Along N. 13th, Page 4

Morgan Rahtjen, a junior biology/biotechnology major at Albright College, is one of only six scholars to be accepted into Tower Health’s Medical Laboratory Science program at the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences.

“Most students accepted into the program have already earned undergraduate degrees, so Morgan’s acceptance as a junior speaks very highly about her academic preparation,” said Provost Karen Campbell, who is also senior vice president for academic affairs, faculty dean and the P. Kenneth Nase chair of biology.

Albright Associate Professor of Biology Adam R. Hersperger, Ph.D., pointed Rahtjen toward the selective program early in her college journey. “My advisor, Dr. Hersperger, helped me learn about this program during my sophomore year, so that I could make sure I had all the prerequisites to have a competitive application,” said Rahtjen. “Taking classes in histology, immunology and microbiology combined with my experience as a laboratory teaching assistant, making me a great candidate for the program.”

A $1 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) state grant will help renovate Gingrich Library into a new Student Success Commons and Library. The project aims to impact student success while enhancing community partnerships through expanded educational and cultural opportunities. The project’s total estimated cost is $15,001,900. Read more in Building Albright’s Future.

In March, Albright’s Domino Players offered several showings of their virtual “The Importance of Being Earnest” performance — an Oscar Wilde comedy of manners and morals that satirically grates against the idea of a common Victorian play.

Working separately with nine different Albright actors and multiple digital arts technology platforms, Director Jeff Lentz ’85, senior artist in residence, married a body of animated visuals and audio to create a captivating virtual theatre world. Costumes from the 1950s — created during an Albright online fashion/costume construction class led by theatre and fashion faculty member Paula Trimpey — were animated into a still-image collage, featuring photography from John Pankratz, Ph.D., professor of history.

Four, free virtual episodes of Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet” this spring featured Albright College actors and illustrators from around the world, showcasing their own interpretations of the play.

“Our adaptation is the story of Romeo and Juliet as seen through the diverse perspectives of our greater community, with audio performances by our Albright student actors,” said Dahlia Al-Habieli, M.F.A., assistant professor of theatre, who directed the production. “We also had a team of students and professionals working to not only coordinate this almost 70-person team, but to create original music, combine and edit hundreds of actor recordings, edit video, run social media, and engineer impossibly complicated rehearsal schedules.”

Albright College will return to its fully residential 15-week semester model in fall 2021, with the first day of classes to be held on August 16. In addition to holding significantly more in-person and hybrid model classes, the college will expand student activities, athletics and dining service options. Although vaccination will not be mandated, the college strongly recommends vaccination for all faculty, staff and students. Returning unvaccinated campus community members will be tested for COVID-19.