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Thomas gained a firsthand understanding of many aspects of sustainability within Thai villages, from approaches to ethical elephant tourism to agricultural practices. This included her time visiting Baan Huay Hee, a Pga K’nyau (Karen) community in Mae Hong Son Province, where generations of local ecological knowledge shape how people manage the surrounding forest.

Thomas is developing case study examples that will be disseminated to students enrolled in her SRU courses delivered through the lens of her field experiences. Her project will also open opportunities for cross-cultural exchange for both SRU and Thai students.

“This experience will continue to shape both my teaching and research, particularly how I approach questions about whose knowledge counts in conservation and how environmental education can better recognize the relationships among culture, livelihoods and ecological knowledge,” Thomas said.

Thomas’ project, completed during her sabbatical in Spring 2026, was supported by a grant from Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. She also worked in partnership with the International Sustainable Development Studies Institute and the Environmental Education Centre of Thailand to enhance her skills and knowledge directly from the people of Thailand.

The EEC provides family-friendly environmental education programming, and having Thomas’ 8-year-old son, Tee, join her during their six-month stay provided additional context as a participant and learner embedded in the communities.

“Instead of me coming in as an expert from the outside,” Thomas said, “I was there to learn from the local people who are interacting with the environment in that place.”

Thomas received more than 70 language-learning sessions with a private instructor from ISDSI as she was able to speak Thai at an intermediate level, which, according to international standards, means she is able to handle everyday situations and express opinions.

“Without speaking the language, I would not have gained the understanding,” Thomas said. “Culture is embedded in language and that is a crucial part of the work that we do in conservation education.”

hat began as a father’s determination to help his young son navigate Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy has evolved into groundbreaking research that could change how the condition is treated. Jon Anning, Ph.D., a Slippery Rock University associate professor of exercise science, has developed a comprehensive framework for understanding the historically controversial role of exercise in the treatment of DMD, a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness and degeneration, leading to loss of mobility over time.

The genesis of this research stretches back to the early childhood of Anning’s now 17-year-old son, Matthew, a junior at Slippery Rock Area High School.

“When Matthew was diagnosed at 4 years old, we heard about all of these clinical trials and things that he could get involved with,” Anning said. “I wanted to help him, so I asked for the data on those trials.”

Anning was told that he couldn’t have that data as it was all part of a research study. This led Anning to begin his own treatment proposal centering exercise as a treatment strategy for DMD. Anning’s curiosity led him to collaborate with researchers at the University of Pittsburgh to find ways to implement exercise without causing damage.

One of the complications of DMD is that, once damaged, muscle doesn’t regenerate, making the type and intensity of specific exercises crucial to help a patient rather than cause quicker loss of physical capacity.

Since 2022, Anning has authored articles published in peer-reviewed research journals, the most recent with co-authors in the Journal of Rehabilitation Practices and Research about which exercises would be appropriate for all five stages of DMD.

“We wanted it to be readable for practitioners and caregivers so that everyone could get some new perspectives on how to approach exercise and DMD,” Anning said. “We’ve gone to physical therapists with Matthew who haven’t been aware of what they can and can’t do, so it’s just as important to practitioners as it is to caregivers.”

Anning has also served on a DMD advisory committee at the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

With his deep understanding of DMD from both a parent and a researcher’s perspective, Anning is helping to push the conversation around the treatment of DMD as well as the treatment of young people living with this condition.

pioneering new program at Slippery Rock University is taking story time from the classroom to the barn by pairing elementary school students with four-legged study buddies. SRU’s College of Education and the Storm Harbor Equestrian Center have launched a program titled Books in the Barn designed to support early literacy development by having children read aloud to an unlikely audience: horses.

“Horses are very intuitive animals,” said Sara Tours, SRU associate professor of curriculum, instruction, educational leadership. “This can be a great way for children to enhance their skills. The horses have been highly motivating for the kids.”

Designed for children in kindergarten through second grade, the program provides opportunities for younger learners to read to horses through structured sessions, fostering a low-pressure, supportive environment that promotes confidence, motivation and greater reading stamina.

The idea for Books in the Barn stemmed from Whitney Angelini, an SRU instructor who teaches an equine-assisted services course that is part of the animal-assisted interventions minor. Angelini, who has worked with equine-assisted services for nearly 20 years, is committed to expanding non-mounted, therapeutic offerings at Storm Harbor.

“The more time I have spent with horses, the more I have begun to develop a deep appreciation for the value of simply being with them,” Angelini said. “Horses are highly social herd animals, nonjudgmental and accepting. They don’t correct, interrupt or criticize. They provide a calm, accepting presence and powerful source of motivation, especially for children who may lack confidence.”

After earning credentials as a Horse Powered Reading Facilitator, Angelini sought out interdisciplinary partners across campus to turn the concept into reality.

“We hope the program will continue to grow while preserving the welcoming, personal connections among children, horses, families and the University that make it so special.”

