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Hello, SRU!

Hello, SRU!

By Hello, SRU!

"Hello, SRU" is the official podcast of Slippery Rock University and part of the WSRU-FM Podcast Network. Hosted and produced by SRU professors Jeremy Lynch and Nick Artman, as well as Justin Zackal from the Office of University Communication and Public Affairs, this podcast features conversations with SRU faculty, staff, students and alumni. "Hello, SRU" is your opportunity to hear stories that make The Rock a caring community of lifelong learners connected with the world.
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Dumpster Jive

Hello, SRU!May 17, 2021

00:00
36:26
GIVING DAY PREVIEW

GIVING DAY PREVIEW

Teresa Glasgow, ’10, assistant director of annual giving and donor communication, talks about SRU’s annual Giving Day fundraising event, which is March 26, and how donations support student success. You can give online during Giving Day at givingday.sru.edu or anytime at srufoundation.org/give. 


Mar 05, 202436:31
Start Your Engines (And Printers)

Start Your Engines (And Printers)

Cameron Constantine, an SRU senior mechanical engineering major, discusses “living” in the Vincent Science Center, building a racecar with a new racing club at SRU, and helping manage SRU’s 3-D Printing Lab.

Feb 07, 202422:41
Here Before Us

Here Before Us

Alexes Gomez, an SRU senior social work major, talks about the importance of recognizing indigenous peoples, the University’s land acknowledgment statement and the First Nations Club.


Jan 05, 202439:49
Meet the President

Meet the President

The first episode of a new season of the “Hello, SRU” podcast is with the University’s new president, Karen Riley. President Riley talks about her first impressions of SRU, her goals for the University and what it’s like being at the top of The Rock.


Nov 29, 202339:14
Cierra the Trustee

Cierra the Trustee

Cierra Mitchell, an SRU senior political science major, talks about being the newest member of the University’s council of trustees. The 12-member governing body of the institution has a seat designated for a student that Mitchell now occupies.


Jul 05, 202324:49
Rocky Revealed

Rocky Revealed

Austin Schoppe, ’23, who, for most of his time as an SRU student, lived a secret life as Rocky, the University’s mascot. Now, he’s able to talk about what it was it like to wear the suit, develop the personality of a cartoonish lion, and follow the mascot code.


May 29, 202335:12
Blind Side

Blind Side

Jenny Senko, ’12, an SRU alumna and the University’s new coordinator of blind services, talks about how SRU assists its students who have visual impairments. 


Apr 24, 202339:31
Skeele Set

Skeele Set

David Skeele, SRU professor of theatre, reflects on his 30-year career at The Rock on the occasion of his upcoming retirement. He’s directed more than 50 SRU productions, and as a playwright his work has been performed on stages from Scotland to Nigeria.

Mar 27, 202329:25
Helicopter Parents

Helicopter Parents

HELICOPTER PARENTS

John Rindy, SRU assistant vice president for career and academic progress, discusses the article he wrote for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about “helicopter parents,” and how they can influence the success (or failure) of college students.

Feb 28, 202333:22
'Rhyme and Reason' for Diversity

'Rhyme and Reason' for Diversity

Anthony Jones, SRU’s new chief diversity officer, talks about his career journey, explains the purpose of DEIB programming, and talks about the importance of having a diverse campus community at The Rock.

Jan 30, 202342:39
Turnpike Hero

Turnpike Hero

SRU student Sgt. David Duffey recounts his story about rescuing a driver of a crashed tractor tracker on the Pennsylvania Turnpike seconds before the truck exploded.

Nov 28, 202234:12
Making the Cut

Making the Cut

SRU student and professional bladesmith Eric Finch shares how he won $10,000 as a contestant on the TV show “Forged In Fire.”

Oct 31, 202236:48
Horse Show

Horse Show

Courtney Gramlich, ’00, manager of Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, describes the community impact of therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities offered at SRU’s state-of-the-art, on-campus facility.

Sep 26, 202230:50
Sales on the Pitch

Sales on the Pitch

Dave Wolfe, a 2013 SRU graduate with degrees in sport management and communication, talks about his job as corporate partnership sales manager for the Orlando City SC Major League Soccer club and the network of Rock alumni working in the Sunshine State.

Aug 29, 202232:60
Light on Her Feat

Light on Her Feat

Victoria Lightfoot, '10, '14M, shares how she was surprised at her school with a $25,000 check for winning the Milken Educator Award, as well as her journey from doubting college to being among the nation’s top educators.

Jul 26, 202232:32
Aye Aye, Captain Contres

Aye Aye, Captain Contres

Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Kathy Contres, who is a 1977 SRU alumna, talks about her recent trip to Washington, D.C., as part of the first-ever, all-women veterans honor flight. 

Jul 04, 202233:58
Up for Debate

Up for Debate

Abby Thomas, a senior and president of the Debate Society at SRU, joins us to discuss how debate tournaments work, including the recent NEDA nationals hosted at The Rock. As the winner of the speaker award at nationals, Thomas might debate Jeremy and Nick on today's important issues, such as: Is a hot dog a sandwich?

Jun 13, 202235:05
Coyne-Flip Career Decisions

Coyne-Flip Career Decisions

With graduation upon us, Renee Coyne, from SRU’s Center for Career and Academic Progress, shares how SRU helps students design their lives and figure out who they want to be.

May 10, 202237:17
Brick-And-Bible Project

Brick-And-Bible Project

SRU history professor and St. Louis native, Melissa Ford, talks about her upcoming book, “A Brick and a Bible,” which is about Black working-class women in the Midwest before the civil rights movement, and she discusses current race issues, regional differences, and a little improv, among other topics.

Apr 25, 202235:49
Dive Into the Archives

Dive Into the Archives

No, this is not a rerun episode of the podcast but instead a conversation about the archives and special collections at SRU’s Bailey Library with Judy Silva, associate professor, librarian and archivist.

Apr 11, 202237:58
Driverless Test of Time

Driverless Test of Time

Patrick McGinty, SRU instructor of English, steers a conversation about autonomous vehicles, aka driverless cars. As author of a soon-to-be-released novel, titled “Test Drive,” that is centered around the AV industry, McGinty’s become an astute and sought-after observer of the driverless car sector and he has taught seminar classes at SRU on the topic.


Mar 28, 202237:50
Enter the Butler's Chamber

Enter the Butler's Chamber

SRU alumnus Jordan Grady, ’15, ’16M, checks in to talk about his role as executive director of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce and how he’s partnering with SRU communication students to create videos to promote Butler County businesses and help them recruit employees.

Mar 07, 202235:32
Roxanne's Not Done

Roxanne's Not Done

Roxanne Dunn, a 2020 SRU graduate and former pole vaulter, was paralyzed following a car accident just months after graduating. Find out how her rehab and recovery are going and how she remains positive – and realistic – about her life’s circumstances. Also, follow her journey on Instagram (@nicole.roxanne_) and TikTok (@nicole.rox).

Feb 14, 202238:28
Deep Cover with the Mob

Deep Cover with the Mob

Retired FBI agent and SRU alumnus John Ligato, '71, '74M, talks about going undercover with the Italian mafia, authoring five books, creating the state’s first group home, and earning three Purple Hearts after being wounded in combat during the Vietnam War. Not bad for someone who was once expelled from campus only to become one of SRU’s 2021 Distinguished Alumni.

Jan 31, 202238:58
'Howett' Came to be in Forbes

'Howett' Came to be in Forbes

SRU alumna Amanda Howett, ’18, talks about being named to the Forbes Magazine 30 Under 30 for the sports industry. Howett, 25, is the athletic director at Penn State Shenango and she joined a list that includes NFL quarterbacks, Olympians, sports entrepreneurs and more.

Jan 17, 202231:12
Running the Distance

Running the Distance

Professional ultrarunner Patrick Reagan ’10 checks in following his recent induction into the SRU Athletics Hall of Fame to share his journey from The Rock to becoming one of the top long-distance runners in the U.S., having placed third at the 100-kilometer World Championships and reaching the U.S. Olympic trials in the marathon.

Jan 03, 202245:49
Diction to Overcome Addiction

Diction to Overcome Addiction

SRU English professor Mark O’Connor describes a community writing program he’s leading where students facilitate a creative writing workshop for people from Butler County in recovery from drug and alcohol addictions.

Dec 14, 202137:52
Social Workers Answer the Call

Social Workers Answer the Call

SRU professor Brittany Nwachuku and graduate student Alyssa Peters share how interns from SRU’s Master of Social Work program are embedded with three local police departments as social workers who go on call with patrolling officers.
Nov 29, 202132:30
An Ode to Food

An Ode to Food

SRU professors Fadoua Loudiy and Franklyn Charles talk about how they got their students to start an online cooking show called “Soul Food,” and, of course, the conversation turns to everyone’s appreciation for appetizing edibles in advance of the holiday season.

Nov 18, 202135:35
Digging Into Mammoths

Digging Into Mammoths

Jenna Kriley, a junior SRU biology major, explains how a bunch of mammoth fossils wound up in a sinkhole in South Dakota, and how an aspiring med school student such as herself got to dig them up with other paleontologists.

Nov 02, 202134:22
Hatchet Lady Haunts North Hall

Hatchet Lady Haunts North Hall

For a special Halloween episode, our first-ever guest Bob Watson returns to the show to share an SRU ghost story about how the late Emma Guffey Miller, a trustee from 1933-68 and influential campus and national political figure, might still be lingering in North Hall.

Oct 18, 202144:38
Turning to Page

Turning to Page

SRU’s new athletic director Roberta Page, ’88, talks about coming back to her alma mater and what fans can expect from The Rock sports teams this year.

Oct 04, 202139:30
Pet Project

Pet Project

PET PROJECT

Johnny Phommachanh, a 2021 SRU grad, shares how leaving a googly-eyed rock on campus last spring attracted a lot of eyeballs on social media and TV, leading to a local resurgence of the pet rock craze.

Sep 20, 202127:00
A World-Changing Conversation

A World-Changing Conversation

Pancho Timmons, a 2000 SRU graduate, shares how his life was changed by a brief encounter while he was at The Rock, and now he’s a social entrepreneur, business owner and co-authored of the book “Quick and Easy World Change: Fixing Our Messed Up World One Small Act at a Time."

Sep 06, 202127:39
Presidential Address

Presidential Address

SRU President Bill Behre makes his first appearance on the podcast to share his thoughts on the new academic year, the return of a fully in-person campus, vaccinations and lessons learned since the start of the pandemic.

Aug 23, 202137:42
Doubling Back on Campus

Doubling Back on Campus

Lauren Moran, SRU director of student engagement and leadership, talks about what her office is doing to support first- and second-year students who are arriving on campus. Because of last year’s pandemic limitations, there will be twice as many students who are new to campus this year.

Aug 09, 202132:52
Not Another Diversity Podcast

Not Another Diversity Podcast

Justin Brown, ’11, developed a diversity training program when he was a Slippery Rock University student. He now leads a nationally recognized diversity awareness program and is the author of “Ugh!?! Not Another Diversity Book.” Hear his story, why diversity is important and how he “rocked” a Super Bowl TV ad.

Jul 12, 202142:08
Spinning the Wheel

Spinning the Wheel

SRU alumnus Ryan Muldowney, ’05, tells the story about being a contestant on “Wheel of Fortune” and almost winning $1 million. He settled for a trip to Costa Rica and an appearance on the “Hello, SRU” podcast.

Jun 28, 202137:54
Justin Credible

Justin Credible

Justin Matteo, a cadet in SRU’s Army ROTC program, shares his experience from the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at West Point. Matteo was on a team from SRU that was pitted against the top ROTC units in the nation on a rigorous 36-hour course to “test their warrior spirit, team cohesion and dedication to mission accomplishment.”

Jun 14, 202140:39
Bound by Bocce

Bound by Bocce

Jillian Stringfellow, project coordinator from Slippery Rock University’s Physical and Health Education Department, discusses how The Rock gets the ball rolling for high school unified sports teams in the community, particularly with indoor bocce, where student-athletes with and without disabilities compete together.
May 31, 202128:12
Dumpster Jive

Dumpster Jive

SRU music professor David Glover recounts the tale of how The Balcony Big Band got back together after a curbside trash rescue. Glover is a member of Pittsburgh’s premier big-band jazz ensemble that also features SRU alumni.

May 17, 202136:26
Super Bowl Couple

Super Bowl Couple

Levi and Allie Lewis, from the SRU Class of 2014, talk about working for the Super Bowl-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Lewises are among three Bucs employees who graduated from The Rock.

May 03, 202148:09
Lia’s Agreed Upon

Lia’s Agreed Upon

With her crystal-ball syllabus, SRU professor of history Lia Paradis shares how she coincidentally started teaching a course about pandemics as a new pandemic emerged, if history really does repeat itself, and her own podcast, “Lies Agreed Upon.”
Apr 19, 202149:44
Esports De Corps

Esports De Corps

Exercise science professor Seth Jenny and Adam Schultz, president of the Esports Club at SRU, talk about the popularity of esports as a college sport and the potential for esports as a field of study. Find out how they respond to Jeremy’s initial skepticism.

Apr 05, 202158:58
Ross-pitality

Ross-pitality

Mary Jo Ross, Slippery Rock University associate professor of hospitality and tourism management, talks about how the restaurant industry has been affected by the pandemic. Learn how Ross, who worked decades as an event producer in Orlando, Florida, plans to turn Slippery Rock into a Magic Kingdom for her students.

Mar 22, 202155:10
121 State Parks in 303 Days

121 State Parks in 303 Days

Trevor Nordquist shares his story about visiting every Pennsylvania state park during his final year as an SRU student in 2020. Find out what he learned about his state and his state of mind during a time when most people dreaded periods of solitude during the pandemic, as well as his favorite parks and what motivated him to visit 121 parks in 303 days.

Mar 08, 202159:05
Muttonville University?

Muttonville University?

For the first episode of "Hello, SRU," retired administrator and SRU alumnus Bob Watson, '70, walks listeners through the history of The Rock. Watson is the author of "Slippery Rock University: The Legend Behind the Name," a 460-page book published in 2011 that chronicled the history the University.

Feb 22, 202158:07
Hello, SRU! Trailer

Hello, SRU! Trailer

"Hello, SRU" is the official podcast of Slippery Rock University. Hosted and produced by SRU professors Jeremy Lynch and Nick Artman, with assistance by Justin Zackal from the Office of University Communication and Public Affairs, this podcast features conversations with SRU faculty, staff, students and alumni. "Hello, SRU" is your opportunity to hear stories that make The Rock a caring community of lifelong learners connected with the world.

Feb 18, 202100:58