A 90-minute video documenting the history of Penn State Berks was created in honor of our 50th anniversary. The following clips represent a sampling of interviews included in the video. Hear the history of Penn State Berks told by the individuals who helped to make it happen.
James Bardi, Howard "Mike" Beaver, David Bender, Lois Cohen, Paul Esqueda, Gregory Flemming, Walter Fullam, Frederick Gaige, Robert Gifford, Thomas Handwerk, Edward and Helen Hintz, Vincent Iannucci, Robert Kearns, Patrick Kohrman, Michael Martin, Dennis Mays, Michael Moyer, Henry Patterson, Harold Perkins, Michael Riley, Andrew Romberger, Elizabeth Bowman Rothermel, Vincent Scalese, Ike and Lisa Shibley, Graham Spanier, Susan Phillips Speece, Blaine Steensland, James Sterganos, David Thun, Doris Turkes, Alexa Wojciechowski, Stam Zervanos
Graham Spanier
President of Penn State University
Reflections on Penn State Berks and the 50th Anniversary
Dr. Harold Perkins
CEO Emeritus (1959 - 1984)
Part 1 of 3 - Part 2 of 3 - Part 3 of 3
(1) The college's roots as the Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute (2) A special gift to the campus and the development of facilities (3) Academic programs, faculty, and enrollment expand
Dr. Frederick Gaige
Dean and CEO Emeritus (1984 - 2001)
Part 1 of 3 - Part 2 of 3 - Part 3 of 3
(1) Land acquisition, new academic programs, capital campaigns (2) Campus growth and community relationships (3) Penn State Berks becomes a College of the University
Dr. Susan Phillips Speece
Chancellor of Penn State Berks
Thoughts about what makes Penn State Berks a special place
Elizabeth Bowman Rothermel
Great-granddaughter of Henry Janssen
How the Janssen family shaped the campus' history
Robert M. Kearns
Penn State grad, retired Carpenter exec, Donor
The value of supporting education through scholarships
David L. Thun
Grandson of Ferdinand Thun
The college's historical relationship to Berks County industry
Gregory Flemming
Graduate of Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute
The legacy of WPI and the role of Penn State Berks in the county's future
Lois E. Cohen
Penn State Alumnus, Donor, Advisory Board Member
The Cohen Cyber Cafe and the Irvin and Lois E. Cohen Trustee Scholarship
Dr. James P. Sterganos
Retired Director of Business Services, Donor
Sterganos saw the campus through over 37 years of growth
Robert L. Gifford
Son-in-law of George Luerssen, Donor
The life of George Luerssen, a key player in the campus development
Howard O. "Mike" Beaver
Donor, former Advisory Board member
The capital campaigns that enabled us to build our campus
Dr. Doris J. Turkes
Assistant Professor Sociology, Women's Studies
Stories of faculty life at the campus' first location (Vanity Fair)
Dr. Henry O. Patterson
Retired Coordinator of Applied Psychology Degree Program and Assistant Professor of Psychology
Development of 4 year degree in Applied Psychology
Dr. Michael D. Riley
Professor of English
Faculty perspectives on the last 26 years at Penn State Berks
Edward R. and Helen Hintz
Penn State Grads and Donors
A gift to Penn State helps build the Hintz Athletic Complex
Dr. Andrew R. Romberger
Assistant Professor of Physics
Changes in faculty research and commencement exercises
Thomas P. Handwerk, CPA
Past Berks Advisory Board Member
First-hand account of land acquisition that made our campus possible
Dr. Michael R. Moyer
Program Coordinator, Kinesiology Exercise Option
Changes in the athletic program at Penn State Berks
Dennis L. Mays
Chief Financial Officer, Donor, Penn State Alumnus
Being a student in the seventies, technological changes, working at Penn State
Vincent A. Iannucci
Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute Alumnus, Donor
Attending WPI, establishing the WPI Affiliate Group, donating to Penn State Berks
Dr. Stam Zervanos
Emeritus Professor of Biology and Head of the Science Division
Changes in the campus and the Science program since 1972
Alexa Wojciechowski
Penn State Berks staff member and PSU alumnus
Life as a Penn State Berks student in the 70's, starting Alumni Society
Vincent Scalese
WPI alumnus, donor, and former Advisory Board member
Attending WPI as a Textile Machine Works employee
Michael W. Martin, CPA
1974 graduate of Penn State Berks
Memories of the campus' early days, quality of a Penn State education
Dr. David S. Bender
Associate Professor of Educational Psychology, Registrar
Development of the elementary education program at Penn State Berks
Walter F. Fullam
Director of Continuing Education
Programs that support the community through educational initiatives
Dr. James A. Bardi
Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management Program
Degree programs brought to Berks, increased diversity, World Campus
C. Patrick Kohrman
Chief Information Officer, Senior Lecturer in Management Information Sciences
The changing role of technology at the college
Dr. Paul D. Esqueda
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Academic environment and new degree programs
Dr. Ike Shibley and Dr. Lisa Shibley
Associate Professor of Chemistry and former Director of Planning Research and Assessment
Opportunities and rewards at Berks, Science program, undergraduate research
Dr. Blaine E. Steensland
Senior Director of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Donor
Changes in student life and student population over the last twenty years
These videos were created by the Penn State Berks Center for Learning & Teaching.
For more information, contact Mary Ann Mengel.