another reason for the increase in on-campus li...

The president of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and the state attorney general are among the people who will be participating in the fourth and final public hearing concerning increased heroin use in Pennsylvania. Dr. Livingston Alexander and Kathleen Kane, as well as Clarion University President Dr. Karen Whitney are just three of the people who will be testifying at the hearing Tuesday morning at Clarion. The Center for Rural Pennsylvania says information from this hearing and the three previous hearing can be used to develop legislative policies that may help curb the use of heroin and other opioids that are having an effect on rural Pennsylvania. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg, whose significant support of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has resulted in unprecedented growth, received the Presidential Medal of Distinction at a tribute reception and dinner on Thursday evening. The presidential medal is Pitt-Bradford’s highest honor. “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of a remarkable leader, whose impact has extended well beyond the Pittsburgh campus,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, president of Pitt-Bradford. “Throughout his tenure, Chancellor Nordenberg has been an ardent supporter and advocate for our campus. He inspires us to do our very best to advance the university.” Last summer Nordenberg announced he would step down after serving 19 years as chancellor in August of this year. During his tenure, enrollment has increased and average SAT scores have risen at the campus in Pittsburgh and in Bradford. ...

A book chronicling the rich 50-year history of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has been published, and current president Dr. Livingston Alexander and former president Dr. Richard E. McDowell will autograph copies at a book signing next week on campus. The book-signing event, being held to mark the release of the book, “A History of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford,” will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Friday, April 25, in the Frame-Westerberg Commons. The event will begin with brief remarks by Alexander and McDowell in the Commons’ first-floor lobby. Following the remarks, Alexander and McDowell will move to the Panther Shop, where they will sign books. The book is currently available for pre-order at the Panther Shop’s online store at http://thepanthershop.com . Anyone pre-ordering the book will receive a 10 percent discount. Books also will be available for purchase beginning April 25 at the Panther Shop. The book signing, which is b...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has created a new award for qualifying students from Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties in New York that will reduce their tuition costs, enabling them to pay standard Pennsylvania tuition rather than higher out-of-state rates. Dr. Livingston Alexander, president, explained that the new award decreases the cost for qualifying students from the current out-of-state tuition rate of $22,812 per year to the current Pennsylvania in-station tuition rate of $12,208 per year. “This is a great opportunity for students residing in our neighboring New York counties,” he said in a news release sent to WESB. “We’ve strived to make our high-quality college education affordable and accessible for all students who seek to ‘go beyond.’ This award will make attending Pitt-Bradford even more affordable for students in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties who are looking for an emphasis on teaching quality, the support of one of the nation’s...

Dr. Tracee Howell has joined the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Office of the President as the executive associate to President Livingston Alexander. As executive associate, Howell will work at the president’s direction to oversee and support various university projects and programs; she will also serve as the officer responsible for compliance with institutional affirmative action policies and procedures. Howell has taught American literature and composition at Pitt-Bradford since 2007 and has also served as a writing consultant in the Writing Center. Before coming to Pitt-Bradford, she worked with the thirteenth and fourteenth presidents at the University at Buffalo as assistant to the president for communications from 2001 to 2005, and as a staff writer from 1998 to 2001. At UB, Howell taught courses in American literature, cultural studies, women’s studies and composition. She has also taught philosophy and composition at the Cattaraugus County Campus ...

Minard Run Oil Co. has made a $25,000 contribution to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford that will allow more high school students to take advantage of a program that allows them to earn college credit at minimal cost. The contribution is made possible through a tax credit program offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. This is the second year Minard Run has taken advantage of the program. “We’re happy to make this investment to allow students to have the opportunity to bridge their education to a potentially greater future,” said Frederick Fesenmyer, owner, president and chief executive officer of Minard Run Oil. Pitt-Bradford has two programs in which students can earn both high school and college credits for the same course, BRIDGES and College in the High School. Both programs will benefit from Minard Run’s contribution. In the BRIDGES program, high school students attend Pitt-Bradford...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford plans to break ground next week on a $9.3 million, 109-bed residence hall. Earlier this month, the University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees’ property and facilities committee approved the project, which is expected to be approved by the full board on Friday. The 40,120-square-foot, three-story residence hall will be located on the side of the lawn in front of Hanley Library nearest to Blaisdell Hall. “This will be the fourth residence hall we’ve built in 8 years,” noted University President Dr. Livingston Alexander. “This rate of campus construction reflects not only the growth in our student population, but also its changing profile. Since more of our students are coming to us from distant locations, more of our students now require on-campus accommodations. We’re very grateful to the Board of Trustees for their recognition of our growing need for new student housing.” The additional rooms should b...