In the 15th episode of WXVU's latest podcast series, ProfCast, WXVU's Nick Langan interviewed Stephen Strader, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Geography and the Environment department at Villanova, and the Geography Program Director. As both a hazards geographer and atmospheric scientist, Dr. Strader has been recognized nationally for his research efforts in severe weather hazards, including mobile and manufactured home vulnerability in tornadoes, as well as how the recent upward trend in disasters is predicated on increasing exposure and vulnerability of populations.  Nick discussed these research areas with Dr. Strader, along with Dr. Strader's M.S. and Ph.D research at Northern Illinois University. They also talked about the recent uptick in tornadic activity that has taken place in the Delaware Valley since 2019, and whether or not it should be attributed to climate change. Dr. Strader also discussed his course curriculum at Villanova, and what drew him to the university to conduct his research. It was a fascinating conversation that will captivate both those interested in weather and atmospheric hazards, and those just wanting to learn about some of the most cutting edge research taking place at Villanova right now.

More information on Dr. Strader's research can be found at https://www.stephenmstrader.org/

ProfCast is a series where WXVU will shine a light on the outstanding research efforts put forth by faculty at Villanova University, brought to you by our student staff members who have first-hand experience with the professors.

On the last Morning Roar of the 2022-2023 academic year, Chris, Allison, David & Dom broadcasted live from the Belle Air Terrace stage in the Connelly Center! The crew kicked around what they enjoy most about summertime in our Twitter poll question, and they each came up with one item they enjoyed most about the Spring semester. Special thanks to ace photographer Nick Williams for coming by again to capture the scene!

The Morning Roar Mind Bender championship prize was awarded to Dom, and we played Cinco de Mayo trivia between Dom and Allison, the two departing members of the Morning Roar crew.

Father Peter called in as our very special guest! He recapped the semester, previewed the Class of 2023 commencement with speaker Lester Holt, and reflected on the challenges the Class of 2023 faced during their time at Villanova. We heard about where Villanova is at it in its strategic plan, and we even got to ask Father Peter whether he is a shore person in the summer. (Spoiler: NO!)

Finally, and most importantly, we gave Allison, our WXVU station manager, a fitting send-off, with a poem read aloud by Chris, David & Dom!

We concluded the show with a collage of audio highlights from all 21 episodes of the Morning Roar this year. Thank you everyone so much for your support!

The second to last Morning Roar of the academic year was a doozy, literally! Derek Anthony Wilson, a Villanova favorite from his performances at Villanova home men's and women's basketball games, was our special in-studio musical guest! Friday marked the day of the release of the new album from Derek's band, Archpalatine, called Doozies to Daisies. Derek spoke with the crew about the album, his musical background, and what's in store with Archpalatine, and then he played two songs for us to enjoy in studio, "Be Alright" and "Hypnotized"! We can't get enough of his music and can't wait for Derek to join us again in the Fall!

The Morning Roar crew also discussed whether or not they ate their veggies as a kid, and we did a roundup on how ChatGPT has been impacting our semesters. Dom says don't sleep on it!

In sports, Chris had to face the music on his beloved Milwaukee Bucks' shocking first round exit.

Finally, our Morning Roar Mind Bender took place with a championship on the line - did Dom clinch it?

For COM 3240, Performance for Social Change, students Emmy Schmelter and Kaitlyn Eddy gave a live performance on WXVU playing the roles of Villanova students and professors to address wealth and economic status on campus. This was their final presentation for the course, and it aired on April 27 on WXVU.

In the 14th episode of WXVU's latest podcast series, ProfCast, WXVU Station Manager Allison Bajada interviewed Deena Weisberg, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Villanova. Dr. Weisberg earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from Yale University, and her BS in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University. Dr. Weisberg discussed her doctoral research, her focus areas, including Developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, and cognitive science, her Villanova curriculum, and much more in her conversation with Allison.

ProfCast is a series where WXVU will shine a light on the outstanding research efforts put forth by faculty at Villanova University, brought to you by our student staff members who have first-hand experience with the professors.

On Wednesday, April 19, WXVU broadcasted live from the Connelly Center for the 15th annual Get In The Game-Be The Match bone marrow stem cell registry initiative, hosted by the Villanova University Wildcats football team, with the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, and the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania VU chapter. 

