Pitt-Johnstown Social Science Division

It's here! Our new Division Newsletter launches today! The Summer 2026 issue can be viewed below or as a PDF at this link. Please share far and wide!

https://pitt-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/msernell_pitt_edu/IQDFuX21d4AvTbtnRB9zjuSOAbpe2UpJngBZoOs666VxZnI?e=vEzynb

Our first Academic Planning Day is in the books! We welcome our new Social Science Majors!

Social Science Alumni Success: Congratulations to Jayden Cinko. Jayden, a graduate of our Geosciences Department, recently received his Masters of Science in GIS and Spatial Analysis from West Virginia University.

Members of our Division were working today when they had a special visit by Professor Emeritus Dr. Bill Brice. Long time faculty member of the Geology Department, now part of the wider Geosciences team including both Social and Natural Sciences, he wanted to drop off some amazing historical documents he found, some dating back to the 1800's. Here's an article, from 1936, that talks about the need for Geography Education. Just as true then as it is today and you can get a great education in Geography here at UPJ Social Science. Thanks Dr. Brice!

Congratulations to the first Criminal Justice class officially certified in Child Forensic Interviewing!

This course, taught by Dr. Julie Wagner, is the first course in the curriculum that results in this national credential.

Sitting (left to right):
Amber McQuaid, Tammy Fiffick, Megan Shuber, Ronan Cullen

Standing (left to right):
Sadie Swank, Judaea Rowe, Dr. Julie Wagner, professor, Dr. Jem Spector, President, Abigail Croft, Mason McCarty-Cogis

Another great research trip in the books at Saxis Wildlife Management Area. Members of the Geoscience Department followed Dr. Schaney into the field to help conduct drone surveys of the coastal area and the impact of sea level changes.

Just because it's summer doesn't mean things slow down. Two Social Science students from the Geosciences Department have each won a research grant from the Pennsylvania Geographical Society! This research will be presented at the fall conference of the Society. Congratulations to both students.

Today's the Day! Congratulations to our own Dr. Julie Wagner, 2026 YWCA Lady Liberty.

Congrats on 100 Episodes! This week you can hear UPJ's VPAA, current Political Science faculty member, and prior Division head, Dr. Ray Wrabley.

Subscribe today: https://thetuckshop.podbean.com/

We made it to Episode 100! We needed something big, something huge, something that alumni across the generations will know for this one and we got him! Dr. Ray Wrabley sat down with Matt and David to record this special 100th Episode of the Tuck Shop Podcast. We talk about Ray's path to UPJ, teaching generations of students, being VPAA, and more!

Sign up for the Alumni Golf Classic by Friday May 22nd at: https://www.johnstown.pitt.edu/alumnigolf

Contact Matt at: [email protected]
Contact David at: [email protected]