In 2023, King’s College was awarded a $40,000 “Reframing the Institutional Saga” grant from NetVue, through the support of the Council of Independent Colleges, and the Lilley Endowment Incorporated, to show how the historical mission of the institution is realized in light of current context.
The two-year grant project included research and writing of ten institutional essays produced in a printed book titled Rooted in Hope: Telling Our Stories, Living Our Mission, the production of five corresponding videos that highlight key aspects of those stories, the expansion of the College’s historical timeline, and a two-day symposium including keynote speakers and panel discussions.
The Essays
The following ten essays demonstrate how King’s College has lived out our commitment to mission for more than 75 years. Authored by faculty and staff, each tells a different, previously untold story about students, employees, or ideas that show off important streams bubbling beneath the surface of our saga, but taken together, they provide a rich portrait of our mission and its history.
Associate Professor of Spanish Anne Massey narrates the history of the Hispanic Outreach program at King’s, which is still thriving and for which the future looks very bright. This story is available in both Spanish and English, and the corresponding video features our Hispanic and Latino Excellence Center and the many students who have participated as mentors and mentees over the years.
Professor of English Laurie Sterling explores the fascinating history of women behind the scenes at King’s, working in “pink collar” jobs that often do not get a lot of attention, but without which the engine cannot run.
Robyn Snyder ’97 tells the story of Disability Services at King’s, an office whose importance to our mission grows every year. The corresponding video, "Helping All Students Thrive: Disability Services at King's College," showcases two extraordinary alumnae from the disabled community and highlights King's commitment to providing support and care for all students.
Professor of English Robin E. Field offers a rich and complicated history of the Black experience at the College, covering students as well as employees. The corresponding video, "How King's Fosters Black Excellence," features four young alumni narrating their journeys toward success and the role King's played in those journeys.
Associate Professor of English Michael Little offers us the College’s history of the arts, an important vehicle in connecting with hearts as well as minds. This piece includes a corresponding video that highlights 75 years of Shakespeare's plays performed at King's. It explores the role Shakespeare and theatre have played in the lives of our students and community.
Amy Higgins ’19, a first-generation college student herself, explains how important educating first gen students is to our mission and what efforts we have made to broaden our support for that population.
Professor of Economics Margarita Rose traces the history of Catholic Social Teaching at King’s and how CST principles can be seen inside and outside our classrooms.
In two pieces, we highlight the particular community in which we live and work. Gregory Bassham, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, analyzes how Northeastern Pennsylvania has shaped the character of King’s.
In our final piece, Professor of Theology Janice Thompson, in turn, brings to life the many ways King’s has served the City of Wilkes-Barre. The corresponding video features community leaders and service-learning professionals highlighting how vital King's is to the surrounding community and how the need to serve the place we are in is integral to our mission.
Historical Timeline
Through research and archival work, the College’s historical timeline was enhanced. Many events were added, and several events were contextualized to showcase the evolution of the College’s mission to serve those most in need.
The Symposium
In November 2024, the College hosted a two-day celebration—Rooted in Hope: Telling Our Stories, Living Our Mission—of the history of King’s College and the culmination of the Institutional Saga grant project. Events included a keynote address by Regina Graham ’19 entitled “Escaping the Single Story: Acknowledging Intersectionality Through Storytelling” and an opening plenary by Amy Gravino ’05 on the importance of helping students with disabilities thrive. Panel discussions were held on The Black Experience at King’s, Catholic Social Teaching, Hispanic Outreach, and Women at King’s.
Celebrating 50 Years of Women at King's
In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the first graduating class of women at King's College, we profiled inspiring alumnae and friends of the College. Influenced by the work of the Institutional Saga grant project, interviews and profiles were completed by current students, staff, and faculty in 2023 as part of a larger, year-long celebration of this foundational milestone.
