Muhlenberg College

Muhlenberg's annual tour-de-force dance concert features world-premiere dance works by acclaimed guest artists and faculty, performed by Muhlenberg College student-artists. "In Motion 2025" takes place Feb.6-8 in the Baker Center for the Arts' Paul C. Empie Theatre, Allentown, Pa., featuring the innovative works of Baker Artist-in-Residence David Dorfman, guest artist Kyle "JustSole" Clark, and Muhlenberg dance faculty Heidi Cruz-Austin, Karen Dearborn, Noel Price-Bracey, and Robyn Watson, and Artistic Director Karen Dearborn.

Taking place over winter break, Muhlenberg's externship program allows students early in their college experience to shadow professionals -- often Muhlenberg alumni -- in order to gain exposure to specific work environments and daily work life.

To be eligible for the Dean's List, Muhlenberg College students must earn a GPA of 3.5 or better while taking three or more course units during a semester.

Muhlenberg basketball players Drew Greene and Emily Unger have been named to the Lehigh Valley Small College Media Organization Scholar-Athlete Team. The team honors one player on each of the 11 area small college basketball teams for academic excellence.

Muhlenberg graduate student Joey Lamparelli has been named Centennial Conference wrestler of the week. Lamparelli went 3-0 with two wins against regionally ranked opponents at the John Reese Duals. After recording a 13-4 major decision against the eighth-ranked 125-pounder in Region 2 in the Oneonta match, he held his Ithaca opponent, the third-ranked wrestler in that region, without a point in a 5-0 decision. Lamaprelli, who is 13-4 this season, picked up a forfeit win against Keystone to complete the 3-0 day and move into a tie for fourth place on the program's all-time list with 94 career wins. The major decision against Oneonta gave Lamparelli 17 for his career, just three short of the school record. He ranks second in program history with 18 career technical falls.

Only 20 students nationwide are invited to be part of the mentorship program each year.

In a Muhlenberg College neuroscience lab, Teigan Brown '25 collects eggs from live frogs and explores the anti-anxiety properties of skullcap -- a medicinal herb. A graduate of Downingtown STEM Academy, Brown is studying neuroscience at Muhlenberg while conducting original research in the laboratory of Stanley Road Professor of Neuroscience, Jeremy Teissere, Ph.D. "The culture of the Teissere lab is very unique," says Brown. "It's important to me to be around people who care about the work that I'm doing, who care about me, and who I also care about. "[Teissere] has uplifted me and supported me through this entire process while making sure that it is an experience that is completely authentic to me. I'm just so proud of how far this project has come."

Muhlenberg College dancers spearheaded their own choreographic endeavors, under the guidance of dance professor Robyn Watson in fall 2024. Twelve student-choreographed dances were performed by more than 60 student dancers.

Muhlenberg College student-choreographers and dancers presented seven new dance pieces as part of the college's "Studio Sessions" in December. Under the guidance of artistic director and dance professor Lisa Busfield, each original piece demonstrates growth and the journey of collaborative, creative leadership.

The musical "Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812," written by Dave Malloy and directed by James Peck, was performed Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2024, in Muhlenberg College's Empie Theatre. The work is a musical adaptation of a scandalous 70-page segment from Leo Tolstoy's 1869 novel "War and Peace."

Running Sept. 26-29, 2024 in the Trexler Pavilion for Theatre & Dance at Muhlenberg College, "The Penelopiad" is author Margaret Atwood's vision of Homer's "The Odyssey," from the perspective of Penelope -- during the 20 years of Odysseus's absence. Known for her novel "The Handmaid's Tale," Atwood adapted the "The Penelopiad" from her own novella.

Roman Craig '27 and Alexa Cinelli '27 researched Muhlenberg College's LGBTQ+ history and created a website to showcase their findings.

Muhlenberg student Sophie Tomov '26 spearheaded a change to the college's bat removal policy in order to make the survival of captured bats more likely.

International student Fuka Aizawa '26 has worked in two different labs at Muhlenberg, followed by a research assistantship in Copenhagen, Denmark.