WXVU Sports Director Patrick Scanlon, WXVU's Nick Langan, and Ryan Scanlon, a manager on the football team, spoke with Wildcats' Head Football Coach Emeritus Andy Talley, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Coach Talley was inspired by an interview on the radio he heard in 1992 to start what would become a long-standing tradition of uniting his football players to promote the awareness of marrow donor registration. He reflected on this with Pat, Nick, and Ryan, the registry's success stories, and how Coach Ferrante has helped to extend the tradition at Villanova. Coach Talley also discussed the current state of Villanova sports, Brian Westbrook's induction into the College Football Hall of Fame earlier this year, and how listeners can stay engaged with his Bone Marrow Foundation.

Key links:

Be the Match

More on Get in the Game - Be the Match

The Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation

On Wednesday, April 19, WXVU broadcasted live from the Connelly Center for the 15th annual Get In The Game-Be The Match bone marrow stem cell registry initiative, hosted by the Villanova University Wildcats football team, with the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, and the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania VU chapter. 

WXVU Sports Director Patrick Scanlon, WXVU's Nick Langan, and Ryan Scanlon, a manager on the football team, spoke with Wildcats' Head Football Coach Mark Ferrante. Pat, Nick, and Ryan spoke with Coach Ferrante about continuing the tradition originally started at Villanova under Coach Andy Talley with his Bone Marrow Foundation, and how much of camaraderie and character building exercise it is for his players to host the registry event. Coach also reflected on the 2022 Wildcats' football season, gave us some information on how spring practices are currently unfolding, and a look ahead at the 2023 football schedule, including the matchup against FBS opponent UCF.

Key links:

Be the Match

More on Get in the Game - Be the Match

The Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation

On Wednesday, April 19, WXVU broadcasted live from the Connelly Center for the 15th annual Get In The Game-Be The Match bone marrow stem cell registry initiative, hosted by the Villanova University Wildcats football team, with the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, and the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania VU chapter. 

WXVU Sports Director Patrick Scanlon and WXVU's Nick Langan spoke with Beth Carrion, Krista Ross, and volunteer Peggy Damm from Be The Match. They discussed the tradition of the registry specific to Villanova, the relationships Be The Match established with the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation, the misconceptions people might have with the bone marrow stem cell donor process, and then heard the inspirational story of Peggy and her son, Kyle, whose life was saved by finding a match through the Be The Match registry.

Key links:

Be the Match

More on Get in the Game - Be the Match

The Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation

On Wednesday, April 19, WXVU broadcasted live from the Connelly Center for the 15th annual Get In The Game-Be The Match bone marrow stem cell registry initiative, hosted by the Villanova University Wildcats football team, with the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, and the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania VU chapter. 

WXVU Sports Director Patrick Scanlon and WXVU's Nick Langan, spoke with Carol Weingarten, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, and Inaugural Director WXV&U Health. Villanova nursing seniors Celia Agiriou and Kristen Marra, currently enrolled in the WXV&U Health Promotion rotation, joined Dr. Weingarten, to talk about the role Villanova Nursing plays in Get in the Game - Be The Match, and the recent success the VU chapter of SNAP, the Student Nursing Association of Pennsylvania, has had.

Key links:

Be the Match

More on Get in the Game - Be the Match

The Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation

On Wednesday, April 19, WXVU broadcasted live from the Connelly Center for the 15th annual Get In The Game-Be The Match bone marrow stem cell registry initiative, hosted by the Villanova University Wildcats football team, with the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, and the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania VU chapter. 

WXVU Sports Director Patrick Scanlon, WXVU's Nick Langan, and Ryan Scanlon, a manager on the football team, spoke with former Wildcats' standout football and baseball player Matt Szczur. On the 2009 championship winning Villanova Football squad,  Szczur was a consensus first team All-American, CAA Offensive Player of the Year, CAA Special Teams Player of the Year, first team All-CAA performer, and MVP of the national championship game.

Szczur joined the national Be The Match registry as a freshman at Villanova. In the spring of 2010, he donated peripheral blood cells to a young leukemia patient who only had a 1-in-80,000 chance of finding a match. Szczur missed 10 games during the baseball season due to medication taken in advance of making his donation. He's one of just three Villanova football players to be a match for a patient since head coach Andy Talley began his association with the NMDP in 1992.

Szczur went on to have a 5-year career in the MLB, including 200 plate appearances on the 2016 World Series winning Chicago Cubs.

Szczur discussed his career, his time at Villanova, being selected as a donor, and what he's doing with his life now with Pat, Ryan, and Nick.

Key links:

Be the Match

More on Get in the Game - Be the Match

The Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation