Emmy-winning filmmaker and philanthropist Abigail Disney will visit Gettysburg College for programs exploring storytelling, economic inequality, and social change, culminating in the 20th anniversary of the Derrick K. Gondwe Memorial Lecture on Social and Economic Justice on Oct. 1.

Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, philanthropist, and activist Abigail Disney will visit Gettysburg College Sept. 30-Oct. 1 for a series of public programs exploring economic inequality, storytelling, philanthropy and the potential for structural change.

Disney’s visit will culminate on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 5:15 p.m. in the College Union Building Ballroom with the 20th anniversary of the Derrick K. Gondwe Memorial Lecture on Social and Economic Justice. Her presentation, “Of Storytelling and Structural Change: Film, Philanthropy, and the Fight for a Fairer Economy,” will examine how storytelling can illuminate questions of wealth and power and complement data and policy arguments in advancing these conversations.

The annual lecture honors longtime Economics Prof. Derrick K. Gondwe, a founder of Africana Studies and the first Black faculty member to receive tenure and become a full professor at Gettysburg. Endowed by William and Gayle Keefer and their family, the lecture has brought prominent scholars, activists and public intellectuals to campus for two decades, including Angela Davis, Ayọ Tometi and Aloysius Uche Ordu.

“Over the years, the Gondwe Lecture has welcomed scholars, policymakers and activists whose work examines African development, racial inequality, public policy and social transformation,” said Africana Studies Chair Jennifer Bloomquist. “Disney’s filmmaking and advocacy speak to those same concerns in a vivid, public-facing way, using storytelling to illuminate questions of dignity, accountability and structural injustice. Her voice fits the spirit of the lecture because she helps connect systemic issues to the lived experiences of real people.”

Disney is the chair and co-founder of Level Forward, an ecosystem of storytellers, entrepreneurs and social change-makers dedicated to balancing artistic vision, social impact and stakeholder return. She is also the founder of Peace is Loud, a nonprofit that uses storytelling to advance social movements, and the Daphne Foundation, which supports organizations working for a more equitable, fair and peaceful New York City.

Gettysburg’s Africana Studies program, Economics Department, Events Planning and Coordinating Committee (EPACC), and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion are sponsoring the 20th anniversary of the Gondwe Lecture.

Programming begins on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. at the Majestic Theater with a free screening of Disney’s documentary “The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales.” The film uses Disney’s family history and the experiences of Disneyland workers to examine economic inequality in America. Tickets are free, but must be reserved at the Majestic.

Disney will also present “Work & Resistance in the Media Industry” on Thursday, Oct. 1, at noon in the Atrium on campus, discussing cinema’s influence on public discourse and her work as a filmmaker. An RSVP is required for lunch.

Gettysburg’s Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department, Cinema and Media Studies Department, and the Office of Diversity & Inclusion are sponsoring both events preceding the Gondwe Lecture.

All three programs are free and open to the public.

Discover how Gettysburg brings ideas to life through thought-provoking speakers, interdisciplinary learning, and opportunities to shape the world around you.

Jenny Stone ’76 found mentors, opportunity, and direction at Gettysburg College, opening the door to a trailblazing career in athletic training and Olympic sports medicine. Today, she gives back to help future students discover their own paths.

Jenny Stone ’76 sometimes says her career in athletic training began with an unlucky fall or maybe, she admits, a lucky one.

Stone was a sophomore physical education major at Gettysburg College when she hurried up a wooden spiral staircase in Plank Gym on the way to gymnastics class, slipping and breaking her foot. Suddenly, the student-athlete who had played field hockey and basketball found herself with something unfamiliar: free afternoons.

That unexpected opening changed everything.

Prior to the injury, Stone had taken a class with Gareth “Lefty” Biser ’57, the longtime Gettysburg athletic trainer whose influence would ripple through generations of students. The course, then called Health and Safety Services, introduced her to a new profession.

“I didn’t know that athletic training existed,” Stone recalled. “To be frank, for the most part for women, it did not exist.”

Jenny Stone ‘76

• Athletic Trainer at U.S. Air Force Academy (2008-present)
• Former Head Athletic Trainer at U.S. Olympic Training Center-Colorado Springs (1978-2000)
• National Athletic Trainers’ Association Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award (2005)
• Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame (2012)
• Colorado Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame (2015)
• 1832 Society Member

In the early 1970s, athletic training was still overwhelmingly a male-dominated profession. Women’s athletics, even in the years following the passage of Title IX, remained an afterthought at many institutions. At Gettysburg, Stone remembered, female athletes could receive treatment from the athletic trainers, but not always with the same access or convenience available to men’s teams.

When Biser needed help in the athletic training room, the opportunity represented more than a campus job for female students like Stone. It placed her within a larger movement reshaping athletics—one in which women were steadily gaining access to spaces, roles, and professional pathways that had long been limited.

For Stone, it was not a grand statement. It was work. It was learning. It was a door opening.

“I would like other students to have similar opportunities to what I had.”
– Jenny Stone ’76

Stone had not arrived at Gettysburg with athletic training in mind. A Cedar Cliff High School student from the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, area, she initially planned to become a physical education teacher and coach. Her high school teacher whose brother attended Gettysburg encouraged her to visit the College, where she was welcomed by a community that felt right. That beautiful November day was the launching pad for a transformational experience bolstered by the support of lifelong mentors.

There was Biser, who introduced her to athletic training. There was Joe Donolli, another steady presence and mentor in the training room. There was Grace Kenney, the legendary coach and educator whom Stone has grown to appreciate more deeply with time.

There were also unexpected academic doors that opened. As a first-year student, Stone took History of the Old Testament, thinking it would be a unique opportunity to read and understand the Bible. She enjoyed it so much that she later took a History of the New Testament class and a course on Buddhism.

That, to Stone, is part of what Gettysburg did best.

“There were a lot of doors that opened to a lot of different places,” she noted. “But nobody shoved me through the doors.”

After graduating from Gettysburg, Stone earned her master’s degree at the University of Arizona and passed her athletic training certification exam in 1977, becoming one of the earliest certified female athletic trainers in the country.

Around the same time, the U.S. Olympic Committee was seeking a volunteer athletic trainer as it launched its first Olympic Training Center at Squaw Valley, California, the site of the 1960 Winter Games. One of Stone’s female colleagues at Arizona who had been selected but could not go, suggested Stone apply, and she got the job.

Stone spent that winter at Squaw Valley and later moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, as the Olympic Training Center there opened. What began as a volunteer opportunity became a long career in Olympic sports medicine. Stone worked with the Olympic movement through 2000, serving as the senior manager of clinical programs and head athletic trainer.

The influence of her Gettysburg mentors shaped not only what she did, but how she did it. Stone describes Biser’s mentorship as quiet and practical, modeling how to do the work rather than who to become.

“He taught me everything and nothing at the same time,” she said. “It was mentor by example.”

Stone carried that model throughout her career, including to later roles in high school athletic training and at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Whether working with certified athletic trainers, students, or athletes, she tried to lead the way she had been led: by showing up, doing the work well, and helping others see what was possible.

Now, Stone is giving back to the place that helped make that all happen.

Stone has committed $2.4 million to her alma mater—$1.9 million as a bequest and $500,000 to scholarships, campus programming, and athletics. Her philanthropy supports several areas close to her Gettysburg experience, including women’s basketball, athletic training, the Lefty Biser Endowed Scholarship, the Grace Kenney Endowed Scholarship, and the Gettysburg Fund.

What matters to her most is helping students become their best selves, follow their passions, and discover possibilities they may not yet know exist.

“I would like other students to have similar opportunities to what I had,” she said.

For Stone, Gettysburg was never just the place where she earned a degree. It was the place where a broken foot became a beginning, where mentors opened a door, and where a student who did not know athletic training existed found a lifelong calling.

Now, five decades later, she is holding that door open for future Gettysburgians.

Help open doors for the next generation of Gettysburg students by supporting the experiences, mentors, and opportunities that shape lives long after graduation.

Gettysburg College is celebrating the professional accomplishments of several faculty members this year. Among those honored are one professor who achieved tenure and promotion, five who were named full professors, and three who were promoted to senior lecturer.

Gettysburg College faculty are some of the most dedicated professionals you can find teaching at a liberal arts college. This year, we celebrate several promotions within our community.

Read more about these talented teachers and scholars below. Click the links to their biography pages (see Related Links at the end of this article) to learn more about their teaching and scholarly work.

Rank of associate professor

Anthropology Prof. Kirby Farah

As an anthropological archaeologist, Anthropology Prof. Kirby Farah co-directs an on-campus archaeological project with Anthropology Prof. Ben Luley. This project is an immersive experiential learning opportunity for students focused on the Hopkins Custodial House, which once existed just north of Pennsylvania Hall.

About Prof. Farah

Academic Focus: The relationships that helped bind communities together in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica; local implications of archaeological research, including how narratives of the past connect with contemporary discussions of history, heritage, and identity.

Education: B.A., University of Texas, Austin; M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology from University of California, Riverside 

Current Projects: Exploring the site of Chan Chich, Belize, which focuses on the Late Classic Maya period (AD 600–900). Farah’s research examines how monumental architecture embodied complex social and economic relationships during this tumultuous period, while considering how these relationships started deteriorating before the site was abandoned.

