“When we think about living more sustainably we often think about technology and engineering, but to promote change we need to understand the problem, reveal its impacts, and inspire society,” says Professor Brian Eisenhauer, director of PSU’s Office of Environmental Sustainability. “We don’t save what we don’t know or care about. Many professional roles in sustainability require diverse skills including those from the social sciences, communications, business, and the humanities, and we are excited to help our students create a better future through their work. This generous funding from NEH enables us to create ways to do that.”

Message from the President

PSU is alive with energy and accomplishments.

A year ago we inaugurated the new Morgridge Strength and Performance Lab, a state-of-the-art facility that’s more than ten times larger than the one it replaced. It surpasses what you’ll find at many Division I schools and is the final piece completing the Human Performance Center. Not only do student athletes make full use of the facility, but it is also a teaching Open Lab for a wide range of health and science academic programs available through PSU’s innovative Cluster Learning model, such as exercise and sport physiology and human performance, athletic training, and advanced graduate programs for physical therapists. There is really nothing like it.

Returning students serve as orientation leaders, who help usher new Panthers through their transition to campus. Jonah Rosenberg ’24, a political science major, explains, “My first experience at PSU was at Orientation and I learned probably the best piece of advice; growth doesn’t happen in your comfort zone. From being in Orientation, to being an orientation leader, I constantly pushed myself into my growth zone and it has been one of the best things I have ever done! I used to be afraid of things outside my comfort zone, now I know they are opportunities for growth.”

During my time in Boston, I had the opportunity to cover some of the biggest, strongest, and most destructive hurricanes to make landfall in the United States between 2016 and 2021. These storms rapidly intensified before making landfall at an almost unprecedented rate, and once the storms made landfall, they dropped historic amounts of rain. For every degree Celsius the atmosphere warms, it holds seven percent more moisture. That manifests in the form of heavy, flooding rains, which happen on a more frequent basis. After witnessing these catastrophic impacts of climate change, I saw the urgency for covering the crisis regularly during the evening newscasts. Station management in Boston were supportive of the idea, and we launched the country’s first weekly series on climate change.

When I first arrived, I was involved in track and videography on the side. The gym was also a big part of my life, which I used on campus five times a week. Things started to change for the better as I progressed. I now run my own freelance videography company, Sylvain Productions, and joined the Plymouth State Communications and Marketing Office to create videos for their brand my junior year. I have also pulled away from track to focus more on body building. Not only that, I also run my own fitness page, where I create my own videos and other media to help those in need of fitness advice.

My major in psychology has not changed but I have shifted my focus from therapy to marketing. I like the media side and am minoring in communications and media studies.

Of all the participating schools, Plymouth State is the only university to have two NASA-funded atmospheric science teams. Seventeen students and three faculty from diverse academic backgrounds are working together to bridge art and science. “All teams are making contributions scientifically, but the natural beauty of solar eclipses provides a tremendous opportunity to look at this event through an artistic perspective. I think we’re leading the way with developing artistic elements,” says Meteorology Professor Eric Kelsey, who leads one of PSU’s two teams.

Plymouth Magazine recently caught up with him to discuss the AI and its implications.

A granite bench honors the legacy of The Phi Mu Kappa/Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and has raised funds toward the R. Stephen Eastman Scholarship. Located on University Way, facing the Samuel Read Hall Building (formally Hall dormitory), it is engraved with the fraternity crests and dates of existence as well as the lyric, “He ain’t heavy he’s my brother,” a song emphasizing PMK/TKE’s bonds of brotherhood.

With the purchase of the first and only off-campus fraternity house in 1968, Phi Mu Kappa joined a national fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon, and became known as The Lambda Rho Chapter of TKE. During its nearly 25 years of existence, over 250 members bore witness to a very special moment in time.

1950s

Joan (Fuel) MacDonald ’58 is grateful for the alumni scholarship she received when she graduated high school. She had a great career in education.