SRU faculty, alumni and students have contributed to making Books in the Barn a reality. In addition to Tours and Angelini, the team includes graduate students Christina Myers and Kai Fulkerson-Bell; Ally Gilmore, a former SRU student and community partner; and faculty members Rocco Cremonese, from Bailey Library, and Luqing Zang and Diana Papa, from the Curriculum, Instruction and Educational Leadership Department.

“The Books in the Barn initiative has allowed me to combine my three passions: horses, literacy, and working with students from kindergarten to second grade,” Myers said. “Books in the Barn provided me with the opportunity to use the therapeutic nature of horses to cultivate an environment for students to build confidence in reading.”

Watching students respond to the horses has been a highlight for most of the team. Even at such an early stage in the project, the children show visible signs of progression among students, in both reading comprehension and interactions. The horses show signs as well.

“Horses are a little intimidating because of their size,” said Tours. “But the ones chosen for this are really kind and sweet, so even though there might be some apprehension, it was beautiful to see how the horses and the kids started to bond.

As data collection continues, the team remains focused on expanding the program’s reach across the region.

“We believe Books in the Barn highlights the innovative, community-engaged work happening between the College of Education and Storm Harbor,” said Tours.

As the second school in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference to launch a flag football program, SRU parlays its already national recognition in men’s tackle football into an early entrance to the women’s collegiate football scene.

“Slippery Rock is already on the map, but this is going to continue to bring more exposure to the University and the community through not only the program, but the events and the community engagement that will come from this,” Horton said.

“With the Browns and the Cowboys, I learned a lot more of the process of team meetings, the systems that were used, the approach. I learned a lot of coaching styles just by the experience,” Horton said.

In addition to her long football career, she played NCAA softball and volleyball.

“I was a student athlete,” Horton said. “I’ve been in their shoes as a female athlete, the challenges, the ups and downs. I can relate to them, so I think some of my experience will definitely help us through some of their tough times.”

Galbraith’s projects on flag football started when she took a sabbatical in Europe. The first portion of her sabbatical focused on the future of business trends, while the latter involved developing and launching the Women’s Flag Football Club at SRU.

Part of the desire to bring club flag football to SRU was Galbraith’s love of athletics and the sport. The other was the ideal timing.

The emergence of flag football has undoubtedly been propelled by the NFL and NCAA. The NFL has supported youth flag football by investing in leagues, coaching, equipment and programs that make the sport accessible to children nationwide. Galbraith referred to flag football as a quickly growing sport in America, as evidenced by the NCAA introducing it as an Emerging Sports for Women program and potentially a fully sponsored varsity sport in 2027. Women’s flag football will also make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“It’s a buzz that is sustainable,” Galbraith said. “Particularly as an Olympic sport. Once you get that type of showcase, you’re golden.”

Galbraith researched the strides flag football has made in local high schools, particularly in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League. With more than 50 high schools sponsoring girls flag football teams, the growing interest points to another benefit of SRU adding its own varsity program.

“It’s important, not only from that lens, to compete, but also just establish the foundation for years to come, and to do it at this grassroots level is really powerful,” Horton added.

Mylah was the first recipient of the Louise C. and Arthur G. Williams Scholarship, which is awarded to a third-year, pre-licensure BSN student with at least a 3.0 GPA.

“We have been very happy with Mylah’s decision to attend SRU,” Bobbi Jo said. “Her experiences with her nursing professors and advisers have really stood out to us. It is comforting to know that she has people at SRU who know her, encourage her, and want her to do well. She talks about how helpful and supportive they have been and, as a parent, that means a lot.”

Nursing is a rapidly developing field of study, and it takes the right combination of education, support and experiences to produce forward-thinking and proficient professionals.

After starting on the pre-physician assistant student track, Mylah began studying in SRU’s accelerated 1+2+1 Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The new program is more tailored to her interests and allows her to develop the social intelligence needed to work directly with patients in the medical field.

“The Williams Scholarship meant a lot to our family,” Bobbi Jo said. “College is expensive, and as parents, you always worry about how you are going to make everything work. The scholarship took away some of that financial stress and helped make it possible for Mylah to attend SRU and pursue nursing.”

The O’Hanlons had the chance to meet with Art Williams. They discussed the Williams’ story behind creating the scholarship.

“It was meaningful to hear what led him to want to help students and to see how much he genuinely cares about making a difference,” Bobbi Jo said.

“It has been really special to watch Mylah grow since starting at Slippery Rock. We have seen her become more confident and independent, and she has really grown into her own. Nursing school is not easy, and we have watched her work hard and overcome challenges along the way. We are very proud of how she has handled it.”

“My education at Slippery Rock University helped shape my work ethic, my leadership style and my belief in the power of opportunity,” said Charlie Sheetz, who earned his degree in elementary education. “Gail and I believe strongly in investing in people, and SRU is a place that consistently develops talented, driven graduates. We’re proud to support programs that will empower students to succeed and make a difference.” These new investments are in addition to the Charles Sheetz Scholarship created in 1998 to support incoming Rock students from Blair County with financial need.

During its pilot year, as many as 100 students will be paired with 30-40 alumni mentors. Networking events, workshops and other career-focused programming will complement the mentoring relationships. The Sheetz’ investment will fund the program for five years.

“The Charlie Sheetz Mentorship Program brings together the best of what we aim to provide our students, meaningful relationships and real-world preparation,” said Prasad Vemala, dean of the Haverlack College of Business. “We are grateful for the support behind this initiative, which allows our students to gain confidence, strengthen communication skills, and develop the professional judgment needed to successfully transition into their careers and beyond.”

The lab will feature 10 stations equipped with hospital-grade equipment, patient beds, functional headwalls, medication carts and vital sign monitors.

The investment comes as SRU launches a new four-year, pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in fall 2026. Renovations are underway to create the lab space for when the program’s first cohort begins on-campus nursing-specific skills training.

Students will use mannequins, task trainers and simulation to practice vital signs, wound care, medication administration and sterile procedures.

The lab will strengthen SRU’s preparation of practice-ready nurses for communities throughout the region and beyond.

“We are deeply grateful to Charlie and Gail Sheetz for their extraordinary generosity and their belief in Slippery Rock University,” said Karen Riley, SRU president. “Their support creates lasting opportunities for our students and strengthens programs that address critical workforce needs.”

Cress first joined Deep Well Services in 2014 as a regional safety manager before transitioning into education and workforce development. That shift, he explained, was a natural evolution of his safety-first philosophy, one which built directly off the principles taught at SRU.

“Competency training was the next logical step for me,” Cress said. “As a safety manager, I learned that you can’t separate safety from the people who are doing the work. If you want people to perform at a high level in any company, you’ve got to give them the knowledge, the tools and the expectations to do something the right way. That philosophy, which was ingrained in me at SRU, led me into training.”

“The machine is important, but the real value is the trained people operating it,” Cress said. “What really separates DWS, in my opinion, is our focus on people. Our ‘One Team, One Family’ culture includes our competency-based training, and our commitment to developing people and leaders.”

SRU’s safety management program has long been recognized as a premier training ground for industry leaders, renowned for pairing advanced technical coursework with real-world application. During his time at SRU, Cress absorbed a strong set of core values built around clear communication, personal accountability and professional ethics.

For Cress, the bond with SRU is not just an academic line on a resume or a steppingstone to a successful career; it is deeply interwoven with his personal history, his family roots and a profound sense of regional pride.

Cress graduated from Slippery Rock Area High School, his mother, Rebecca, worked at SRU, and his grandparents lived on Slippery Rock Road.

“Slippery Rock has always been a part of my life,” Cress said. “SRU and the community gave me a foundation and taught me how to think.”

“I understood the hazards, risks and regulations,” Cress said. “But as I’ve learned throughout my career, knowing just the technical sides isn’t really enough. You’ve got to be able to communicate and build relationships, and to be able to get people to believe in doing things the right way. Those morals and values started at Slippery Rock.”

“You had a team of individuals at SRU that cared about one another and the success around them,” Cress said. “They cared about others more than themselves, and that was something that always resonated with me. The culture the safety program has directly connects to the type of culture and beliefs I’m instilling with the people at Deep Well.”

Class

Notes

Organized by SRU’s Office of Alumni Engagement in coordination with the Office of Career Education and Development and the Green and White Society, Backpacks to Briefcases is a biannual event designed to help SRU students explore career options, interact with accomplished graduates and learn what to expect after college.

SRU alumni Hannah Glass ’10 and Angela Conant ’16, ’19M have fostered successful careers built on mutual support and mentorship – a testament to the professional networking opportunities provided at SRU.

“I was fortunate in my undergraduate studies to participate in Backpacks to Briefcases,” said Conant, a physician assistant in transplant nephrology for Allegheny Health Network. “During that experience, I met an alumna who inspired me to pursue my career as a physician assistant.”

Through this event, Conant met Glass, a physician assistant at UPMC St. Margaret Dermatology. Glass quickly became a key mentor in Conant’s professional journey. For Glass, participating was a chance to give back to her SRU community in a way she hadn’t experienced early in her career.

“I wanted to be a resource,” Glass said. “As a professional, I didn’t have anyone to mentor me. I didn’t have a resource, and I struggled quite a bit. So I just thought, ‘What the heck? I’m going to go and talk about my experience.’ I wanted to be the person that I didn’t have access to.”

Their initial conversation sparked a lasting connection and mentorship between the two alumni that extends far beyond campus.

After Conant graduated from SRU, she and Glass kept in touch, further cementing a strong professional and personal relationship that has endured through years of career development.

“I’m so proud of her,” said Glass. “We keep in touch and even share patients now. We’re able to refer back and forth to one another, and I didn’t really know the impact that just showing up can have on someone else’s life. It’s been really reinforcing for me to continue to show up, share and be vulnerable and real. People gather a lot from that.”

“Backpacks to Briefcases brings the opportunity to learn more about careers or subspecialties in your field of interest and helps you find a career that best fits your goals,” said Conant. “Ultimately, that is what this event did for me. A five-minute conversation with Hannah changed the whole trajectory of my life.”