What is new for 2017-18

Pitt-Bradford will begin the 2017-18 academic year with new faculty and staff members, a new museum and a new residence hall under construction, and a new major, forensic science.

Matthew Hileman is the manager of the new Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center that Pitt-Bradford opened in May. Prior to coming to Pitt-Bradford, he was the director of marketing for the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Arts in Las Vegas.

Samila Sosic is the new director of study abroad services. She is also an instructor of art. A native of Bosnia and Herzegovina, she has earned a Bachelor of Science in architecture/engineering from the University of Sarajevo, a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary arts from Pitt-Bradford in 2011, and a Master of Fine Arts in drawing and painting from the University of San Francisco.

Ryan McDonough is the new sports information director. A native of Rochester, N.Y., he graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 2016 with a degree in journalism and mass communication.

Sharay Hall is the new head women's basketball coach. After spending her collegiate career playing for Lock Haven University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2012, she went on to earn a master's degree in sports and exercise psychology. For the past two years, she has been an assistant women's basketball coach at Frostburg (Md.) State University.

Sarah Foley is the new head women's bowling coach. As a bowler, she guided Pitt-Bradford bowling to consecutive AMCC championships in 2014 and 2015. She graduated cum laude from Pitt-Bradford in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice with minors in forensic studies and athletic coaching.

Also new this year are six faculty members, Dr. Wes Chiang, assistant professor of marketing; Dr. Lorna Hardin, assistant professor of accounting; Hallie Kleiner, director of the Mathematics Center and instructor of mathematics; Dr. Connie Perkins, assistant professor of nursing; Dr. Sarah Ruffell, assistant professor of biology; and Dr. Daniel Sadowski, assistant professor of chemistry.

This summer has seen 19 construction projects at Pitt-Bradford. The largest are a new $16.9 million, 178-bed residence hall, which was begun in May; the $5.7 million renovation of Marilyn Horne Hall and creation of the Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center completed in July; and a $4.7 million expansion to the KOA Dining Hall to accommodate more resident students. That project also began in May.

Pitt-Bradford will complete the new residence hall and dining hall expansion for the beginning of the 2018-19 academic year. In May, the university tore down one of its 40-year-old town houses to make room for the new hall. The net gain for the campus will be 38 beds.

The increase in students living on campus meant that it was time to expand the KOA Dining Hall in the Frame-Westerberg Commons to expand the food production and storage area. Sixty-nine seats will be added as well. The project will add nearly 3,000 square feet to the dining hall.

The Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center opened May 6 in the renovated and renamed Marilyn Horne Hall in downtown Bradford. In addition to the museum in honor of the world-famous opera star and Bradford native who donated her archives to Pitt, the ground floor of the building contains a gift shop and café, meeting space and offices for arts organizations.

The new four-year Bachelor of Science in forensic science at Pitt-Bradford will combine coursework in criminal justice, biology and chemistry. The new major builds on interest in an existing minor and combines a knowledge of evidence gathering and handling with scientific principles and techniques. The major will prepare students for a career in criminal forensics or other areas of science emphasizing an interdisciplinary approach to biology and chemistry.