Norma (Woodward) Green ’59 is proud to be a graduate of Plymouth state University. She has taught at the University of Kentucky (Lexington), in Lansing, Michigan, in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, University of Malawi, Lilongwe, and the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and was a private tutor while raising her three children. She has continued working with foreign students to bring their English language and writing up to academic standards and is still in touch with several 1959 classmates. Her aunt and sister are remembered on one of the bricks on the 150th anniversary path in front of Rounds Hall.

Exchanging Vows

Darcy (Bagley) Rine ’02 married Larry Rine on August 6, 2022, in Taftsville, VT.

Kelly (Rice) Willis ’11 and Jamie Willis ’11 were married June 9, 2023 in Plymouth. Jamie earned a degree in musical theater and Kelly’s degree was in communications.

Kelly (Rice) Willis ’11 and Jamie Willis ’11 were married June 9, 2023.

Chris Rydjeski ’13 and Amberlee Barbagallo ’12 were married on September 17, 2022, in Lebanon, NH. They met at Plymouth State University in 2012 as friends and began dating in 2014! They spent a lot of time in Rounds Hall and think back fondly to their time at Plymouth where they first met!

Ryan Patten ’14, ’18G married Kate Steinberg on September 29, 2023.

Amy Hackett ’17 married Colman Lydon ’17 on October 29, 2023, at Owl’s Nest Resort.

Isabelle Elsasser ’19 majored in English and was part of Delta Zeta, and Zack Kelley ’19 majored in business administration and on the Football Team. They are excited to share news of their recent marriage. After meeting their freshman year at Plymouth State, the two have always loved the community that was built there with their friends. The couple chose to pursue their education after completing their BA programs at Plymouth and remained in the area following the pandemic. Plymouth will always hold a special place in their hearts, and they can’t wait to see what the years bring for the community and for themselves.

At their wedding there were many Plymouth State guests, including five alumni who were the MASCAC Champions in 2017: Mitch Banuskevich ’19, Logan Edstrom ’19, Zack Kelley ’19, Grant McGregor ’19, and Teagan Tirabassi ’19.

Isabelle Elsasser ’19 and Zack Kelley ’19 were married May 12, 2023.

Amy Hackett ’17 married Colman Lydon ’17 on October 29, 2023, at Owl’s Nest Resort. Briana Lumbert ’17 was the officiant. Other PSU alumni present were: Taylor (O’neil) Keith ’16, Ryan Gardent ’17, Casey Henry ’17, Kate McCann ’17, Jeremy D’Amour ’17, Meredith Nicosia ’17, Paige Young ’17, Tucker Moss ’17, and Kaitlyn Warren ’15.

Mike ’06, ’09G, ’13CAGS, ’20EdD and Courtney Whaland welcomed their son Carter (Class of 2044) in June.

Clair Larsen ’12 and Shane Carlson ’12 and their three-year-old daughter, Maisey, welcomed baby brother, Otto Zane, to the family on March 18, 2023. Clair is self employed as a writer, personal coach, and in marketing and management. Shane works for award-winning Plant Parents as a high impact horticulturalist and team leader.

Kylie Hershey Silk ’19 and husband Jared Silk welcomed their son Owen on June 28, 2023.

SAVE THE DATE!
March 15–24, 2024

Why wait to make your mark? Become an Early Bird contributor at plymouth.edu/givingweek. Your support NOW will make an early impact and encourage others to participate.

• Make a gift of any amount. From $10 to $10,000, every dollar makes a difference.
• Become an advocate by sharing plymouth.edu/givingweek on your social media channels, or even upload a short video of yourself on why you give back.
• Challenge others to participate: Donations of $1,000 or more can be highlighted during Giving Week to challenge your peers to give back for today’s students!
• Let us know what you think would inspire your peers to give. What are the traditions or experiences that are unique to your time at Plymouth State?

For more information on how to support with advocacy or challenge gifts, please contact Julia LaFleur, Assistant Director of Development, at jmlafleur@plymouth.edu.