East Stroudsburg University Former Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Honored with Keepers of the Flame Award
Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on October 30, 2025, No Comments
East Stroudsburg University honored Nancy Weaver, Ph.D., former assistant vice president for student affairs, as ESU’s recipient of the fourth annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Keepers of the Flame Award from Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).
The Keepers of the Flame Award recognizes an individual from each of the 14 State System university campuses for their contributions to creating and promoting diverse, equitable and inclusive environments that cultivate a sense of belonging. Award recipients may be students, staff, faculty, administrators, or community members. They are members of the university who inspire others, engage in collaboration, and enact positive change. The annual award began in 2022. This year’s awards were presented on October 29, during the PASSHE Summit, held at PennWest Clarion.
“The Keepers of the Flame Award honors individuals whose leadership, dedication and impact have strengthened the PASSHE community,” said Christa Cobb, assistant vice chancellor and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. “These recipients exemplify how a commitment to student success, inclusive excellence and academic achievement can transform lives, open doors and inspire others across our campuses.”
Dr. Nancy Weaver’s commitment to ESU began when she was a college student at what was then known as East Stroudsburg State College. She was member of the Women’s Basketball Team and was inducted into the ESU Athletic Hall of Fame. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, Weaver pursed her master’s degree. During that time, she was a graduate assistant in Hemlock Hall. As she built her career on campus working as the assistant dean of students in residence life and housing, the director of judicial affairs (now student conduct), and eventually assistant vice president for student affairs, she also continued her education earning a Master’s degree in counseling and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration at Marywood University, Dr. Weaver was the university’s liaison to the food service catering companies, a member of many committees and an advisor to many groups during her time at ESU.
It didn’t matter what her role or title was, Dr. Weaver’s greatest successes were in the active, hands-on work she did with students and the way she facilitated their growth and development.
She sought and gave support in areas where students needed it, whether individually or in communities, and when they were in crisis. An area of particular interest for Dr. Weaver was working with students on personal responsibility and accountability. She did much of that work with student staff, the student groups she advised and individual students while in residence life.
When the student conduct role became available, she expressed a direct interest in taking that on with the goal of strengthening the student code of conduct, delivering more meaningful programs around community standards, and changing conduct hearing options to be more inclusive of restorative justice options. Dr. Weaver’s staff and student workers benefited from her vision for the office and felt that they got great support and professional development under her leadership. Students who went through the student conduct hearing process found someone invested in their success and many became Dr. Weavers’ mentees, visitors and long-term friends.
When the Vice President of Student Affairs learned many administrators and faculty kept food drawers in their office for students who were struggling to get by, she charged Dr. Weaver to investigate the extent to which food insecurity was affecting ESU students. Weaver conducted research, including a survey of ESU students over one summer, and learned that the problem was real and growing. Weaver played a significant role in helping to get the Warrior Food Pantry up and running. During her final year at ESU and for some time beyond, she collected all the food items donated in the bins around campus and delivered them to St. Matthew’s Church, where the Warrior Food Pantry is housed.
Dr. Weaver is a woman of commitment and action. She is not self-seeking in her service. Her goal is always to move in and meet the need, hands on in the best way she knows how. It’s a very loving and genuine approach, one that has touched the lives of countless ESU students throughout her career. She still keeps in touch with many of her former students. She’s watched them grow into adults, been invited to their weddings, celebrated their careers, and watched their families grow. Their eagerness to keep Dr. Weaver close, even decades after graduating from ESU, speaks to the kind of person she is, and her commitment to helping everyone she meets become their best selves.
More information about the commitment of the State System and its universities to cultivating diverse, equitable and inclusive environments is available on the PASSHE website.
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