Providing Healing, Promoting Hope

During the last several weeks the world has witnessed the unjustified invasion of a sovereign nation as Ukraine faces attack by Russia. Television and social media bring us images of the horrors of war that inflict both physical and emotional trauma to Ukranians of all ages.

Please keep the Ukranian people and their loved ones abroad in your thoughts. Not knowing the fate of your loved ones is agonizing, especially when they are faced with such difficult choices—fleeing their homes as refuges, or staying behind to fight for their country and freedoms.

Television icon Fred Rogers said, “in times of crisis look for the helpers,” That sentiment rings especially true today. I think of the image of strollers left at a Polish train station for Ukranian refugees and their children. It’s an image of neighbors helping neighbors—helpers in action.

Leaving your home for a foreign land is not easy. When I left my native Syria to come to the United States it was incredibly difficult, but a decision that gave my family hope for a better future. Fortunately, I had a strong support system, including my teachers who helped me bridge the language barrier as I learned to speak English at age 10. I was blessed to find the helpers.

In March we celebrate Women’s History Month. This year’s theme is “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.”

The theme represents the countless number of women, who as medical doctors, nurses, soldiers, counselors, clerics, teachers, and mothers worldwide, have stepped forward to provide healing throughout history and certainly during the ongoing global pandemic.

We’re also seeing that in Ukraine with female doctors taking care of the wounded, or the mothers who are desperate to protect their children and keep them out of harm’s way. We’ve seen teachers in underground shelters working to keep children safe and focus their attention on stories and learning while hoping the attacks will soon come to an end. We need to be eternally grateful for the sacrifices women around the globe have made for others. In story after story, they are the helpers.

    Bashar W. Hanna, President

Our world needs more kindness

I recently tweeted a statement that really speaks to me and which I believe can guide us as we live, work, and learn together.

“Leadership does not need to be loud and kindness should never be interpreted as weakness. Lead quietly with kindness.”

Our world needs more kindness. As the late General Colin Powell wrote in his book, It Worked for Me, "You can never err by treating everyone in the building with respect, thoughtfulness, and a kind word."

Whether you find yourself in a leadership position today or aspire to lead others in the future — Let’s choose to lead with compassion, kindness and respect. It’s up to us to create and foster working environments that embody our values of inclusion, growth, and kindness.

During the month of February, our nation celebrates Black History Month. Together we must continue to champion the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to make our campuses more welcoming to our underserved populations.

To that end, our campuses, along with our sibling PASSHE schools, are conducting the System-wide Campus Climate Survey which opened Jan. 31. The results will allow our campuses and the State System to assess ourselves and support the development of strategies to promote inclusive campus and system communities.

If you are a student or employee of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, or Mansfield please complete the survey. Your participation is important and anonymous.

It is our goal to make our university families and communities open and welcoming to all.

Frederick Douglass, one of the great Black scholars of the 19th century, penned many profound words on education. He underlined the importance of education as part of a process of realizing human potential, furthering justice, and achieving freedom: “Education …means emancipation,” he said. “It means light and liberty.”

During Black History Month, I encourage you to engage one another with kindness, respect, and understanding. Let us take this opportunity to embody our values through our actions and bring light and liberty to those around us.

    Bashar W. Hanna, President

Challenge Yourself in 2022

The start of a new calendar year always brings me a sense of excitement, anticipation, and hope for the coming year. While I have never been someone to make resolutions, I have spent some time looking for ways to become a better version of myself as a husband, father, brother, uncle, colleague, and leader. 

Taking a step back, like an artist staring at a blank wall and reimagining who you are, is a healthy way to grow as a person. Whether that means creating good habits or committing to doing something to help others, it takes time and continuous effort to be the best you. So don't be afraid to challenge yourself in 2022. Together, we can make our community a shining example for others.

As our campuses spring back to life and we welcome students from the semester break, we move forward with enthusiasm immersed in the details of the integration of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield. Each day walking through the doors of Carver Hall I am energized knowing our vision for the integrated university is taking shape, and the promise of an exemplary student experience remains our highest priority. The expansion of high-quality affordable educational opportunities for our students remains our steadfast commitment. 

 We're also looking forward to spring semester traditions that are the hallmark of maintaining vibrant campuses within our respective communities. And most importantly, we're changing the lives of students and their families forever. In short, we're reimagining public higher education for the coming decades!

If you have any questions about the integration process, please email neintegration@bloomu.edu or check out bloomu.edu/integration for more information.

So remember, a new year means a new blank canvas awaits to paint a new picture. Always remember, as Iva Ursano, a Canadian blogger, once wrote, 'You are the artist of your own life. Don't hand the paintbrush to anyone else.'

Go Huskies!

    Bashar W. Hanna, President

A season of giving and thanks

During our most recent Bloomsburg University Council of Trustees meeting, I had the honor of announcing a $5.3 million gift to the University from radio and media legend Kerby Confer. This generous gift will allow us to create a state-of-the-art media center for students aspiring to achieve success in the fields of radio, video, podcasts, live streaming, as well as other areas of broadcasting and media. In recognition of the impact this gift will have on the University, BU will name the new facility the Kerby Confer Media Center.