In the Words of Prof. Farah: “One of the most rewarding aspects of this project has been bringing Gettysburg College students into the field, where they contribute directly to this ongoing research. I am grateful to receive tenure at Gettysburg College and to be part of a community that invests in both outstanding teaching and impactful research. The College’s commitment to supporting faculty scholarship while empowering students to participate in research has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career.”

Rank of full professor

Interdisciplinary Studies Chair Vernon Cisney

Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) Chair Vernon Cisney oversees a department that has had more than 70 students graduate from Gettysburg College with an individualized major over the last six years. Cisney began teaching at Gettysburg in 2012 in the Philosophy Department and moved to the IDS Department, which he has chaired for four years, in 2018.

About Prof. Cisney

Academic Focus: 19th and 20th century continental philosophy and philosophy of film and literature, with an emphasis on French philosopher Gilles Deleuze and American author Cormac McCarthy.

Education: B.A., Eastern Illinois University; M.A., The University of Memphis; Ph.D., philosophy, Purdue University

Current Projects: Co-editing three separate volumes on the 40^th anniversary of Cormac McCarthy’s “Blood Meridian,” the philosophical impact of Claire Colebrook, and the religious and theological themes in the “Mad Max”universe; also working on a book on the philosophy of Gilles Deleuze.

In the Words of Prof. Cisney: “I am deeply honored and profoundly grateful to my colleagues for this recognition. I am particularly thankful to the mentors who have helped me reach this goal, and I am tremendously enthusiastic about the future of IDS and Gettysburg College.”

Art and Art History Prof. Tina Gebhart

With a background in entrepreneurial studio art and ceramic engineering, Art & Art History Prof. Tina Gebhart encourages her students to apply studio art in interdisciplinary ways. Before joining the faculty at Gettysburg, she directed the academic Ceramics Apprentice Program at Berea College.

About Prof. Gebhart

Academic Focus: Ceramics, functional object design, ceramic materials science, experiential and work learning.

Education: B.A., The Pennsylvania State University; M.F.A., New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University

Current Projects: Continued tandem throwing technique invention, developing an experiential work-learning Ceramics Apprentice program, and collaborative art-making with students.

In the Words of Prof. Gebhart: “This promotion recognizes the value of powerful art-making skills and accomplishments. It is a joy to develop these in myself and in my students, cultivating the best and most creative versions of ourselves.”

Africana Studies and History Prof. Scott Hancock

Africana Studies and History Prof. Scott Hancock has been teaching at Gettysburg College since 2001. Through his courses and research, Hancock considers African Americans’ engagement with the law, while incorporating multidisciplinary perspectives, such as law and society and geography, into his scholarly inquiry.

About Prof. Hancock

Academic Focus: History and Africana studies

Education: B.A., Bible & Christian education, Bryan College; Ph.D., early American history, University of New Hampshire

Current Projects: Writing a book on the Underground Railroad from the American Revolutionary era through the Civil War and a book chapter examining Black history and cultural sustainability on Gettysburg’s landscape.

In the Words of Prof. Hancock: “I’m thankful to Jennifer Bloomquist—the first, and until now, the only African American to achieve promotion to full professor in the long history of Gettysburg College—and Abou Bamba—I believe the third African American professor to achieve full professor—for convincing me to finally apply for promotion. They argued that students, particularly Black students, needed to see more of us in this position.”

Chair of Civil War Era Studies and Co-Chair of Public History Ian Isherwood ’00

Chair of Civil War Era Studies (CWES) Ian Isherwood ’00 began his career at Gettysburg College as the assistant director of the Civil War Institute (CWI) in 2012, where he taught in the CWES program and mentored students in the CWI Fellows program. From 2020 to 2022, he served as the director of the College’s First-Year Seminar program. He has served as the Harold K. Johnson Chair of Military History at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and taught history in the Department of National Security and Strategy. Isherwood most recently served as director of Gettysburg’s CWI.

About Prof. Isherwood

Academic Focus: War and memory studies, cultural history, and British history

Education: B.A., Gettysburg College; M.A., Dartmouth College; Ph.D., University of Glasgow

Current Projects: Working on a book on American war memory from the Civil War through the Global War on Terror.

In the Words of Prof. Isherwood: “I am deeply grateful for this recognition of my scholarship, teaching, and service to the College. Gettysburg College is the best liberal arts college in the country to teach the history of war, and I am so lucky to get to work with such talented students and colleagues on a daily basis. When I was an undergraduate here, I dreamed to someday be the type of professor and mentor who makes this place special. I hope that I’ve been able to do that in my time here and to continue to contribute to the life of this institution in the decades to come.” 

Sunderman Conservatory of Music Prof. and Director of Choral Activities Robert Natter

Sunderman Conservatory of Music Prof. Robert Natter conducts the Gettysburg College Choir, Concert Choir, Audeamus (upper-voice choir), and Camerata (vocal chamber ensemble). Over the years, Natter has taken the Gettysburg College Choir and Camerata on national and international tours to locations such as Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico. The choir’s most recent U.S. tour occurred earlier this year in celebration of its 90th anniversary.

About Prof. Natter

Academic Focus: Choral music and technology

Education: B.A. and M.A., University of California Santa Cruz; D.M.A., Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Current Projects: Published a program called ChoralWorks to help singers learn music and to help directors facilitate singers’ learning

In the Words of Prof. Natter: “It’s rewarding at this point in my time at Gettysburg to look back at the thousands of singers I’ve had the privilege of making music with over the years, and the hundreds of performances big and small that we’ve made together. It’s been an honor to contribute to a thriving musical and artistic community.”

Rank of senior lecturer

Psychology Prof. Kathy Delaney

Psychology Prof. Kathy Delaney has spent more than a decade of her clinical experience working with children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders and related mental health issues. She is currently interested in supporting neurodiversity in the college classroom.

About Prof. Delaney

Academic Focus: Effects of childhood adversity on the well-being of college students and adults

Education: B.A., Hofstra University; M.A., Fordham University; Ph.D. in developmental psychology, with specialization in applied developmental psychology, Fordham University

Current Projects: Co-leading the Resilience Lab: “We’re mentoring three to four research assistants each semester,” Delaney said. “We’re studying the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and college students’ emotion regulation and resilience.” Delaney also serves as the coordinator of the Psychology Department’s internship program and is working with three Psychology Department colleagues on the development of the Psychology Department’s new PLA program. She also worked at CampPsych for the past two summers, teaching workshops on the role of social media in adolescent identity development.

In the Words of Prof. Delaney: “Honestly, there are too many reasons to list for why I enjoy teaching at Gettysburg. Perhaps at the top of the list are the relationships I build with my students and the chance to watch them grow and mature as students over their four years here. I’m in awe of their curiosity, willingness to take chances, and their creative ideas.”

Chemistry and Biochemistry Lab Manager and Lab Instructor Jeremy Kuhar

Jeremy Kuhar is the full-time lab manager and lab instructor for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. His usual teaching load is four sections of CHEM 107, general chemistry lab per semester. In this position, besides teaching the labs, Kuhar is responsible for setting up all instructional labs in CHEM 107/108 and 203/204 (organic chemistry). As the chemical hygiene officer for the College, Kuhar oversees lab safety trainings, hazardous chemical waste handling, and chemical inventory control and reporting.

About Senior Lecturer Kuhar

Education: B.S., biology and environmental studies, Gettysburg College; M.Ed., curriculum and instruction, Bloomsburg University; M.S., biology, Shippensburg University.

Current Projects: Continuing to learn how to best interact with AI to code Excel VBA, work that allowed the College to manage its extensive chemical inventory in a time-efficient manner; applying knowledge gained from a summer 2026 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE) using AI to develop an activity that simulates data in the area of spectrophotometry; working with the College’s Rogers Center for Innovation and Creativity to develop simple devices to improve certain labs. “I really enjoy ‘tweaking labs,” Kuhar said. “I’m in a unique position to observe students from multiple sections, find problem points, and test changes. I also direct student workers in this respect—students who help me test my ideas for improvements.”

In the Words of Senior Lecturer Kuhar: “I feel some of my greatest strengths — and the areas that interest and excite me most — are in using my experience and creativity to improve the lab experience for students. This is my 21st year in this position, and it’s rewarding to have that experience and longevity recognized by my department, the Faculty Personnel Committee, the Provost, and the College. My heartfelt thanks go out to all involved.”

Economics Prof. Drew Murphy ’84, P’20

Economics Prof. Drew Murphy ’84, P’20 has served as a practicing financial professional for more than 40 years. His interest in studying financial markets and financial products, capital utilization, and allocation in efficient economies has made him a sought-after resources in the Economics Department.

About Prof. Murphy

Academic Focus: Portfolio construction and performance optimization over the long-term horizon

Education: B.A., Gettysburg College

Current Projects: Helping design, launch, and run the Gettysburg Student Investment Society, a student-run organization dedicated to the professional development of future CFAs

In the Words of Prof. Murphy: “The affirmation of the quality of my work guiding students is the best part of the promotion process.”

Passionate, innovative, student-driven…learn why Gettysburg College’s faculty are changemakers for education.

Through a hands-on summer internship in Special Collections and College Archives, Zee Dawson ’29 engaged with historical perspectives and preservation, while expanding creativity and communication skills.