A choreographic tour-de-force from Muhlenberg's dance faculty choreographers and a guest artist, 'In Motion' ran Feb. 8-10, 2024, featuring student dancers who astonished the community with their tremendous talent.

Muhlenberg student actors performed the hit jukebox musical, "Head Over Heels," in April 2024, put on by the Muhlenberg Theatre and Dance Department.

Muhlenberg students took part in the college's 67th annual Advent Candlelight Carols Service, Dec. 7-8 - held in the Gideon F. Egner Memorial Chapel. Adapted from the Festival of Lessons and Carols of King's College, Cambridge University in England, the event featured stories of promise, songs of hope and liberation and a reminder of the power of presence and community.

Maddie Davidson '25 received a Youth Climate Action Fund Grant from the City of Allentown to create a tree science and stewardship project at Allentown School District's Muhlenberg Elementary School. She also presented at a worldwide conference called CityLab that was held on October 14-16 in Mexico City.

Seven Muhlenberg College athletes were recognized for their behavior on the field, court and course with their selection to the 2024 Fall All-Centennial Conference Sportsmanship Team. Established by the conference's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the All-Sportsmanship Team honors a member from each squad who displayed good sportsmanship throughout their career.

This summer, Gabriel Seinfeld '27, a premedical neuroscience and finance double major, completed a four-week observership program at Jersey City Medical Center-RWJBarnabas Health, made possible by Dr. Lance Bruck '89 P'21.

Muhlenberg senior guard John "Jack" Kinerney has been named to the D3football.com All-Region 2 third team for the second year in a row. A three-time first-team All-Centennial Conference (CC) selection, Kinerney started every game at right guard for the third consecutive season. As the Mules' top lineman, he helped the offense average a CC-leading 37.2 points per game and 441.0 yards per game, allowing only one sack all year. Kinerney played in 45 of Muhlenberg's 46 games since 2021, starting 37. During that time, the Mules went 36-10, averaging 37.2 points and 424.0 yards per game.

The Tony-nominated musical 'Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812' came to the Muhlenberg stage, Oct. 31 - Nov. 3.

Six Muhlenberg College student-athletes have been named to the Academic All-Centennial Conference team for the fall 2024 season. Honorees have earned academic recognition via the conference's Academic Honor Roll, as well as being named to the All-Centennial Conference team for excellence in their individual sport.

A record 83 Muhlenberg College student-athletes have been named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll for the fall 2024 season. The award honors sophomore or higher student-athletes who carry at least a 3.40 cumulative grade-point average.

Widi is a dance and neuroscience double major from Stillwater, Minnesota.

After a summer searching the job market, environmental science and sustainability studies double major Anna Shigo '24 began her role as the open space coordinator for Carbon County, Pennsylvania. Now she's working to preserve the environment she grew up in, just north of Muhlenberg.

Brandon Brogle's profession is for the birds - literally. As an undergraduate, Brogle '20, who studied biology at Muhlenberg, took part in groundbreaking research with the College's world-renowned Acopian Center for Ornithology. Today, Brogle, who's currently an avian field technician with EnviroScience, continues to contribute to the research and says it was a single class that propelled him into the world of birds. He wasted no time taking advantage of all things birds Muhlenberg and the Lehigh Valley had to offer, notably working under Daniel Klem, professor of ornithology and conservation biology, and ornithological specialist Peter Saenger of the Acopian Center. The research with Klem and Saenger focuses on bird deaths due to collisions with windows. Klem is a pioneer in this research, which was recently featured in National Geographic. The team also focuses on testing glass that claims to be bird-friendly (that is, it deters birds from flying into it).

Last spring's semester penultimate dance concert, Spring Studio Sessions, ran from May 1-3. It featured original dance routines by eight student choreographers with over thirty-five dancers and a new piece by Sanchel Brown called "The REBEARTH."

Andrew Gaines '24 asked Google's AI chatbot to build portfolios and examined the results, an experience that helped him stand out as a candidate for an internship at Englebert Financial Advisers.

After graduating a semester early, media & communication major Maria Corradini '24 began a role at Discover Lehigh Valley, which promotes the dynamic region that includes Allentown.