A central focus of the Confer Media Center will be to prepare students to enter the radio and media industries. As Kerby said to our trustees after the gift was announced, “This will make north-central Pennsylvania the hub for media.” I can’t thank Kerby enough for his commitment and for helping us bring that vision to life.

Gifts such as this one from Kerby and Steph Pettit ’89 in 2019 help BU transform the lives of our students and their families for generations to come. While gifts of this magnitude are transformational, every gift is significant. Our most recent Giving Tuesday resulted in over $40,000 from 168 donors. Those donors included 26 current students whose $1,375 in contributions will be matched by me. Now, more than ever, the need is great for immediate use funds to support students in earning their BU degree. 

On behalf of our students, a heartfelt thank you!

Speaking of the moments that can change a family’s direction for generations, last weekend, we held our Fall commencement ceremonies, in-person. It was wonderful to celebrate this milestone event with our students, their families and friends.

Now, as we near the end of 2021 and gather with those near and dear for the holidays, I send warm wishes for a season of joy.

May you stay healthy and safe and have time to relax, recharge, and get ready to usher in 2022!

    Bashar W. Hanna, President

We have much to be grateful for

It has been a busy Fall semester on campus and November was filled with a host of important events.

The month began with First Gen Week, a celebration of our students who are the first in their families to attend college. As a first generation student myself, I have walked in your shoes questioning whether or not if I belonged in college. But know that you are not alone in this journey at BU. There are resources on our campus to help you so don’t be afraid to raise a hand. Your destiny awaits if you stay the course and remain focused. This week I join with our campus community to honor and celebrate the more than 1,700 BU First Gen students who are set to be the first in their families to earn a bachelor’s degree.

We also celebrated Veterans Week to honor and recognize those who have served our country in the military. At BU we take great pride in our Military and Veterans Resource office which works to support our students as they pursue their educational goals. It was an honor to host the fourth annual luncheon for our faculty/staff/student veterans on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. In addition, our BU Student Veterans Association held its annual Suicide Awareness Walk on Friday, Nov. 12, at 8 a.m.

Our final recognition week of the month was No Hate Week from Nov. 13-18. This year’s theme is “No More Silence.” As a campus, town, state, and nation, we must work to treat each other equally, fairly, and without fear. One of the most impactful programs during the week that serves as a bridge for our University and the community we call home is “Beyond the Fountain”, an annual Community Government Association (CGA) event, which was held on on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. in the Kehr Union Ballroom. The week wrapped up on Thursday, Nov. 18, with “A Conversation with Albert Jones,” the chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer for Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield universities.

Finally, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    Bashar W. Hanna, President

A September to remember

This Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 through Oct. 15), I invite you to join with all of us at BU as we highlight and honor the contributions of Americans of Mexican, Spanish, Caribbean, and Central and South American descent in all aspects of American life.

We kicked off our celebrations earlier this month (Sept. 9) with a presentation by Javier Ávila, an author and professor whose work with students earned him the 2015 Pennsylvania Professor of the Year Award sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. 

Professor Ávila offered a close examination of the American Latino experience and said, quite profoundly, that “we can never be free if we have to hide who we are.”

Over the next 30 days, I hope you will participate in the many events that have been planned for BU’s Hispanic Heritage Month. You can learn more about those events by visiting our website.

Finally, I want to thank our students and my colleagues who helped coordinate and took part in BU’s 9/11 Day of Remembrance event earlier this month. 

What a powerful tribute it was to hear from two members of the BU Family and proud alumnae: PA State Treasurer Stacy Garrity ’86 and Elizabeth Miller ’17. Our remembrance of Sept. 11 is especially important when one considers that many of our students are too young to remember the tragic events of that day. For this reason, it is ever important to honor the memory of those we lost and pay tribute to our first responders.

A President's Welcome

Welcome to the Fall 2021 semester! It’s wonderful to have everyone back, and especially energizing to see our students back on campus. Welcome back to all our returning students, and a special welcome to our first-year and transfer students – I look forward to seeing you in the Commons and on the Quad.

To our faculty and staff, I thank all of you for your unwavering commitment to our students, and appreciate your perseverance in spite of the challenges we’ve encountered over the past 18 months. Special thanks to all our colleagues, CAs, and HOWLs who have been helping our newest students move in and get acquainted with the campus over the past couple weeks.

As you recently read, the health and safety of our campus community remains a high priority for us as we begin this semester. We continue to track the COVID-19 virus, and we have mandated masking indoors on campus because of the recent increase in positive cases in our county. I thank all of you for your cooperation in support of our commitment to conclude the semester as we begin it: in-person, and with a vibrant campus life and educational experience for all students.

I ask each of you to please wear a face covering of some sort while indoors, and please check our regular campus email announcements and COVID-19 dashboard for the latest updates. I remind all students that they will be automatically entered into our scholarship lottery upon providing proof of vaccination to our Student Health Center (SHC). Please visit the SHC webpage for further information on the scholarship opportunities, COVID testing, and on-campus vaccine registration.

Best of luck to all our students as we commence this academic year together, and thanks again to all my colleagues for your hard work and dedication in support of our students.

Please continue to be safe, mask up, and GO HUSKIES!

    Bashar W. Hanna, President