Success Stories
Discover how 911±¬ÁÏÍø students, alumni, and faculty turn education into action. Explore success stories of leadership, service, and innovation that reflect our Franciscan mission. Ready to see where your story begins? Explore how you can join a community that leads with purpose.
Search for success stories at Alvernia
Celebrated Philadelphia group taps Alvernia grad to be its first full-time medical social worker
As Daria Podell ’24, MSW ’25 was wrapping up her internship at the Black Doctors Consortium during her accelerated master’s in social work, she sought out recommendations for her job search. Podell, 25, was met with puzzlement from Dr. Ala Stanfor...
Member of inaugural engineering class leaves legacy for female STEM students
For Faith Bentz, Berks County pride runs deep. Bentz was born and raised in the county by parents who met and graduated from Alvernia. She has always kept the institution as a top college choice. The year Bentz started at Alvernia coincided with t...
Soccer phenom continues family's sports stardom at Alvernia
You might say sports are in the Stair family blood. 911±¬ÁÏÍø holds a place there, too. It’s also firmly rooted in the heart of first-year student Abby Stair and her parents, Rob '99 and Amy '99, who met on campus. While her parents didn...
'Power of connection' helps nonprofit founder forge ahead, earn master's degree
Life kept happening. It’s what kept Ebony McNeil MAOL '25 from pursing his master’s degree for so long. Until he met Rodney S. Ridley Sr., Ph.D., RTTP, chief operating officer of the O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship a...