Women's Volleyball
Juniata’s women’s volleyball team topped Trinity to win the 2022 DIII women’s volleyball championship in November to the delight of their loyal fans. The win marked the College’s third national title and the first since 2006. The team and their coaches were celebrated upon their return to campus, bringing with them the coveted Division III National Championship Trophy. Under the leadership of Head Coach Heather Pavlik ’95, the team finished a nearly perfect season, with only one loss.
Tickborne Disease Research
An ongoing public health project, Juniata College’s Rural Community Solutions to Address Tickborne Diseases: A One Health Initiative, is funded through a $995,000 award secured with the support of U.S. Rep. John Joyce. Through the local research of current and emerging tickborne pathogens, prevention and treatment education initiatives will be implemented to benefit the residents and visitors to Huntingdon County. From the collection of samples in the field and analysis in the lab to the design of educational online and print materials and delivery of presentations to the community, this project highlights the value of interdisciplinarity within the liberal arts.
Mock Trial
In their fifth year, Juniata’s Mock Trial Team, led by Coach David Andrews ’74, Juniata’s General Counsel, is recognized throughout the country as a force to be reckoned with. Ranked No. 2 in Pennsylvania and No. 38 in the nation among 700 teams competing in the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) competition, the team has advanced to National Playoffs every year and faced off against the highest-ranked teams in the nation at the AMTA National Championship Tournament for the past two years.
Rosenberger Auditorium
A $3 million renovation project is underway to modernize Rosenberger Auditorium within the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts. This space is where Juniata’s students experience significant milestones throughout their college journey—from their first campus tour to their final spring convocation, with countless cultural and community events in between! Once complete, Rosenberger Auditorium will be outfitted with new seating (including accessible seating areas), technology upgrades, improved lighting, acoustics, and soundproofing, and a new entryway and lobby in front of the auditorium.
First Full-Time AD in History
After a nationwide search, Nikki Ayers ’06 was named Juniata’s first full-time Director of Athletics in June 2022. Before her return to the College, she was the Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California. Nikki is the most decorated soccer player in Juniata’s history and, in 2018, was the first soccer player to be inducted into the college’s Hall of Fame. She was awarded the Charles Bargerstock Award, presented to the senior female athlete who has made the greatest contribution to Juniata Athletics. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management at Juniata and her master’s degree in leadership at Duquesne University in 2012.
Ukraine Symposium
"The War in Ukraine: Global Perspectives," an international symposium hosted by the Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, brought together a distinguished group of scholars, academics, and professionals from around the world. Featured speakers included Anna Ohanyan (at podium), Richard B. Finnegan Distinguished Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Stonehill College, Easton, Ma., and Atila Uras (on screen), Senior Programme Officer at UN Environment Programme (UNEP), temporarily deployed to support the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Ukraine. Speakers focused on the conflict and war in Ukraine, its implications for world peace and stability, and practical and realistic efforts for peaceful transformation.
MLK Day of Service
Juniata faculty, students, and staff observed the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service by assisting local organizations and completing various community service projects. This federal holiday is designated as "a day on, not a day off," in honor of the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Volunteers spent the day baking for Cookies for Caregivers, painting at the Huntingdon Community Center, and volunteering at the Mount Union Library, Huntingdon County Humane Society, and at other locations throughout the region.
A message from our board chair
The members of the Board of Trustees are very proud of the work we’ve accomplished in the past year. Highlights include:
We are very proud of the Middle States reaccreditation results. Juniata exists to educate students, and the accreditation confirms our competency and focus on liberal arts education.
The development and approval of All In: The Strategic Plan for Juniata College positions us well for a successful future.
Fiscal year 2023 ended with a positive bottom line following the challenges of COVID-19. This, coupled with the third-largest incoming first-year class in August 2023, provides optimism and excitement for the campus.
Juniata College Board of Trustees 2023-2024
Officers
- Mary M. White ‘73, Chair
- Carl D. Glaeser ’77, Vice Chair
- Gail M. Habecker ‘76, Treasurer
- Jeff Scaccia, Assistant Treasurer
- Bruce L. Moyer ‘74, Secretary
- Katie Guise, Assistant Secretary
Members
- James A. Troha (ex-officio)
- Christopher E. Bair ’92
- David E. Christopher ’96
- Cynthia Gilbert Clarke ’76
- Nicole C. Close ’92
- Jeffery P. Craft ’00
- Randall C. Deike ‘88
- Jayne K. Donahue ’75
- David J. Fahey ’81
- Sarah Young Fisher ’75
- Joy L. Hadley ’84
- William P. Hayes
- Steven J. Holsinger ’76
- Eric C. Jensen ’77
- Michael A. L. Johnson ’07
- Elaine V. Jones ’76
- Michael J. Klag ’74
- Randy L. Kochel ’79
- Fred C. Mason ’73
- Robert S. McMinn III ’79
- Howard M. Nathan ’75
- Colleen E. Ostrowski ’95
- Carol A. Pletcher ’66
- William A. Rys ’96
- Parisha P. Shah ’01
- Henry F. Siedzikowski ’75
- P. Bradford Sterl ’76
- Daniel K. Sunderland ‘88
- Christopher J. Thompson ’87
- George P. Valko ’75
- Carol L. Van Horn ’79
- Friedhelm Wulczyn ‘75
New Senior Leadership Team Members
Elizabeth Homan
Vice President for Strategic Marketing and Communication
Beth guides the creative endeavors of Juniata’s branding, marketing content and materials production, and internal and external communication aligned with the College’s strategic goals and shapes how the College’s brand interacts and intersects with Juniata’s audiences, including current and prospective students, faculty and staff, alumni, families, and members of the wider Huntingdon community. She comes to Juniata from Howard Community College (HCC) in Columbia, Maryland, where she served as executive director of public relations and marketing. Beth has had an award-winning career in higher education marketing and communications over the past 20 years, with extensive experience in creative services, website content, social media, crisis communication, media relations, and video production.
Derek A. James
Dean of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Derek works closely with Juniata’s faculty, administration, and students to advance its strategic priority of growing, nurturing, and supporting an inclusive, engaged, and vibrant community. He most recently held the role of coordinator of multicultural programs within the College of Agricultural Sciences at the Pennsylvania State University, where he developed programming focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion and served as one of the College of Agricultural Sciences’ subject matter experts. For the past 18 years, James has worked in secondary and higher education, focused on providing opportunities for those historically excluded and those who have faced structural barriers and inequitable policies that have prevented equal access and chances to succeed.
Jeff Scaccia
Vice President for Business & Finance
Jeff manages business, finance, accounts payable, investments, facilities operations, payroll, and auxiliary services as Juniata’s Chief Financial Officer. He works closely with all leadership to strategically advance operational effectiveness while ensuring fiscal integrity and solvency of all College assets. He previously served as Vice President for Finance and Administration at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. At Presbyterian, Jeff presided over the annual budgeting process and implemented a five-year budget model while modifying cash management procedures to increase the yield on cash reserves significantly. During his tenure, he managed over $20 million of construction and renovation projects with varying levels of oversight regarding planning, design, and construction.