Zee Dawson ’29 carefully lifts the lid on a gray archival storage box. With anticipation, Dawson peers inside for a first glimpse of its contents. They gently lift out a copy of the music score to Victor Herbert’s “Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life” from the 1910 operetta “Naughty Marietta,” preserved inside a protective sleeve for decades to come.

These hands-on experiences with history are what Dawson, an anthropology major and music minor from Sykesville, Maryland, believes makes an education at Gettysburg College so multidimensional.

Supported by the Diane Werley Smith ’73 Special Collections Summer Internship Fund, Dawson’s internship experience in Musselman Library offered an opportunity to blend research, creativity, and communication with the work of public history. In doing so, Dawson learned more about the processes librarians, archivists, conservators, and public historians undertake to preserve, for perpetuity, the stories and memories behind the rare and unique items housed within Special Collections.

During the summer, Dawson and fellow interns—Cassidy Budge ’27, Thomas Geuther ’29, and Ainsley Green ’27—were guided and mentored by College Archivist Amy Lucadamo ’00, Director of Special Collections and College Archives Carolyn Sautter, Digital Initiatives Librarian R.C. Miessler, and Conservator Mary Wootton. The interns explored the organization, preservation, and description of manuscript collections; rare book cataloging; book and paper conservation; and digital projects.

While learning about the work involved in caring for rare books, Dawson had the chance to make a book using professional bookbinding materials and techniques.

“It was super interesting and super cool,” Dawson said. “We folded the papers, cut everything, made our covers, and it was a full process.

Dawson recognizes the practical and creative applications of this work for future careers. “I think it’s important to have a mark of your own and make it clear what you do to show your own lasting impact on something. Getting to choose the titles and the cloth we’re covering the titles with…each of ours reflects our personality. It was very interesting to see the creative process behind that,” Dawson said.

Dawson also recalls several unique experiences during the internship. These include working as part of the summer intern team to examine materials related to the U.S. Army Signal Corps, which provided key communications for the Army of the Potomac during the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. This comprehensive digital project served as a culmination of their work throughout the summer.

Reflecting on the internship experience, Dawson has gained a greater understanding of how people perceive information and interact with objects, like books, they encounter in everyday life.

“We learned how to organize and present information in a way that will make sense to other people. Looking at future jobs, knowing how to present information in the most concise way possible and in a way that makes sense to the broadest amount of people is a skill that’s really important,” Dawson said.

For Dawson, coming to Gettysburg College meant finding what was familiar and seeking what is new to pursue intellectual curiosities. Two years ago when thinking about colleges, Dawson knew she wanted to attend a school close to home and one with a marching band.

“I came to Get Acquainted Day. I had not committed at that point. I went to the public history seminar, and I walked out and said, ‘This is where I’m going to college,’” Dawson said. “I like the small town, the campus, and the people. All the professors I met that day were willing to talk to me about my interests and where I could see myself here. Get Acquainted Day was my absolute yes; I wanted to be here.”

Since beginning a Gettysburg education in 2025, Dawson’s music theory classes and introductory archaeology and anthropology classes have been standouts. “They really helped me settle in and know that this is what I’m interested in. My professors have been active and engaging, and I really enjoy taking their classes,” Dawson said.

Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 academic year, Dawson is looking forward to continued courses in archaeology and anthropology, particularly a topic seminar on evolution taught by Anthropology Prof. Kirby Farah. They are also leaning into environmental studies with a course on GIS (Geographic Information System) and paleobiology.

Among co-curricular activities, Dawson is eager to participate as a percussionist in the Bullets Marching Band at home football games this fall. Within the Sunderman Conservatory of Music, Dawson participates in the Wind Symphony, Concert Choir, and Percussion Ensemble.

In addition, Dawsom also enjoys rock climbing through Gettysburg’s Climbing Club, leading components of the Half Sole Dance Company, and working in the College’s Costume Shop.

Dawson’s fearless approach to trying new things and seeking opportunities to keep learning has inspired them to pursue a career where they can help educate others.

“It’s very important for me to teach people about different things. I spent a lot of my life engaging in minor political activism on a local level, and that has taught me a lot,” Dawson said. “I would like to continue to educate people because I think having the most perspectives available and being able to form an empathetic and informed opinion is a good skill to have.”

At Gettysburg, your education has no boundaries. Take the first step to discovering what you’re capable of achieving by taking a campus tour today.  

Sitting in chairs that reflected their experiences at Gettysburg College, four seniors shared stories of growth, discovery, and belonging with the Class of 2030 during Experience Gettysburg as part of Orientation.

On Saturday, Aug. 22, four chairs sat on the stage of Gettysburg’s Majestic Theater, each representing far more than a place to sit. They symbolized the spaces, experiences, and relationships that have shaped the journeys of members of the Class of 2027 over the past three years.

The audience seats inside the theater were filled by members of the Class of 2030, listening as the seniors shared the stories behind their chosen chairs during Experience Gettysburg. This Orientation tradition introduces members of Gettysburg’s newest class to the opportunities, connections, and sense of place that can define their time on campus.

Their stories reflected different paths, but carried a common message: Remain open to what comes next. Whether discovering an unplanned passion, finding a place that feels like home, asking for help, or pursuing a question that opens an unexpected door, the seniors encouraged Gettysburg’s newest students to embrace the people, places, and possibilities that may ultimately shape their own journeys.

Riley Dunbar ’27

Hometown: Waldorf, Maryland
Majors: Music and Cinema & Media Studies

“I chose to sit on a piano bench, despite not being a pianist myself. The music I worked on with Prof. [Jocelyn] Swigger, who is a fantastic pianist, was largely piano music. I had spent many long, hot summer days on this piano bench, working through edits as we reached the final stages of publishing this fantastic music by Czech composer Agnes Tyrrell.

“Whenever someone asks me what my advice is for college, I always tell them one thing: If something interests you, speak up about it. Be loud about it. Find people who feel the same. It may open doors you had never even considered before. My work with Prof. Swigger on Agnes Tyrrell’s music blossomed from one simple nagging question: ‘Why can’t I find this music anywhere?’”

Zaira Henry ’27

Hometown: Canefield, Dominica
Majors: Studio Art and Biology

“The chair I sat on belongs to the ceramic studio on campus. Taking and falling in love with ceramics was not something I planned on. However, this chair is where I spent countless late nights not only covered in clay, but also creating, talking to my professor and advisor about my future, and sometimes simply sitting with everything that was happening in my life. Looking back, I realize how many different versions of myself have sat in that same seat. Bringing it with me felt like bringing a small piece of the place where I quietly grew, molding myself into the person I wanted to be.

“I wanted the Class of 2030 to know that some of the most meaningful parts of college may be the ones they never plan for. The people who change them, the places that become home, the opportunities that scare them, and even the moments when they feel completely unsure of themselves can all become part of who they are. I hope they give themselves the freedom to experience Gettysburg fully, without rushing to have everything figured out.”

Arnaz Mahbub ’27

Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Majors: Public Policy and Mathematical Economics

“My chair was from Servo, our dining hall, where I’ve spent countless hour-long dinners with people who started as strangers and became family. So much of my three years building a sense of home happened in chairs just like it, over conversations that ran long because no one wanted to leave.

“Belonging here doesn’t happen all at once; it’s built slowly, through small moments and people who choose to be kind. But Gettysburg also asks something in return: to give back. That doesn’t require a grand gesture. Most of the time, it’s little everyday things. Show up consistently, pay attention to what your community needs, and home will find you.”

Keefer Stiles ’27

Hometown: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Majors: Psychology and Health Sciences

“The reason I chose my chair was because that is really where my Gettysburg College experience began. I did not have a move-in day my first year of college, and it really wasn’t my first year at Gettysburg College either. I felt that the chair from the daycare was more representative and realistic of where I started my college career here and how far I have come since then.

“I have two pieces of advice for the Class of 2030. First, don’t be afraid to say the hard things you want to keep inside out loud, and try new things. I think your first year can be hard and scary to try and navigate by yourself, so it’s important to ask for help from the people around you. They all want you to succeed. Second, find your home here. It may be hard or take a while, but it’s ready to welcome you.”

Begin your own Gettysburg journey and discover the people, places, and possibilities that can shape who you become.

As the United States commemorates its 250th anniversary, Gettysburg College will host a public panel exploring nearly two centuries of shared history with Gettysburg and Adams County, highlighting the people, places, and partnerships that have connected campus and community across generations.

Gettysburg College will host “Gettysburg College and Community: A Shared History” on Tuesday, Sept. 8, from 7 to 8:15 p.m. in the newly renovated College Union Building Ballroom. This event is free and open to the public as part of the America250PA celebration.

The evening’s panel discussion will bring together historians, scholars, students and staff to examine the ways Gettysburg College, the Borough of Gettysburg and Adams County have shaped one another across generations.

College President Bob Iuliano will welcome guests before History Prof. Emeritus Michael Birkner ’72, P’10 introduces the panel and serves as moderator. Birkner will provide historical context for the conversation, including the College’s early ties to abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens, who provided the land on which the institution was built.

