Lisa Kowalski ’06 and her students take a backstage tour of the Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre production of Hairspray. Lisa teaches theater at Democracy Prep Charter High School in Harlem, where she directed her students in their own production of Hairspray in May.

“Being in Harlem and working with an all-minority cast, this show really pushed my actor/scholars to explore the history or segregation through the lens of drama,” Lisa says. “My students truly exceeded my expectations as they delved into the constructs of race, gender and identity to perform this culturally significant show in our community.

The class was selected from a record-large applicant pool of 5,023 (up from 4,876 a year ago). Our acceptance rate was 46%.

The class continues our recent trend toward greater geographic diversity with California now ranking as our fifth largest feeder state (21 students in the incoming class), after N.J., Pa., N.Y. and Conn.

There are four international students this year (from Afghanistan, Nigeria, Thailand, and U.S. Virgin Islands). There are 20 different “first” languages reflected in the freshman class (with Spanish being the second largest language behind English).

The class numbers 582 (584 last year).

Mean SATs are 619/623/623 (vs. 612/620/625 last year). Mean ACT is 28, same as last year. Percent ranking in the top tenth is 44% (down from 51% a year ago, but only about a third of students are ranked anymore, so the variability of this metric is considerable).

Multicultural students make up just over 12% of this class – up from 10.9% last year.

Top majors indicated at the point of admission were:

1. theatre arts
2. biology
3. psychology
4. business
5. undecided
6. media & comm.
7. dance
8. tie – history
9. tie – neuroscience
10. English

83% of the class is receiving institutional grant/scholarship aid (up from 78% last year).

The Class of 2016, 582 members strong, moved onto campus on August 24, 2012, and was warmly greeted by members of the College community, from President Helm and senior staff, to orientation committee members and other involved students, to 26 reassuring alumni volunteers and an extremely encouraging faculty. To learn more about the newest members of the Muhlenberg family, see The Class of 2016 At A Glance.

Muhlenberg College will offer Jewish studies as a major starting in the fall of 2013. The College has had a Jewish studies minor program since 1988.

It is the first new major added to the curriculum since film studies and finance were approved in 2006. The newest minors include Latin American studies and film studies.

“The field of Jewish studies is dedicated to the critical analysis of Jewish texts, ideas, culture and historical experience within the broader context of the study of the humanities,” says Dr. Hartley Lachter, associate professor of religion studies and the director of the Jewish studies program. “As an interdisciplinary field, course offerings in Jewish studies address a wide range of subjects.”

Starting in fall 2012, Muhlenberg College presented a year-long series of events and talks on the theme “Jews, Money and Capitalism.” The program is sponsored by a grant won by the Jewish studies program from the Legacy Heritage Jewish Studies Project, directed by the Association for Jewish Studies. The series features Muhlenberg faculty and invited speakers as part of an intellectually engaging, community-wide discussion, and will work in partnership with many local co-sponsors, including the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and the Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding.

“Muhlenberg is in the fortunate position to be able to offer a high quality, robust major in Jewish studies,” adds Lachter. “Developing this major at Muhlenberg will set us apart from other institutions to which our students typically apply.”

Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It has become nationally known for its religious diversity. The current student body is approximately one-third Jewish and one-third Roman Catholic, with the remaining third comprised of Protestants, students who declare no religious preference, and students with a wide range of religious backgrounds including Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus. The College’s commitment to a diverse community, and creative engagement in that diversity, is embodied in the 22-year record of its Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding.

“A Jewish studies major will be a significant plus for many prospective students who are considering Muhlenberg,” says Christopher Hooker-Haring, dean of admissions and financial aid. “Students are looking for more opportunities to study the diversity of human cultures. The college has developed a number of vibrant and high quality interdisciplinary programs in recent years, and our new Jewish studies major will build on this strength.”

“The development of this major grows out of our successful Jewish studies minor,” says Provost Dr. John Ramsay. “It provides all students an opportunity to pursue the interdisciplinary study of the rich heritage and contemporary significance of the Jewish people, their history, culture and religion within an international context. We are fortunate to be able to support this new major with courses in Hebrew, religion studies, philosophy, history and political science.”

Courses taken abroad at institutions in Israel and Europe, as well as courses taken though the College’s newly established agreement with the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, provide further opportunities for students in the field of Jewish studies.

While early graduation is uncommon, Muhlenberg College students have always had the opportunity to graduate in three years as opposed to the traditional four-year route. Due to the difficult economic times, three-year degree programs have recently received national attention. To that end, Muhlenberg College has provided a clear path to the three-year degree option, while cautioning that it is for a very small percentage of its population.

Provost John Ramsay points out that this option is “not aimed at all, or even most, students.”

“Students have always had the option to graduate in three years,” notes Ramsay. “We expect a very small percentage of our students will consider this path, but given the economic times, we wanted to make students aware of this program should they wish to accelerate their undergraduate education.”

Students who choose the three-year option are still required to meet the 34-course graduation requirement. This can be accomplished in three academic years plus summer study, along with Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate credits and/or college credits earned before enrolling at Muhlenberg College.

“This is certainly not for everyone,” says President Randy Helm. “We still believe there are excellent reasons to follow the traditional four-year route to an undergraduate degree. However, this might be an attractive option for especially ambitious and focused students who arrive on campus knowing exactly what they want to study. It has the potential to save more than $50,000 in college costs for students who are ready to move on to the next stage of their lives, and to get them into graduate school, professional school or the workforce a year earlier than would otherwise be possible.”

