Another year at Susquehanna University brought moments of discovery, celebration and pride — from standout scholarship and campus milestones to student achievements that reached far beyond Selinsgrove.
As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a look back at some of the stories, people and accomplishments that shaped an unforgettable year for the River Hawk community.
Students represent around the country and the world
River Hawks took their talents around the world this year — and brought home major recognition along the way.
Maggie Bachman ’26 was named to the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge’s 2025 Student Voting Honor Roll for helping to register more than 400 Susquehanna students to vote in the 2024 election.
Fernando Dysico ’26 represented Susquehanna at the Asia Youth International Model U.N. conference in Seoul, while Brianna Le ’26 rediscovered her Vietnamese heritage while studying abroad through the endowed Eric N. Stein Fund for International Experience.
Toni Momodu ’25 was one of only 30 students nationwide selected for the inaugural TRIO Future Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., and several music students sharpened their craft at Orvieto Musica in Italy.
On campus, student media and performance groups continued to shine. WQSU added more College Media Awards to its growing national total, PRSSA claimed its third first-place finish in the Gift of Life Students Save Lives College Challenge, and Susquehanna vocalists earned 10 top placements at the Allegheny Mountain Chapter’s NATS competition — more than any other competing institution.
Scholars garner worldwide recognition
Susquehanna faculty earned national and international recognition this year.
Charles B. Degenstein Professor of English Laurence Roth’s recently released memoir, Unpacking My Father’s Bookstore, was listed among NPR’s 2025 Books We Love in the biography and memoir category.
Ahmed Lachhab, co-department head and associate professor of earth & environmental sciences, received a prestigious Getty Foundation grant to present his ground-penetrating radar research at an international mosaics conference in Athens, showcasing how his work is helping preserve ancient Roman sites in Morocco.
Charles B. Degenstein Professor of Chemistry Geneive Henry was awarded the Henry McBay Outstanding Educator Award from the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers.
Associate Professor of Finance Sirapat Polwitoon and Andrew Felo, associate professor of accounting, were appointed to national roles within their respective professional organizations.
Alumni make their mark
Susquehanna alumni continued to shine on national stages in 2025.
Ashlie Crosson ’11 was named the 2025 National Teacher of the Year — the first Pennsylvanian ever to earn the honor and the third Susquehanna graduate in as many years to receive their state’s top teaching award.
Scientist Ashley Shade ’04 received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from former President Joe Biden, the highest federal recognition for early-career researchers.
And in Washington, D.C., Philip Hirsch ’86 returned to his roots when he was installed as bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod.
River Hawks soar
Approximately one-third of Susquehanna’s students participate in at least one of the university’s 23 NCAA DIII athletics teams. In 2025, several of those teams brought home Landmark conference championships and broke records in the process.
Susquehanna rolled into the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals for the second straight year with a rematch against Johns Hopkins. Though their season would end there, five players were named Associated Press NCAA Division III All-Americans, including kicker Dominic Bourgeois, who was named Special Teams Player of the Year after setting a school record 20 of 20 field goals to lead the nation.
Men’s track & field claimed its fifth consecutive Landmark outdoor title and set a meet scoring record, while two First Team All-Americans emerged at nationals.
Athletics also welcomed new leadership with Johnny Powell taking over women’s volleyball and John Funk stepping in as head coach for men’s and women’s swimming & diving.
Research that matters
Ahmed Lachhab, co-department head and associate professor of earth & environmental sciences, and two of his students used ground-penetrating radar to identify long-lost graves hidden beneath the ground for centuries at the Historic Warrior Run Church, which has served as a final resting place for community members and veterans from the Revolutionary, Civil and Mexican wars and the War of 1812.
Students in Assistant Professor of Earth & Environmental Sciences Siobhan Fathel’s Climate and Global Change course translated peer-reviewed scientific journal articles into children’s books. From an asthmatic oyster to a sad sasquatch, every story focuses on an impact from climate change, and cites the research article that inspired it.
New research from Susquehanna’s Rolfe Peterson, associate professor of political science, takes a closer look at how gender traits — rather than gender identity alone — influence political ambition.
Students in Pavithra Vivekanand’s biology lab are exploring how environmentally friendly and biocompatible gold nanoparticles affect inflammation — and one student researcher has a personal connection to the work.
Thomas Morahan ’26 won Best Undergraduate Poster at the 79th annual meeting of the Phycological Society of America in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Climbing the charts
Susquehanna University continues its ascent in U.S. News & World Report’s Best National Liberal Arts Colleges ranking, breaking the top 100 at No. 96. The university was also ranked No. 38 among Best Value Schools and No. 73 in Undergraduate Teaching Programs among national liberal arts colleges.
The university also ranked among the top universities in the U.S. for career-long earnings, according to a new report from Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.
Susquehanna earned additional national recognitions from The Princeton Review, Forbes and the Wall Street Journal.
New spaces, new programs, new possibilities
This year brought exciting growth to Susquehanna — new spaces, new programs and new ways of sharing the university’s story with the world.
Susquehanna launched a fully redesigned version of its website, susqu.edu, marking a major advancement in its digital presence. The reimagined platform transforms how the university connects with students, families, alumni and the wider River Hawk community through authentic storytelling and a modern user experience.
The first phase of the Charles B. Degenstein Campus Center expansion opened renovated dining and lounge spaces and set the stage for a new event center coming next spring.
Across campus, the new Makerspace in Seibert Hall is fueling collaboration between creativity and technology.
Susquehanna’s first Symposium on Historic American Music: Diverse Sounds for a Young Nation sought to highlight early American music — from spirituals and brass bands to ragtime, blues and early “jass” — at risk of being lost forever. This successful first venture got a shoutout in The New York Times.
The university will offer an exercise science degree program beginning in fall 2026. Students majoring in exercise science will be prepared to pursue in-demand careers in health, fitness and wellness.
Stories you don’t want to miss
There are certain moments that reflect the true heart of a community, and we really like these.
For five decades, Tina Landis has been a friendly and familiar face in Susquehanna’s dining hall. This fall, the university honored her remarkable service during Homecoming–Reunion Weekend.
Students and faculty from Susquehanna University’s Freshwater Research Institute joined with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association to rescue more than 900 fish that were stranded after the Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam was deflated for the season.
Several students who are also certified EMTs are making a difference through their involvement in the newly formed EMS Club and their partnership with the Dauntless Hook & Ladder Ambulance Service in Selinsgrove.
Social media captures special moments
From Instagram to Facebook, we highlighted some of the moments that are most treasured by Susquehanna students and alumni, including the first day of classes, Halloween on the Ave. and Thanksgiving dinner.
We also listened as grads gave advice to their younger selves, caught a glimpse of our students becoming kids again in the season’s first snowfall, and saw Benny steal the spotlight at the Little League World Series.