Birkner taught at Gettysburg College beginning in 1989 and served as the Benjamin Franklin Professor of Liberal Arts from 2001 to 2016. A longtime scholar of 19th- and 20th-century American history, he has written and edited numerous books on several U.S. historical figures, including James Buchanan, Thaddeus Stevens and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Four panelists will then explore the shared history of campus and community through research, archaeology, oral history, public history and the student experience.

Ashley Whitehead Luskey, assistant director of the Civil War Institute (CWI), will discuss student research into abolitionism and the evolution of student activism and engagement within the broader Gettysburg community.

Anthropology Prof. Ben Luley will highlight archaeological research connected to the former home of John “Jack” Hopkins near Pennsylvania Hall and the College’s collaboration with the Hopkins House Museum. Luley, an archaeologist who has worked closely with the American Battlefield Trust and Gettysburg History, has led Gettysburg students in field-based research that connects campus discoveries with broader regional history.

Devin McKinney, archives assistant and oral historian in Musselman Library’s Special Collections and College Archives, will explore the College’s oral history collection and how firsthand accounts have deepened engagement among students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the wider community. His work helps preserve personal perspectives on significant events and experiences connected to Gettysburg College and the region.

Student Senate president Jocelyn Duquette ’27, a history major with minors in public history and business, will discuss her internship project, “Under the Bleachers,” which examines the history of athletic spaces that have long served as points of interaction between campus and community. Duquette brings a unique, firsthand student perspective to the panel as a former CWI intern and non-voting member of the Gettysburg Borough Council.

Following the individual presentations, Birkner will moderate a roundtable discussion before opening the floor for audience questions at approximately 8 p.m.

The panel discussion will take place in the Ballroom located in the College Union Building on campus. Free parking is available in the lot next to Musselman Stadium, while paid parking is available along Lincoln Avenue.

Explore Gettysburg College’s America 250 events and discover the people, places, and stories connecting our campus, community, and nation across generations.

Music has always played an important role in Araujo’s life. His proclivity for the piano, which he’s studied and played for more than nine years, helped springboard his talents from his Washington Heights, New York City, hometown to the stage of the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

When it came to choosing a college, Araujo, who graduated from the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, knew he wanted to be at a school that offered him the freedom to explore his unique musical and academic interests in political science. That school was Gettysburg College and its Sunderman Conservatory of Music.

“When I visited in person, Gettysburg felt, more than any other school, like the interdisciplinary approach is not just a buzzword. It felt crucial, and that’s important to me,” he said.

While participating in The Gettysburg Experience in April, Araujo recalls feeling like he belonged here. He was greeted by name and introduced not only to the Conservatory, but also to the community of students, staff, and faculty behind the Eisenhower Institute, Political Science Department, and the Majestic Theater.

Gettysburg’s community also surrounded Araujo on Thursday, Aug. 20, when he joined his classmates to participate in the annual First-Year Walk through town to the National Cemetery and Gettysburg Battlefield. During the event, he accepted the key to Gettysburg from Gettysburg Mayor and Public Policy Prof. Alison Lintal on behalf of his class (see photo above).

“Having friends and family cheer me on for the presentation of the key reminded me of exactly why I chose Gettysburg: the people.”
– Alessandro Araujo ’30

This first-year tradition, held during Orientation, commemorates the walk that students and faculty from the College took to hear President Abraham Lincoln deliver his immortal Gettysburg Address on Nov. 19, 1863.

“The ceremony was absolutely gorgeous: the speeches, the assertion of the meaning behind this walk, meeting Mayor Lintal—it was all an incredible honor,” Araujo said. “Having friends and family cheer me on for the presentation of the key reminded me of exactly why I chose Gettysburg: the people.”

As the 2026-27 academic year begins, Araujo looks forward to immersing himself in the daily tempo of living and learning at Gettysburg.

#HumansofGettysburg

Learn more about the Gettysburg College community and how you can get connected.

A $1 million commitment from Bob Ortenzio ’79 to endow the women’s wrestling head coaching position will provide lasting leadership for one of Gettysburg’s newest sports. This endowment will expand opportunities for student-athletes and help the College build a nationally competitive program grounded in ambition, stability, and long-term support.

Bob Ortenzio ’79 understands the appeal of building something from the ground up.

As co-founder and executive chairman of Select Medical, Ortenzio helped grow a company headquartered in central Pennsylvania into a nationally recognized leader in health care. When Gettysburg College shared its vision for a new women’s wrestling program, he recognized some of the same elements that have inspired him throughout his professional life: an ambitious idea, experienced leadership, and the opportunity to create something lasting.

The program also brought together several parts of Ortenzio’s personal story. A three-time All-American and Hall of Fame wrestler at Gettysburg, he comes from a family with deep connections to the sport. He also believes strongly in creating more opportunities for women to wrestle at the collegiate level.

Together, those connections inspired Ortenzio to commit $1 million to endow the head coaching position for Gettysburg’s women’s wrestling program.

“There are so many worthy projects in education and elsewhere today, so there are a lot of opportunities for your philanthropic dollars,” Ortenzio said. “It’s really great when you find something that has the elements that resonate with you or reach you.”

The full package

Ortenzio was already familiar with Gettysburg’s plans to strengthen the student experience when Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation Troy Dell ’95 contacted him to discuss the College’s athletic priorities. As a fellow former Gettysburg wrestler, Dell shared an immediate connection with Ortenzio.

When their conversation turned to women’s wrestling, Ortenzio was intrigued.

“It’s Gettysburg. It’s where I came from and where I had great memories wrestling,” Ortenzio said. “It’s wrestling, which my family was involved in, and I’m a total believer in expanding wrestling to women. I wish it could have been done decades ago.”

“That’s how you inspire people. That’s how you inspire organizations. That’s how you get to greatness.”
– Bob Ortenzio ’79 on Gettysburg’s strategy for creating a nationally recognized women’s wrestling program.

The opportunity became even more compelling when Ortenzio learned that Gettysburg was not simply adding another team. The College intended to build a nationally competitive program from the outset, highlighted by strong leadership and long-term institutional support.

Its startup nature particularly appealed to Ortenzio’s entrepreneurial instincts.

“When I see something that’s new and we have high aspirations, that speaks to me,” he said. “We’re going to start something new, grow it, and aspire to be world-class.”

The appointment of inaugural head coach Chris Haines gave Ortenzio further confidence. Haines brings extensive experience following a highly successful coaching career at nearby Gettysburg High School, as well as strong connections within the wrestling community and an ambitious vision for recruiting and competing nationally.

“When you look at those elements, it was the full package for me,” Ortenzio said.

Built to compete

Ortenzio sees a clear parallel between Gettysburg women’s wrestling and his experience helping build Select Medical.

Although Select Medical is based near Gettysburg in central Pennsylvania, Ortenzio never believed its location should limit its aspirations. Select Medical grew by measuring itself against leading organizations nationally—not merely against other companies in its region.

“We’re not just a great company for central Pennsylvania,” Ortenzio said. “We’re a great company nationally. We compete, and we’re viewed as being as good as anybody around the United States.”

“By endowing the head coaching position, Bob Ortenzio is providing the stability, leadership, and confidence our women’s wrestling program needs to establish a strong foundation and pursue its highest aspirations.”
– Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation Troy Dell ’95.

He hears the same ambition in Gettysburg’s plans for women’s wrestling. The goal is not simply to establish a roster. It is to recruit student-athletes nationally, provide them with A Consequential Education, and build a program capable of competing with the country’s best.

“We can build something here to go toe to toe with anybody anywhere in the United States,” Ortenzio said. “That’s how you inspire people. That’s how you inspire organizations. That’s how you get to greatness.”

That vision ultimately made Ortenzio want to become part of the program’s foundation. This new commitment is the first named fully endowed head coaching position for Gettysburg’s athletics program, meeting a priority of the College’s current comprehensive campaign to endow each team’s head coaching position.

“By endowing the head coaching position, Bob Ortenzio is providing the stability, leadership, and confidence our women’s wrestling program needs to establish a strong foundation and pursue its highest aspirations,” Dell said. “His commitment is a powerful reflection of his belief in Gettysburg, in the future of women’s wrestling, and in the transformational experience we can create for generations of student-athletes.”

A complete experience

Ortenzio’s support reflects his belief that athletics remain a vital part of the Gettysburg experience.

His own career was among the most accomplished in program history. Ortenzio won three Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) individual championships, was twice named MAC Outstanding Wrestler, and earned All-America honors in 1976, 1977, and 1979. As a first-year student, he helped Gettysburg capture its first conference team championship in 21 years.

Ortenzio was inducted into Gettysburg’s Hall of Athletic Honor in 1999 and named to the MAC Hall of Fame in 2026. In 2018, Gettysburg presented him with the Distinguished Alumni Award, the College’s highest individual alumni honor, recognizing a relationship with his alma mater defined by professional achievement, leadership, and sustained engagement.

Beyond the victories and honors, Ortenzio, a political science major, remembers a collegiate experience that enabled him to compete at a high level while preparing for the rest of his life.

“Wrestling was a big part of my experience there, and I got an education that allowed me to get my start,” he said. “I went on to law school, and then I went into business.”

Investing in Gettysburg

This most recent commitment continues Ortenzio’s longstanding support of the institution and its student-athletes.

