Campus Kudos: September 2026
From Emmy and Barrymore nominations to a perfect pass rate for WCU’s physician assistant graduates, catch up on accomplishments across the University community.
Campus Kudos is a monthly roundup of accomplishments by West Chester University faculty, students, staff and alumni.
Awards and recognition
Professor Laquanna Cooke and Associate Professor Jeremy C. McCool won a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award in the Outstanding Long Form Content: Education/Schools category. They co-executive-produced The Hands That Shape Tomorrow, a documentary about early childhood educators participating in a guaranteed income initiative.
Professor Neil Curtis and Linda Fabrizio Mazzoli ’90 were inducted into the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame in June. Curtis directs WCU’s Athletic Training Program, and Mazzoli has held leadership roles in athletic training and rehabilitation.
WCU’s Physician Assistant Class of 2026 earned a 100% first-time pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam. All 26 graduates passed.
On stage and in print
WCU faculty, students and alumni received five Barrymore Award nominations for Philadelphia-area theater:
- Associate Professor of Theatre John Bellomo — Outstanding Original Production for Sacco & Vanzetti: A Tragedia Dell’Arte
- Ren Bailey ’29 — Outstanding Props or Puppetry Design for Sacco & Vanzetti: A Tragedia Dell’Arte
- Gina Giachero ’04 — Outstanding Music Direction of a Musical for Falsettos
- Page Whitman ’19 — Outstanding Leading Performance in a Play for Same Team
- Matthew Ryan Melchior ’23 — Outstanding Overall Production of a Play for The Mountaintop
Professor Stephen Ng of the Wells School of Music performed, taught and presented internationally during his spring sabbatical. His engagements included a keynote at an arts and well-being conference in Hong Kong, a recital and masterclass in the Netherlands, workshops in mainland China and Hong Kong, and a performance with the Hong Kong Bach Choir and Orchestra. In July, he premiered Strokes & Syllables, a sold-out Cantonese art song recital with percussion.
Professor Laquanna Cooke published Meta-Tuning Justice in July. The book explores how Black youth use game design to challenge stereotypes and create social change. Cooke will do a book talk and signing on Thursday, October 8 from 6–8 p.m. in Philips Autograph Library.
Faculty in the news
- Political Science Professor John Kennedy provided television commentary on Sen. John Fetterman’s surprise video at the Republican convention.
- Michele Pole, director of WCU’s Community Mental Health Services, spoke about mental health counseling for jurors in a story carried by Yahoo and other outlets.
- Psychology Professor Jasmin Tahmaseb-McConatha shared insights on finding joy in retirement with Bolde.
Alumni in the news
- Zachary Starr ’24, founder and CEO of Quix Labs, was featured in the Daily Local as his nicotine reduction company expands in the United Kingdom. Starr also served as an entrepreneur-in-residence at WCU’s Dr. Edwin Cottrell Entrepreneurial Leadership Center this summer.
- Jared Scott, a WCU business management graduate and owner of the Washington, D.C., barbershop His Grooming, was featured by DC News Now for his work as a barber and scout leader.
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