East Stroudsburg University Announces Speakers for 2022 Commencement Ceremony

East Stroudsburg University will hold its 2022 commencement exercise on Saturday, May 8 at 10 a.m. in Eiler-Martin Stadium.

Andrea McClanahan, Ph.D, professor of communication will address the graduates. Student speakers, Austin Weitman and Loretta Erdo, will also address their classmates. Susan Dillmuth-Miller, Au.D., University Senate president, will be the grand marshal for the ceremony, which will honor ESU’s December 2021 and May 2022 graduates.

Dr. Andrea McClanahan, professor of communication and coordinator of the women and gender studies program, became a faculty member at ESU in 2003. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University, a master’s from Ball State University, and her doctorate from Ohio University—all in communication.

Since arriving at ESU, she has taught over 30 different courses including communication and rhetorical theory, popular culture, media criticism, and argumentation. Since 2005, she has worked in the summer for Junior State of America—a program focused on engaging youth in government. She has taught political communication and debate on the campuses of Yale, Princeton, and Stanford.

With over 25 academic publications and over 90 academic presentations, her research focuses on media representations of gender, romance, and alternative life choices—including the choice to remain single and childfree. She also actively studies the rhetoric of local and state politics. Her most recent accomplishment is the 2022 publication of the co-authored text, Persuasion in Society (4th edition).

Dr. McClanahan served as president of the Northeast Popular Culture Association and is currently an executive committee member and chair of their graduate student research awards. McClanahan is a nationally certified Be Body Positive facilitator through The Body Positive organization. On campus, McClanahan serves as the vice-president of ESU’s Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF). She is also the state-wide chairperson of APSCUF’s Committee for Action through Politics. She is the faculty facilitator of ESU’s Alumni Association Book Club. She is a member of the East Stroudsburg Borough’s Planning Commission and Judge of Elections for East Stroudsburg Ward One. During the 2022-2023 academic year, McClanahan will be on sabbatical to research how breweries and wineries use neolocalism, branding, community activism, and coopetition to form the rhetoric of innovation.

Austin Weitman, a graduating senior majoring in sport management and minoring in business management from Berkeley Heights, N.J., has made the most of his ESU experience through multiple internships, leadership and mentorship positions in student organizations, volunteer activities and time spent at the Career Development Center.

“I always wanted to live in New York City and work at Madison Square Garden,” said Weitman, who is participating in an internship at MSG, home of the New York Knicks of the NBA, New York Rangers of the NHL and countless concerts and special events. He has also had internships with the New York Islanders of the NHL, the Tyson Group, Uber, and worked on gamedays for a season for the New York Giants and New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

Weitman has also been president of the Sport Management Club for three years, was president and founder of the Selling Is An Away Game Club, was marketing and social media coordinator for the Pocono Raceway College Tour Committee, and member of the Human Resources Club and Photography Club. His volunteer work includes working with the Special Olympics, ESU campus cleanup community service, and ESU’s youth track and field program.

“Austin is a clear representative of what it means to be a member of the ESU student body during the challenges the Class of 2022 has faced,” said Breanna Betarie, interim director of career development. “This group of students were asked to leave our campus as sophomores as they were just gaining their footing, and when they were afforded the opportunity to come back, their time was already coming to an end. Every opportunity that Austin has had is the direct result of hard work and perseverance. He has fostered relationships with extraordinary companies looking to recruit ESU talent, and has created his own unique community of mentorship where students feel empowered to ask him questions.” Said Austin, “I strive to be the one who others lean on because I have been in need of others in my life.”

“In my 13 years at ESU, I consider Austin to be the best sport management undergraduate student,” said Jaedeock Lee, Ph.D., professor and department chair of sport management. “In every single aspect, he demonstrated excellence and set the bar high. His success and leadership also inspires his fellow students.”

Loretta Erdo, an educational leadership and administration doctoral candidate from East Stroudsburg, Pa., has spent much of her adult life pursuing higher education at ESU. She didn’t finish high school and earned her GED when she was 17, but it was always her life goal to continue learning. She went back to school at age 28. While earning her undergraduate degree, Erdo worked at ESU for almost 10 years as both a custodian and secretary and made many lasting friendships. She took classes on her lunch breaks while working full-time and helping raise her four daughters. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education and English in 2001 and a Master of Education degree as a reading specialist in 2006 from ESU. This spring, Erdo successfully defended her dissertation and achieved her latest goal of earning a Doctorate of Education.

Erdo recently retired from a 20-year teaching career as a high school English teacher and will miss her wonderful colleagues. Some of the highlights of her career were teaching American and British literature and the discussions with students that entailed. Field trips to the ESU Performing Arts Center to watch dramatic renditions of literary works read in class were always entertaining experiences for both students and teacher.

Erdo lives in East Stroudsburg with her husband Chuck and their beagle Stache. She has four grown daughters, Jennifer, Lori, Jessica, and Kristin and six grandchildren Nicholas, Jacob, Alyssa, Grace, Emily, and Chase.

Dr. Susan Dillmuth-Miller is an associate professor of communication sciences and disorders. She is ESU’s clinic audiologist and is president of the University Senate. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses. She has presented internationally on the effects of rheumatic disease and hearing manifestations. Scholarly endeavors include examining knowledge and attitudes of excessive noise levels and hearing protection in young adults and concussion and audiological characteristics. She advises the ESU Sign Language Club.

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