Ortenzio and his wife, Angela, contributed more than $3 million through their family foundation toward the construction of the John F. Jaeger Center for Athletics, Recreation, and Fitness in 2009. The facility expanded opportunities for varsity athletics, recreation, fitness, and wellness across campus. Its lobby and the Robert ’79 and Angela Ortenzio Fitness Center were named in recognition of their support.

That earlier commitment helped create a space serving Gettysburg students each day. His latest investment similarly looks beyond one season or generation. By endowing the leadership of women’s wrestling, Ortenzio is establishing a permanent foundation for a program that will open new possibilities for student-athletes well into the future.

For a lifelong wrestler and experienced entrepreneur, it is another opportunity to help Gettysburg build something meaningful—and pursue an ambitious future.

Support Gettysburg College and help create transformational opportunities that empower students to learn, lead, and achieve for generations to come.

Connecting faculty and staff across the Gettysburg College campus, the annual Summer Pedagogy Institute encourages the exploration of innovative approaches to teaching and learning. A keynote presentation and interactive workshops focused on the value of engaging students as pedagogical partners and co-creators in the curriculum.

Just days before the 2026-2027 academic year began, more than 70 faculty and staff members gathered at Musselman Library to participate in Gettysburg College’s annual Summer Pedagogy Institute (SPI) on Wednesday, Aug. 12, and Thursday, Aug. 13, hosted by The Johnson Center for Creative Teaching and Learning (JCCTL).

Now in its seventh year at Gettysburg, the SPI brings together faculty and staff from various offices and departments across campus to explore innovative, collaborative approaches to the student academic experience.

Topics this year focused on fostering collaborations within and beyond the classroom and included the following subjects:

• The value of pedagogical partnerships
• Experiential learning and inclusive teaching
• The application of educational technology in the classroom

“Through SPI, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting our students and creating new opportunities for them to thrive at Gettysburg.”
– East Asian Studies Prof. Junjie Luo, director of the Johnson Center for Creative Teaching and Learning (JCCTL)

Partners in pedagogical instruction

In her keynote address, Alison Cook-Sather discussed the potential to create and sustain student-faculty pedagogical partnerships and to integrate co-creation approaches into teaching. Cook-Sather is the Mary Katharine Woodworth Professor of Education at Bryn Mawr College and the director of the Teaching and Learning Institute at Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges.

Cook-Sather offered a range of examples of how Gettysburg’s faculty could engage their students as pedagogical partners and co-creators. She included examples from Gettysburg faculty who are experimenting with pedagogical partnerships, such as Psychology Prof. Kathy Berenson and her Peer Learning Associates (PLAs). She also highlighted co-creation partnerships from her own experiences and other institutions.

Reflecting on her visit to Gettysburg, Cook-Sather said, “It was an honor and a pleasure to present the keynote address at the Summer Pedagogy Institute. I was deeply inspired by the faculty who participated in the discussion following my remarks. Both their enthusiastic engagement with the examples of pedagogical partnership and co-creation I shared, and their thoughtful questions about these approaches, left me feeling confident that Gettysburg will develop its own well-considered applications and extensions of these practices.”

Over the next year, Cook-Sather will be working with Gettysburg to support students and faculty members as they pilot several partnerships. The work will involve students serving as pedagogical partners to faculty members, engaging in ongoing dialogue with these professors about course planning and instruction.

Putting pedagogy into practice

A lunch-and-learn program on the SPI’s first day gave participants the chance to dialogue and learn more about collaborative partnerships with the following campus offices and programs:

• Center for Career Engagement
• Center for Public Service
• Counseling and Wellness Services
• First-Year Program

Interactive workshops further built on Cook-Sather’s keynote by addressing the results of this summer’s AI workshop and exploring how experiential learning could be implemented in more ways across the curriculum. Discussions also surrounded the importance of inclusive pedagogical practices and the offerings available to the campus through Educational Technology and The Rogers Center for Innovation and Creativity.

“This year’s Summer Pedagogy Institute, ‘Collaboration in and Beyond the Classroom,’ focused on opportunities to collaborate with students, campus partners, and emerging technologies. The conversations were dynamic and interactive, and our new lightning rounds provided participants engaging opportunities to better understand our students and learn about new initiatives across campus,” said East Asian Studies Prof. Junjie Luo, JCCTL’s director.

“Through SPI, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting our students and creating new opportunities for them to thrive at Gettysburg,” he added.

Luo recognized the efforts of the Provost’s Office, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Michelle Schmidt, and the following members of the SPI Steering Committee for organizing this year’s SPI:

• Anthropology Prof. Kirby Farah
• English Prof. Melissa Forbes
• Environmental Studies Prof. Tasha Gownaris ’09
• Theresa Hoover, associate dean for student accessibility, Center for Student Success
• Christine Hopkinson, academic operations assistant
• Kelli Murphy, senior instructional technologist for Educational Technology
• Meggan Smith, assistant director of research and access services at Musselman Library
• Sociology Prof. Divonna Stebick, director of the Office of Teacher Education and Certification

“Each year at SPI, I am infused with a renewed sense of respect for the deep commitment of our faculty to our students’ rich learning experiences at the College,” said Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Michelle Schmidt. “The collaborative spirit and dynamic discussion by so many of our faculty—ranging from some of our newest faculty members to some of our most experienced and longest-serving faculty members—at this year’s SPI, no doubt, sets the stage for an exciting new academic year.”

Become a collaborative pedagogical partner with the Johnson Center for Creative Teaching and Learning (JCCTL) at Gettysburg.

Gettysburg College welcomed the Class of 2030 through Orientation traditions that connected students to campus, community, and history, from Move-In Day and Convocation to the First-Year Walk. Students were encouraged to explore curiosity, exploration, service, and meaningful engagement throughout their Gettysburg journey.

The first steps of a Gettysburg education can be measured in many ways.

For members of the Class of 2030, they took the form of boxes carried into residence halls, introductions to new roommates and neighbors, and an afternoon gathering beneath the portico of Pennsylvania Hall, where generations of Gettysburg students have marked the beginning of their own journeys.

They arrived on Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 33 countries and 27 states, bringing with them experiences already shaped by service, athletics, leadership, the arts, and work beyond the classroom. By the end of their first day, however, they were being challenged to think less about where they had come from and more about what they might discover together over the next four years.

“You are not beginning something today. You are joining something already in motion—long before you, and long after all of us,” Vice President for Enrollment and Educational Services Robert Schwartz ’92 told the class during Opening Convocation. “You have four autumns—roughly 1,400 days. They are not yours to keep. They’re yours to add to.”

Joining the journey

That invitation—to add something of their own to Gettysburg—echoed throughout the afternoon.

Student Senate President Jocelyn Duquette ’27, a history major from Gloucester Township, New Jersey, encouraged students not to arrive with every answer already in hand, but to permit themselves to change direction, ask questions, and pursue interests whose destinations might not yet be clear.

“Care enough to explore,” Duquette said. “Care enough to ask questions, try something new, and speak up when something matters to you. Care enough to keep going when your plans change. Care enough to show up for the people around you.”

Art and Art History Prof. Tina Gebhart similarly urged students to seek the unexpected connections—what she called “overlaps”—among their academic interests, experiences, and relationships. Those intersections, she told the class, can become sources of both discovery and growth.

“Overlaps are where the magic lives,” Gebhart said. “Find and cultivate these overlaps, in yourself and across your studies. Overlaps help you connect and understand others. Overlaps help you grow into the best version of yourself. Overlaps give you flexible options in the world.”

“You are not beginning something today. You are joining something already in motion—long before you, and long after all of us.”
– Vice President for Enrollment and Educational Services Robert Schwartz ’92

Gebhart also noted that within these overlaps are opportunities for growth and learning. Mistakes will happen, whether it’s a broken pot in a pottery course or a poorly written paragraph, but it’s the practice that leads to more positive outcomes in the future.

“We all mess up. It’s another overlap,” Gebhart noted. “It’s important to be willing to mess up. It’s important to mess up as practice. If you haven’t messed up, you’re not doing the practice towards real, meaningful success.”

President Bob Iuliano explained that those possibilities could be distilled into two closely related words: wonder and wander.

He encouraged students to approach their education with the curiosity and humility to consider ideas beyond their own experiences and to move freely across a liberal arts curriculum that might lead them toward interests they have yet to discover.

“A Gettysburg education encourages creativity, curiosity, adaptability and so much more—human characteristics that society will forever need,” Iuliano said. “All that is available to you if you’re open to it—if you wander with a sense of wonder.”

The afternoon concluded as members of the class turned those words into action. After formally matriculating and placing their Class of 2030 pins over their hearts, students processed through the center of Pennsylvania Hall and emerged down the stairs of the south side of the building, where faculty and members of the College community welcomed them.

Walking into history

One day later, this journey extended beyond campus.

The Class of 2030 gathered in Christ Chapel on Thursday, Aug. 20, before setting out on the First-Year Walk, a tradition rooted in the College’s unique connection to Gettysburg and to the events of November 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln delivered his immortal Gettysburg Address.

On that fateful day 163 years ago, Gettysburg students walked alongside President Lincoln and community members to the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, honoring those who gave their lives for freedom at the Battle of Gettysburg.

“The First-Year Walk is an event with a truly festive component, as people from across the campus and the borough welcome you to Gettysburg,” Iuliano said. “But it is also an event that encourages us to pause, reflect, and appreciate the solemnity of the moment.”