Helm also cautions that the compressed schedule may preclude students from completing a double major, adding a minor or studying abroad, which are valuable components of a liberal arts education. He also notes that nine to 15 courses are required for an academic major and “scheduling and advising play critical roles in the process.”

According the most recent Career Survey, 97 percent of those who responded from the Class of 2011 (92 percent response rate) were employed or enrolled in graduate or professional school within one year of graduation.

Muhlenberg College and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., have announced the Air Products Community Internship Program. This partnership, a collaboration between Air Products and the College’s Career Center and Office of Civic Engagement, is designed to benefit non-profit organizations in the Lehigh Valley and provide valuable internship experiences for Muhlenberg College students.

Five Muhlenberg College students are the inaugural recipients of the Air Products Community Internship. Starting this spring, each intern will work for 10 hours per week at non-profit organizations designated by Air Products. The interns receive a small stipend. The spring cohort includes: ARCH of Lehigh Valley: Andrea Johnston; Community Bike Works: Hannah Miller; Miller Symphony Hall: Courtney Haines; The Sanctuary of Haafsville: Megan Bollman; and St. Luke’s University Health Network – Community Health Department: Rachel Massar.

“Air Products has always been one of the most civic-minded, engaged and philanthropic corporations in the region,” says President Randy Helm. “This is another example of a great community partnership between the College and Air Products, one that will benefit many non-profit organizations in the Lehigh Valley.”

Through their participation in the internship program, students will engage in the community, gain experience in his or her intended career field, learn more about the world of non-profit organizations and serve a non-profit that could not have afforded to pay an intern without stipend donation.

Founded in 1940, Air Products has built a reputation for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. Their aim is to develop lasting relationships with their customers and communities based on human qualities: understanding their needs, doing business with integrity and honesty, and demonstrating a passion for exceeding expectations.

by Liz Fonseca ’13, Presidential Assistant, Public Relations

Dr. Albert Kipa has had quite the career. As an expert in Germano- Slavic literary and cultural relations, he has lectured in cities across the world including Freiburg, Mainz, Munich, Prague, Rome, Kiev, Lviv, Moscow and Warsaw. However, the most rewarding city in which Kipa has lectured is much closer to home – Allentown, where, over the last five decades, Kipa has taught and mentored thousands of Muhlenberg students.

Kipa retired this past spring from his position as Professor Laureate of German and Russian and J. & F. Saeger Professor of Comparative Literature in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures (LLC) after 46 consecutive years of service to the College.

Kipa was born in Kiev, Ukraine and immigrated to New York with his family at age 11. He received his B.A. in German and Russian from the City College of New York, and just five days after receiving this degree, he began teaching at his alma mater, confirming his love of teaching languages and literature. Soon after, he began an assistantship at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his Ph.D. in Germano-Slavic literary relations in 1972.

Kipa accepted a position teaching at Muhlenberg in 1966, knowing it was the right place. For him, it was located perfectly between New York and Philadelphia, and he appreciated that ‘Berg’s size allowed him to maintain close relationships with students, which he insists have been the backbone of his career, saying they underwent “an exploration of the world together.”

It was also crucial to him that the College champion the liberal arts. Kipa says, “The liberal arts experience provides you with a foundation in what it means to be human.”

His Russian, German and English literature courses “encouraged students to see literature as art, as a significant reflection of life and as an imaginative extension of its possibilities” while through his language courses he tried to “opened up their eyes to a broader perception of the world.”

The versatility and breadth of Kipa’s remarkable career makes any attempt at a complete list of achievements impossible. He has received the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award as well as a huge number of prestigious national and international awards, including the Fulbright and Ukraine’s presidential “Order of Merit.” He served on a National Advisory Council to the newly created U.S. Department of Education from 1980 to 1982 and has acted as author or editor for an extensive number of books, articles and reviews.

At Muhlenberg, Kipa served as the LLC department head for 12 years. In addition to that, he says it feels as if he has devoted time to “every imaginable committee on campus,” even acting as the faculty advisor to the ice hockey club for five years “because my sons (’98 and ‘01) were ice hockey fanatics.”

When asked what he will miss about ‘Berg, Kipa says, “The most important part of the job was interacting with students and colleagues. I am going to miss those daily interactions, but the relationships I have with everyone will remain.”

Looking forward, Kipa says, “In some respects, I want to cut back on the broad range of activities I was involved with,” but he laughingly points out that “retirement is not as if you’re exiled,” as some students and faculty members seem to believe when they see him on campus now. Kipa will continue his scholarly work and is excited to travel more and spend time with his wife of 46 years, Oksana. He will also continue to serve as the President for the Ukrainian Academy of the Arts and Sciences in the US.

At his retirement dinner last May, Kipa was deeply touched when he was presented with a video montage of faculty members, staff and students wishing him well and recalling his years at Muhlenberg.

In his farewell message, Provost John Ramsay said, “Professor Al Kipa has been one of Muhlenberg College’s most renowned, most respected teacher-scholars…He is also one of our wisest colleagues. He is a thoughtful man about the big issues of both the faculty and of the College at large. He has always expressed himself in conversations and disagreements about the direction of the College in very civil tones…He was always the most enjoyable and thoughtful companion and conversationalist.”

This is only one short message among dozens from members of the Muhlenberg community, thanking Kipa for being a mentor, a role model and a friend. Thinking of the video, Kipa smilingly states, “I had a lot of good friends at the College that expressed kind words. I realized why I never thought of retiring before.”