Editor’s note: Dr. Christina L. Green, a Penn State Mont Alto alum who holds an MBA and PhD, was commencement speaker at the recent Penn State Mont Alto graduation. She shares some thoughts here about the closure.
As I stated in my commencement speech, we (“we” as in all stakeholders for the campus) are disappointed and experiencing a deep sense of loss given the decision. It was made clear that the decision cannot be overturned and that the campus will indeed close at the end of the next academic year. At this point, I (in my roles on the Advisory Board and Alumni Society, and personally, as an alumnus, former cheerleading coach, former adjunct business instructor, former campaign chair that raised millions of dollars for student scholarships and development on campus) am choosing to make this year and next as celebratory as possible.
Our/my focus is twofold:
1) support the current students, faculty and staff, who are finishing out the next year as best as they can, despite their own disappointment and challenges given the transition to close, and
2) celebrate all of the memories, relationships and impact that have come from the Mont Alto campus. Although extremely difficult, I want our final year to be a time to celebrate what is so special about the Mont Alto campus. Those memories, relationships and the impact will carry on.
We have a commemorative planning committee comprised of current/past faculty, staff, administration, along with representation from the Alumni Society and Advisory Board (myself and another alum). We are planning an exciting weekend in the fall to invite all current students, alumni, past and present faculty, staff and administration, donors, supporters and friends of the Mont Alto campus.
The date has been set for Oct. 24th. More details will be provided and shared on Penn State Mont Alto’s social media pages. There are some other efforts as well – for instance, recently alumni were asked to submit their favorite photos from their time at Mont Alto. Those pictures will be used at the event in the fall, and I imagine, in some other capacities to celebrate what the campus has meant to so many people in our community.
Please help us to make this next year celebratory and reminiscent. The news of the closure, the decision process and the transition to close has cast such a shadow over the campus, particularly students, faculty and staff who are still there. The decision to close did not come from anyone local. We all advocated and fought to keep it open. Now, we have to, unfortunately, accept the decision. I am choosing to celebrate the greatness of Penn State Mont Alto and end next year with my head held high.
Lastly, although I want nothing more than for the campus to remain as is, I am hopeful that whichever institution(s)/organization(s) takes its place, that it brings value to our community; perhaps more than Penn State University could offer now and in the future.