The modern tradition grew from the idea of Lindsay Morlock ’04, who, as a student, developed a plan for first-year students to retrace those historic steps and reflect on the College’s place within the town.

From campus, the class moved through the borough and ultimately to the Gettysburg National Military Park, where the evening’s ceremony brought together voices from both the College and the community.

Senior Class President Omer Shamil ’27, a double major in mathematical economics and public policy from Pakistan, helped welcome the class to the battlefield, inviting students to consider the historic landscape surrounding them and the unfinished work that still gives meaning to Gettysburg.

“Gettysburg is not just a backdrop to your education. It is an essential part of it.”
– Gettysburg Mayor Alison Lintal

Gettysburg Mayor and Public Policy Prof. Alison Lintal then broadened that sense of place by welcoming students not merely as members of the College, but as residents of the town.

“Gettysburg is not just a backdrop to your education. It is an essential part of it,” Lintal said, encouraging students to learn beyond the classroom—in Lincoln Square, at community events, on battlefield trails, and through relationships with residents.

Her message was one of belonging, but also of responsibility.

“Welcome—not just to campus, but to this community,” Lintal said. “Get involved. Venture beyond campus. Get to know your neighbors. Give something back.”

That welcome became tangible when Lintal presented a symbolic key to the Borough of Gettysburg to Alessandro Araujo ’30 of Washington Heights, New York, a graduate of the Hotchkiss School, representing the Class of 2030.

The unfinished work

As the class gathered on the battlefield, the mood shifted from welcome to reflection.

Interdisciplinary Studies Chair Vernon Cisney then recited the Gettysburg Address and challenged students to consider the role education can play in preparing them for that work.

“You are now part of this historic, unfinished work, and you are here because you are up to the task.”
– Interdisciplinary Studies Chair Vernon Cisney

For Cisney, meaningful education is not simply the accumulation of facts. It is the discipline of learning how to listen, question, analyze, adapt, and engage perspectives beyond one’s own. Those habits, he argued, are essential in a complex and divided world.

“You are about to embark upon a journey of discovery that will help prepare you to step into that world with vision, imagination, and courage,” Cisney said. “You are now part of this historic, unfinished work, and you are here because you are up to the task.”

Finding their place

The traditions of Move-In Day, Convocation, and First-Year Walk provided only the beginning of Orientation. Throughout the week, Campus Life staff, Orientation leaders, resident assistants, faculty, staff, and fellow students continued to lead programs designed to introduce the Class of 2030 to campus resources, involvement opportunities, and one another.

On Friday, Aug. 21, students continued building connections with the surrounding community through GIV (Gettysburg is Volunteering) Day, during which first-year students provided support at nearby nonprofit organizations such as South Central Community Action Programs (SCCAP), Vida Charter School, Painted Turtle Farm, Campus Kitchen, and others.

Just a day later, Saturday, Aug. 22, first-year students represented their respective residence halls in a friendly and competitive field day on Memorial Field. Later that evening, four Gettysburg seniors took the stage at the Majestic Theater as part of Experience Gettysburg, sharing their own stories of hope, determination, and growth over the last four years.

Together, those experiences turn Orientation into more than an introduction to Gettysburg. They begin the process of transforming a group of students into a community—one invited to wonder, explore, and contribute its own chapter to a story already in motion.

Discover how you can become part of the Gettysburg College community and begin your own consequential journey.

With passion and purpose, Gettysburg College professors remain committed to supporting students through mentorship and excellence in and out of the classroom.

Inspiring and empowering students to Do Great Work are hallmarks of Gettysburg College’s first-class faculty. During the Spring 2026 semester, six faculty members were recognized for mentorship and teaching excellence.

Learn more about these recipients.

Gettysburg College Distinguished Teaching Award

Political Science Prof. Caroline Hartzell

Political Science Prof. Caroline Hartzell, the founding director of the College’s globalization studies program, teaches courses in international relations, specializing in international political economy, particularly issues of conflict and conflict management, development, and globalization.

Her research focuses on cross-national civil war settlements and the effects domestic and international institutions have on conflict management. Hartzell, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of California at Davis, was a Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace, and her research has also been supported by the National Science Foundation and Sweden's Folke Bernadette Academy. Her current research involves surveys and experiments that explore the role of citizens in peace processes and an investigation into the effects that power-sharing peace settlements have on women in societies emerging from civil wars. 

The Citizens in Peace Processes co-founder has published journal articles, co-authored books, and co-edited books on the effects that power-sharing settlements of civil wars have on peace. From 2015-2020, Hartzell was the editor of the journal Conflict Management and Peace Science. She also serves on the editorial boards of the journals the American Journal of Political Science and Ethnopolitics.

Upon receiving notice of the award, Hartzell said that she was “flabbergasted and delighted to receive this recognition from an institution she cares for deeply, and where she has been spent her working life delighting in being involved in the learning and growth of students of whom she is very proud.”

About the Gettysburg College Distinguished Teaching Award

The Distinguished Teaching Award is the highest honor that members of Gettysburg College’s faculty can bestow on a colleague. The winner of this award is selected annually by the Faculty Development Committee.

The Luther W. and Bernice L. Thompson Distinguished Teaching Award

Anthropology Prof. Kirby Farah

Anthropology Prof. Kirby Farah leads a variety of courses at Gettysburg College, including Introductory Archaeology and Field Methods in Archaeology. She also teaches several 200-level electives, many of which are in collaboration with other academic departments.

Her research focuses on the civilizations of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. With a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside, her dissertation looked at the social and political dynamics in the Postclassic (A.D. 900-1521) town of Xaltocan before and after Aztec imperial rule, as well as modern day politics and culture relating to its pre-Hispanic heritage. Since 2024, as part of the Belize Estates Archaeological and Survey Team, Farah has been researching the Classic period Maya site of Chan Chich, specifically investigating an elite courtyard complex.

Farah proudly conducts her research alongside Gettysburg College students, including a select group that joins her in Belize. She also co-directs the College’s on-campus archaeological project with Anthropology Prof. Ben Luley, excavating artifacts from the Hopkins Custodial House just north of Penn Hall.

“Receiving the Thompson Award is such an honor,” said Farah. “I love teaching at a place that values the liberal arts and supports collaborative research between students and faculty. I am grateful to my colleagues for recognizing my efforts in teaching and look forward to continuing to evolve and adapt alongside the ever-changing needs and interests of our wonderful students.”

About The Luther W. and Bernice L. Thompson Distinguished Teaching Award

The Luther W. and Bernice L. Thompson Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes a faculty member whose teaching is recognized as outstanding by faculty colleagues. Each year, after a careful review of the teaching of all recent candidates for tenure, the Faculty Personnel Committee recommends one faculty member to receive The Luther W. and Bernice L. Thompson Distinguished Teaching Award. This award is presented during the final faculty meeting of the academic year.

Dr. Robert E. Dutton, Class of 1946 Memorial Mentorship Award

Environmental Studies Chair Andy Wilson

Environmental Studies Chair Andy Wilson teaches several courses that discuss environmental issues and the principles of ecology. His upper-level courses take a deep dive into wildlife ecology, as well as conservation biology in collaboration with the Biology Department.

With a Ph.D. from Penn State University, his research focuses on birds, particularly how environmental change impacts bird populations. In working with large-scale Citizen Science projects, analyzing large data sets with a spatial component, Wilson has developed expert knowledge in the field, which he regularly shares with his students.

With an interest in technology, he also finds ways to incorporate advanced tools into his research and classes. His focal research program uses drones to count songbirds, while smartphone applications, trail cameras, and audio recorders are employed in his classroom.

Wilson said “being nominated for this award by his colleagues was a great honor and genuine surprise. Gettysburg College students are wonderful people, and mentoring them is always rewarding, a privilege, and brings me great joy.”

About the Dr. Robert E. Dutton, Class of 1946 Memorial Mentorship Award

The Dr. Robert E. Dutton, Class of 1946 Memorial Mentorship Award is presented to a faculty member who demonstrates excellence in advising and mentoring students. This award is presented during the final faculty meeting of the academic year.

Bruce S. Gordon ’68 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Teaching Excellence Prize

Spanish Prof. Verónica Calvillo

Spanish Prof. Verónica Calvillo, a native of Juárez, Chihuahua, México, who was raised in Albuquerque, N.M., is passionate about teaching current Latinx community and cultural topics in the United States and Latin America culture and society. 

Her research focuses on Chicano and Latino literature, immigration studies and film, and the construction of identity in contemporary literature. She received her master’s degree in Hispanic literature and her Ph.D. in Spanish (Chicano and Latino literature) from the University of New Mexico. 

A first-generation college graduate, Calvillo believes in mentoring and guiding her students so they can achieve a higher education and succeed beyond their years at Gettysburg College, assisting them in their pursuit of a graduate degree, if desired, or a career.

“I firmly believe that everyone deserves an opportunity to receive an education, and sometimes it only takes one person to believe that it is possible to achieve this milestone,” said Calvillo. “For me, this was the case, so I am forever thankful to all my mentors who believed in me and helped me to be where I am today. I hope I can be that person for some of my students who take my classes and seek my advising or mentoring.”

