News

• President Howard announced to students on Monday that, assuming continued progress in controlling the spread of COVID-19, the university will re-open in Fall 2021 for full in-person instruction and other activities. In-person classes are also scheduled for Summer 2021, and the all students who wish to live on campus during the summer will likely be able to do so. Read more details here.

• The pay gap has narrowed considerably between the men and women who lead southwestern Pennsylvania nonprofit organizations, according to the 2021 Wage and Benefit Survey of Southwestern Pennsylvania Nonprofit Organizations, released this week by the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University. Female bosses still earn slightly less on average than male ones: $118,767 compared to $129,218, according to the report. But that gap — equating to 92 cents for women executives compared to a dollar for men — is as small as it has ever been since the Bayer Center began measuring it almost two decades ago. Read more here. 

• Ben Campbell, associate professor of engineering,  has been awarded $31,317 for "Exploration of Laser Degating and Welding of Plastics for Commercial Opportunities" from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development through their Manufacturing PA Innovation Program. In addition to the funding to be used for materials, equipment, and student labor, the corporate partner on the grant, MECCO, will be lending a CO2 laser to the RMU Learning Factory for the duration of the program.  This is Campbell's second award through this program. His first grant from DCED, which concludes this semester, supported 14 students working on various aspects of his project and produced two Honors theses and two graduate theses.

Upcoming Events

• The Center for Global Engagement will host a conversation with faculty leaders, partners, and participants in RMU Nursing's study abroad program in Ecuador. The Department of Nursing has long been a leader in creating study abroad opportunities for students. Dr. Carl Ross has led over 100 programs in Nicaragua and -- more recently -- Ecuador, where he guides nursing students as they care for local families in community-based clinics. The work undertaken by RMU's nurses in Ecuador is grounded in a successful university partnership with Awaken. Founded by Edison Calvopina, Awaken is an international education organization with a strong commitment to protecting at-risk youth and facilitating sustainable study abroad programs. Please join us next Tuesday, March 23 from 1:30-2:30pm on Google Meet as we discuss the unique challenges and celebrate the successes of service learning abroad with Dr. Ross, Mr. Calvopina, and former student participants. RSVP here! The meeting link will be sent out on the morning of the event.

• The Massey Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in collaboration with Women in Business and the National Council of Negro Women at RMU, present Funlayo Alabi, the CEO of Shea Radiance, as the featured speaker of Women's History Month at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 24. She will share her journey of creating a premier skincare brand while changing the landscape of the shea butter global supply chain. Across the region, the Shea Radiance brand is featured in leading retailers such as Whole Foods and the Giant Food grocery retail chain. As a social entrepreneur at heart, Mrs. Alabi also serves as the Chair of the Global Shea Alliance Sustainability Working Group, a global consortium established " to design, develop, and deliver strategies that drive a competitive and sustainable shea industry worldwide and to improve the livelihoods of rural African women and their communities." Join us as we celebrate and learn from this global pioneer and social innovator. Access the Google Meet link here or contact mcei@rmu.edu.

• On March 26, the Women’s Leadership and Mentorship Program presents RMU’s Fifth Annual Women and Transformational Leadership Symposium. This full-day event features women leaders in our region and topics that impact the region's move toward gender equity and the advancement of women.

  This year’s keynote speaker: Bandanda Rana from Nepal is a passionate lifelong advocate for women’s rights and gender equality. Her experience spans decades in the area of violence against women, gendered conflict transformation, peace building and engendered media through the different organizations and networks she has founded and led. She is a member of the UN CEDAW Committee since 2017, the first Nepali woman to be elected to this position. She was the Vice Chair of the Committee from 2018-2020 and is the focal point for women peace and security. She has recently been nominated to the UNFPA High Level Commission on ICPD+25 for three years. She was also a member of the UN Women Global Civil Society Advisory Group (2012-2015). This year’s keynote speaker presentation is co-sponsored by the WLMP and the Center for Global Engagement. This event is free and open to the public. Learn more and register here: rmu.edu/wtls

  The WTLS will include an AAUW Work Smart Salary Negotiation Workshop This workshop, sponsored by the City of Pittsburgh and the Gender Equity Commission, is part of the city’s efforts to close the gender wage gap. AAUW created this workshop in an effort to train 10 million women by the year 2030 to advocate for fairer wages and benefits, and to feel confident advocating for what they are worth. To learn more about this effort please visit: https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/salary/work-smart/pittsburgh/ This workshop is free and open to anyone.