The ’Grove

When Susquehanna University students built a plank walkway in 1859 to connect their young campus to downtown Selinsgrove, they did more than create a path — they built a bridge between the university and its community. More than 165 years later, that spirit of connection continues through programs that bring students and local partners together for meaningful impact.  Today, Susquehanna’s students are walking a new kind of bridge — one made of service, collaboration and purpose. Through Amplify,…

The years between 1860 and 1920 saw an extraordinary explosion of new musical styles in America. Much of this music — from spirituals and brass bands to ragtime, blues and early “jass” — came roaring back to life through performances and lectures last October at Susquehanna University’s Symposium on Historic American Music: Diverse Sounds for a Young Nation.  “Sheet music in the 18th and 19th centuries was considered disposable, much like newspapers today,” explains Rick Benjamin, adjunct instructor…

What if a single drop of blood could be the key to solving a murder? Is a single strand of hair enough to put a person behind bars?  In Forensic Chemistry, taught by Lou Ann Tom, associate professor of chemistry, students work in groups to solve a criminal case. Each week new evidence is revealed, and the case builds until students present their final project as a court case. "Dr. Tom’s expertise and passion for the subject makes the…

When U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 college rankings, Susquehanna University reached a historic milestone: it broke into the top 100 national liberal arts colleges, landing at No. 96 for overall academic quality.  “It’s very rewarding to see Susquehanna recognized among the nation’s best,” says University President Jonathan Green. “It affirms the dedication of our faculty and staff and the achievements of our students. It is gratifying that as U.S. News has focused more on outcomes measures…

Patrick Long, dean of the arts and humanities “Pat brings a deep well of institutional knowledge about Susquehanna, paired with a genuine passion for scholarship and a forward-looking vision for the university and its students,” Provost Dave Ramsaran said. “Coupled with the high regard in which he is held by his colleagues, Pat is well positioned to lead both the School of the Arts and the School of Humanities into a bright and successful future.” As dean…

Four Susquehanna University students were awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship this past academic year. Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 to support their study-abroad experiences. Jayden Checket ’26, a psychology major from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, will study at Maastricht University’s International Summer School in the Netherlands. Evelyn Horn ’27, a psychology major from New Columbia, Pennsylvania, will study in Galway, Ireland. Madison Hoy ’26, an environmental studies major from Shamokin, Pennsylvania, studied at Maastricht University in…

Syllabus is an ongoing series of stories that gives readers an inside look at some of Susquehanna’s most interesting classes. From cell phones to social media, rarely is there a moment when we are not under some form of surveillance. In the class Anthropology of Surveillance, students learn about the scope of surveillance and the methods that are used to collect information about and track everyday people, while also examining how constant surveillance affects individuals and…

The free, easy-to-use app, called Turbidivision, can measure the turbidity, or cloudiness, of water through user-uploaded images. The app was developed by Ian Rudy ’24 under the guidance of Matt Wilson, director of Susquehanna University’s Center for Environmental Education and Research and Freshwater Research Institute.  “In fields ranging from environmental science to public health, assessing water quality is vital,” Wilson says. “These tests often begin with measuring turbidity, which can impact water clarity and drinkability.” Estimated by the…

KaMeron Hopkins ’26, a computer science major from Odenton, Maryland, has been awarded the prestigious and highly competitive Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship by the U.S. Department of State — one of only 15 awarded annually in the United States. Hopkins’ interest in the fellowship opportunity stems from his work as an intern with the U.S. Department of Defense, a position he has held since he was in high school that has generally centered around data…

President Jonathan Green has been selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Founded in 1976, NAICU serves as the unified voice on public policy issues for the nation’s 1,700 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. He currently serves on NAICU’s Tax Policy Committee. Green has also just been named chair of the Annapolis Group and is chair emeritus of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities…

Syllabus is an ongoing series of stories that gives readers an inside look at some of Susquehanna’s most interesting classes. The definition of family is constantly evolving. John Bodinger de Uriarte’s anthropology course Family and Kinship explores family from the first instances of humans all the way to our contemporary times. “Theories of kinship are fundamental to the historical trajectory of anthropology,” says Bodinger de Uriarte, professor of anthropology. “While earlier studies of kinship may have approached…

Susquehanna University’s departments of music and theatre partnered to present two one-act operas for an historic weekend. “Susquehanna’s performance of Fête Galante constitutes the first-ever, fully staged production of the opera in the United States, while The False Harlequin is staged very rarely,” says Associate Professor of Music David Steinau. “The opportunity to enjoy a fully staged opera — with sets and costumes — is rare for our area, and we were excited to offer our…