About the Bruce S. Gordon ’68 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Teaching Excellence Prize

Established by Bruce S. Gordon ’68 along with fellow classmates, friends, and supporters, the Bruce S. Gordon ’68 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Teaching Excellence Prize recognizes a Gettysburg College faculty member for transformational excellence in teaching and service through diversity. Each year, a call for nominations is sent to faculty, staff, and students. The provost and academic divisions, in collaboration with the chief diversity officer, select the recipient of the award from the pool of nominations.

The Johnson Center for Creative Teaching and Learning Excellence in Teaching Award

Environmental Studies Prof. Sarah Principato

Environmental Studies Prof. Sarah Principato teaches a variety of courses, such as Earth System Science, Geologic Disasters and Global Change, and Glaciers and Records of Climate Change. She is geologist with specialties in glacial geology and records of climate change, and she is a fellow of the Geological Society of America.

In addition to teaching classes, another important component of her work is conducting research with students in the lab and in the field, and she has published several papers on the glacial history of Iceland with student co-authors.

After graduating from Mount Holyoke College with a degree in geology and a minor in math, Sarah earned her M.S. in geology from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and then completed her Ph.D. in geological sciences at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado - Boulder. 

“I am so grateful to my Environmental Studies colleagues for nominating me for this award, and I am sure many of my colleagues are equally deserving of it,” said Principato. “I enjoy teaching students about the wonders of the Earth, and it is an honor to be recognized. Gettysburg College students are awesome, especially environmental studies majors, and whether in the field, lab, or classroom, they are the reason I love this job so much. Thank you for this award.”

About The Johnson Center for Creative Teaching and Learning Excellence in Teaching Award

The Johnson Center for Creative Teaching and Learning (JCCTL) Excellence in Teaching Award is given to an exceptional teacher based on a faculty member’s quadrennial review where excellence in teaching has come to the forefront as so exceptional that it stands apart from the work of many other gifted teachers. It is awarded during the final Faculty meeting in the academic year in which the quadrennial review was submitted.

Center for Public Service’s Faculty Award for Community Engagement

East Asian Studies Prof. Yoko Nishimura

East Asian Studies Prof. Yoko Nishimura teaches social science courses on Japanese society and culture. Alongside her students, she examines topics such as wealth inequality, Japan–U.S. relations, the relationship between Japanese religions and anime and manga, and gender issues during World War II.

Nishimura is dedicated to connecting students with the community through initiatives that promote social justice and education. She has partnered with the Gettysburg Borough to strengthen ties with its sister city, Sekigahara, Japan, including a student exchange program. This past January, she also served as the faculty advisor for the Center for Public Service’s Morocco Immersion Project.

With expertise on the archaeology, history, religions, wealth inequality, and languages of East Asia and the Near East, her work focuses on material culture and historical documents related to people who inhabited these regions since prehistoric times. She earned both her master’s degree and Ph.D. from UCLA, where she developed a research focus on domestic artifacts, everyday activities, and economic inequality among non-elite populations.

Through her archaeological research, Nishimura also advocates for the study of artifacts housed in museums far from their original excavation sites, highlighting the importance of making these collections more accessible to researchers. Her recent projects investigate how everyday household objects, such as tools and utensils, were used in third-millennium BCE settlements in Japan and Turkey, offering new perspectives on daily life and social organization in ancient communities.

“It has been a privilege to collaborate with our community partners to strengthen the partnership between Gettysburg College and the Gettysburg community while creating meaningful opportunities for our students,” said Nishimura.

About the Center for Public Service’s Faculty Award for Community Engagement

The Center for Public Service’s Faculty Award for Community Engagement is given to a faculty member who connects Gettysburg students to the greater community and engages with students in the work for social justice in a meaningful, transformative way.

Discover how our first-class faculty demonstrate teaching excellence and mentorship for our students.

Bob Schultz ’57 reflects on his decades-long friendship with Nobel Prize laureate Michael Bishop ’57—from Gettysburg classrooms to Yellowstone adventures—and the enduring reminder that the connections students make in college can shape their lives in unexpected ways.

Long before Michael Bishop ’57 became a Nobel Prize–winning scientist, he was the first-year roommate, fraternity brother, traveling companion, and friend of Bob Schultz ’57.

After arriving at Gettysburg College in 1953, Bishop, from Goldsboro in rural York County, Pennsylvania, and Schultz and Fred Stroehmann ’57, both from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, shared a room in Pennsylvania Hall. All three roommates later joined Lambda Chi Alpha together and became part of a circle of students eager to reshape the College community.

At the time, Schultz had no way of knowing that Bishop, who passed away in March, would one day transform scientists’ understanding of cancer and receive the 1989 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Bishop was simply Mike—a curious, driven classmate whose friendship became one of Schultz’s most meaningful Gettysburg connections.

Despite following different academic paths in philosophy and chemistry, respectively, Schultz and Bishop developed a strong bond through experiences on campus and off. One of their biggest on-campus accomplishments was being leaders of the movement to establish an Honor Code at Gettysburg in 1955. They joined with several others writing in the Gettysburgian to promote a proposal based on trust and responsibility.

The two also drove to Miami for a national Lambda Chi Alpha convention, where they lobbied against the fraternity’s policy excluding Black members.

“In those days, the line of the national fraternity was as long as our ‘brothers’ in South Carolina and Georgia and so on, cannot admit Black members, then the fraternity as a whole has to be against Black members. We went down and lobbied to the contrary,” Schultz recalled.

Yet the memories Schultz described most vividly came from two summers spent far beyond the boundaries of campus and Pennsylvania. In 1955 and 1956, he and Bishop drove old cars west on Route 30 to Yellowstone National Park, where they worked at nearby gas stations pumping fuel, fixing tires, and servicing visitors’ cars. They condensed their work into four days each week, leaving three days to explore.

“We had three days to chase the bison, to look for the coyotes, to climb,” Schultz recalled. “Oh, those were a real highlight for both of us.”

The friends climbed each of the four Yellowstone mountains that had fire towers at their summits. Bishop regularly arrived first.

“I came to realize that Mike always got to the top of those mountains and their fire towers before I did,” Schultz said. “And I’ve figured out that’s why he won the Nobel Prize and I haven’t won any Nobel Prizes.”

The joke conveys Schultz’s admiration, but his memories also reveal the young Bishop’s personality. He loved fishing, long hikes, intellectual exploration, and a good laugh. Schultz remembered the trip to Yellowstone as “such a rich experience” and recalled Bishop entertaining visitors with playful stories about bears being brought back to the park by train each summer.

Their post-Gettysburg pathways led them in different directions. At Harvard Medical School, Bishop’s interests pivoted from direct patient care to medical research, and eventually he accepted a teaching and research position at the University of California, San Francisco in 1968. Bishop later served as chancellor of the institution from 1998 to 2009. Schultz, in the meantime, joined the Navy, earned a doctorate in philosophy, and spent 35 years teaching at Lycoming College, University of Denver, and the University of Washington Bothell.

Their bond nevertheless continued. After Bishop won the Nobel Prize in 1989, he spoke with Schultz and his wife, Phyllis, about the ceremony in Sweden and having his parents and sons beside him. What Schultz remembered most was Bishop’s humility despite his rise to fame.

To Schultz, Bishop was never only a Nobel laureate. He remained the friend who shared a first-year room, challenged injustice, crossed the country in an old car, and climbed mountains beside him. Decades later, Schultz and Bishop renewed their friendship in their retirement years, initiating regular conversations on Zoom to talk about their Gettysburg professors, wilderness adventures, and current interests across philosophy, science, and politics.

“Back in the 1950s, we Gettysburg students were encouraged to aspire to become liberally educated adults and lifelong learners,” Schultz said. “I treasure having been such a longtime friend of Mike Bishop, a truly remarkable exemplar of realizing exactly that aspiration, and of becoming an inspiration for us all.”

For today’s students, Bishop and Schultz’s friendship is a reminder that the people you meet at Gettysburg may accomplish extraordinary things—and that the relationships formed along the way may become accomplishments of their own.

Join the ranks of driven and exceptional Gettysburg students who want to make a difference in the world.

Former Gettysburg two-sport standout Kendra Meredith ’18 reflects on her journey to Team USA, preparing for the world championships, and the growing opportunities for women in flag football at her alma mater.

A former two-sport standout at Gettysburg College, Kendra Meredith ’18 will represent the United States at the 2026 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Flag Football World Championship, held Aug. 13–16 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Selected as a defensive back and rusher for the 12-player U.S. Women’s National Team, she will help the three-time defending world champions pursue another gold medal on the sport’s biggest international stage.

Meredith’s journey to the national team is rooted in her experiences as a student-athlete in both basketball and track and field at Gettysburg. On the court, she was a quick and dynamic guard, tallying 249 assists in two seasons and leading the Bullets to the 2018 Centennial Conference championship. In track, she won the conference title in the long jump as a senior and ranked among the outdoor program’s all-time leaders in the long jump, triple jump, and 100-meter dash. Away from the field, Meredith was a member of Chi Omega sorority; majored in women, gender, and sexuality studies; and minored in educational studies.

The adaptability and discipline Meredith developed at Gettysburg have continued to shape her life beyond campus. After beginning her career in law enforcement, she now works as part of the Federal Employee Program Special Investigation Unit with Blue Cross Blue Shield, where she focuses on investigating potential fraud, waste, and abuse.

At the same time, the speed, footwork, coordination, and competitive drive she developed through basketball and track have helped her rise rapidly in flag football—from a recreational league near her Maryland home to the Team USA roster.

Meredith recently reflected on that journey, the demands of international competition, and her excitement for the future of women’s flag football at Gettysburg.

How did you get involved with flag football?

“I first got involved in flag football through a local league near my home in Rockville, Maryland, called RASL. My best friend’s brother introduced us to it, and from there everything snowballed. I kept meeting new people, getting invited to play on different teams, and jumping into tournaments whenever I could. One opportunity led to the next, and eventually that path brought me all the way to playing for the USA national team.”

What has the training and competition been like at this level of flag football?

“Training and competition at this level are on a completely different scale. Everyone is fast, everyone is elite, and everyone can do just about everything you’d expect from a top-tier football player. The standard is high across the board: precise route running, creating separation, locking down on defense, and playing with real discipline. IQ and route anticipation become huge factors because the margin for error is so small. Every rep feels like a test, and every matchup pushes you to level up.”

How did you feel about making the final roster for the world championship?

“It honestly didn’t fully sink in until we played Canada in Los Angeles during our Summer Series event in June. That’s when it hit me that this was real. I still get butterflies every time I step on the field or go to practice with Team USA. I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve accomplished, and I feel truly honored to be part of such a talented, well-rounded, elite group of athletes that I get to call my sisters.”

What will it take for Team USA to bring home the gold once again?

“Team USA bringing home gold again is going to come down to a few core things, of which we’ve been building toward every single camp and every single rep. If we stay disciplined, trust our preparation, and play with the same intensity and unity we’ve developed over the last few months, we absolutely have what it takes to bring home gold.”

Did your background as a student-athlete at Gettysburg help prepare you for this opportunity?

“Absolutely! My background as a student-athlete has helped me a ton. Growing up playing basketball and running track gave me skills that translate perfectly to flag football: change of direction, hand-eye coordination, footwork, and the ability to be quick, explosive, and fast! Those foundations are a big reason I’ve been able to compete at this level.”

How excited are you for Gettysburg to offer flag football as a varsity sport?

“I think it’s incredible that Gettysburg is officially offering flag football as a varsity sport. I’ll admit I’m a little jealous it wasn’t around when I was there, but I’m genuinely so excited for the athletes who get to take advantage of this opportunity. It’s a huge step forward for the sport, and I can’t wait to watch the program grow, shine, and accomplish big things.”

What advice do you have for anyone looking to play flag football at Gettysburg?

“My biggest advice is to try something new! You’ll never know if you love it until you give it a shot. Starting a new sport can feel overwhelming or even intimidating, but flag football is such a competitive, fast-paced, and genuinely exciting game. If you have even the slightest interest, I’d absolutely recommend giving it a chance. You might surprise yourself with how quickly you pick it up and how much you enjoy being part of it.”

Discover how Gettysburg athletics is creating new opportunities for women to compete, lead, and make their mark.

At Gettysburg College, skill building happens with hands-on research. Psychology and biology double major Marina Lomeli ’28 has found Gettysburg’s Cross-Disciplinary Science Institute (X-SIG) summer research experience invaluable in helping her develop adaptability and opening her mind to future careers in psychology or health care.

Donning a white lab coat and picking up a clipboard, psychology major Marina Lomeli ’28 prepares for another day of summer research at Gettysburg College. As she reaches down to pick up her furry black-and-white research subject, she’s greeted by a little squeak of excitement from a creature that will yield insights for her research project through the Cross-Disciplinary Research Institute (X-SIG) at Gettysburg.

The X-SIG opportunity, supported by Psychology Prof. Sara Keefer, is giving Lomeli the chance to cultivate adaptability while conducting hands-on neuroscience research. 

Alongside her fellow student researchers Sophia Hume ’28 and Megan Kane ’27, Lomeli is using rodent models to observe behavioral inflexibility in both female and male rats in response to food rewards and environmental cues. Lomeli hopes to apply the findings from her research to better understand reward-seeking and risk-taking behavior in humans.

Now participating in X-SIG for a second year, Lomeli, a STEM Scholar from Round Lake Beach, Illinois, believes this dynamic summer research experience at Gettysburg is preparing her for careers that may include psychiatric studies with the brain, cancer research, or a health care profession. The opportunity to conduct this type of research as an undergraduate sparked Lomeli’s interest in applying to and enrolling at Gettysburg.

“It’s been very beneficial to get to know professors and professionals in these fields, as well as get hands-on skills with these types of labs. These opportunities have helped me determine what I enjoy doing and identify things that I don’t think I would pursue in the future,” she said.

Lomeli first learned about Keefer’s research through her Brain and Behavior course she took with Keefer last fall. 

“Building relationships with the professors here helps you get involved in these research projects. Those connections have given me so much more experience than I could have gotten if I had gone somewhere else,” she said. “Dr. Keefer wants students to be very involved but still is understanding if someone isn’t comfortable performing any part of the project. However, for the most part, I have been very comfortable doing everything and learning these different skills in the lab.”

Beyond practical skills, such as operating lab equipment, Lomeli highlights the data analysis she’s had to do, the personal growth she’s experienced as a researcher, and the comfort she’s developed with scientific writing in preparation for the annual X-SIG poster presentations that will take place in the fall.

“When you leave Gettysburg College at the end of your four years here, you’re able to apply the skills and what you’ve learned here to different fields.”
– Marina Lomeli ’28

This adaptability—being able to handle the myriad responsibilities of conducting and reporting research—has given Lomeli the confidence to explore new ideas as she considers her future career interests.

Looking ahead to her junior year at Gettysburg, Lomeli anticipates continuing research with Keefer and serving as a Peer Learning Associate (PLA) for a developmental psychology class.

Each summer, faculty and students regularly work together across multidisciplinary departments—including biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental studies, health sciences, mathematics, physics, and psychology—representing the true cross-disciplinary nature of the Gettysburg Approach.

In addition to academics, she is also exploring co-curricular interests through the Guided Pathways. She’s most looking forward to pursuing activities in the Leadership, Teamwork, and Collaboration Pathway, in addition to the Career Development Pathway, she said. These activities include serving as manager of the ice hockey club team, where she’ll help with program leadership and organization.

“I see the Guided Pathways helping me to get a well-rounded experience academically, while being more involved on campus, which is something I want to work on more,” she said. “The Guided Pathways offer you many different opportunities for things you can participate in.”

Lomeli also hopes to build on her previous involvement with the Latin American Students Association (LASA) and take part in Casa de La Cultura swim program instruction when the 2026-27 academic year begins.

From the classroom to the lab, and beyond the campus borders, Lomeli has come to appreciate Gettysburg’s all-encompassing education available to her at every turn.

“The education here is consequential,” she said. “When you leave Gettysburg College at the end of your four years here, you’re able to apply the skills and what you’ve learned here to different fields. It’s reassuring to know that all the work I’m putting in is bringing me closer to a better future.” 

Pursue the academic subject that interests you with student-faculty research at Gettysburg College. 

Entering his eighth year at Gettysburg College, President Bob Iuliano will step into a national leadership role for the ACE Board of Directors.

This summer, Gettysburg College President Bob Iuliano was elected vice chair of the American Council on Education (ACE) Board of Directors. His term will begin on October 1, 2026.

“American higher education plays a pivotal role in expanding opportunity, strengthening our economy, and preparing students to address the most consequential challenges of our time. And yet, we know that colleges and universities are also navigating a period of extraordinary change and growing complexity,” said Iuliano. “ACE brings our nation’s greatest institutions—like Gettysburg—together to advocate for our shared interests and advance the enduring value of higher education. I am deeply honored to serve as the next vice chair of ACE’s Board of Directors and partner alongside inspiring leaders from across the country to help shape a strong and sustainable future.”

Iuliano was appointed the 15^th president of Gettysburg College in 2019. Under Iuliano’s leadership, Gettysburg College has experienced one of its most transformative periods in its nearly 200-year history, including the introduction of a new core curriculum; a new visual identity; new majors and minors; new sports teams; new master’s programs and partnerships; new campus spaces and renovations; historic fundraising success; and the launch of the Gettysburg Approach—designed to provide every student with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a world marked by change.

Upon arriving at Gettysburg, Iuliano helped the College navigate the COVID-19 global pandemic. Today, he is spearheading campus initiatives focused on alumni mentorship, artificial intelligence, and an ambitious next chapter for the institution—known campus-wide as Gettysburg 2.0.

Iuliano’s vision for Gettysburg ensures that every student from every background is the beneficiary of a rigorous, residential liberal arts and sciences education, one with compelling career and personal outcomes, positioning them to grow into the effective leaders and socially responsible citizens our society needs.

About ACE

The American Council on Education is a membership organization that leads higher education with a united vision for the future. It galvanizes its members to make change and collaborate across the sector to design solutions for today’s challenges, serve the needs of a diverse student population, and shape effective public policy.

As the major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities, ACE’s strength lies in its diverse membership of nearly 1,600 colleges and universities, related associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. ACE is the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities. Its members educate two out of every three students in all accredited, degree-granting U.S. institutions.