A group of students from the University’s Partnerships for Academic and Community Engagement (PACE) club traveled to Plumstead Christian School to provide interviewing education and experiences to their senior class.

The PACE students gave a presentation to the high school seniors on best practices in interviewing. These best practices are applicable to  a job or internships search but also to the college and scholarship application process that many of these students have begun this fall. 

After the presentation, the students then conducted mock interviews, giving the seniors the opportunity to put what they learned into practice and receive feedback in real time. The high school seniors were very grateful to receive training and experience that they can directly apply as they prepare for what is to come after high school graduation.

Ģ����Ƶ is proud of our students and their eagerness to take what they have learned at the University and share it with younger students in our community.

The evening was as much a reunion as it was an exhibition. Alumni admired one another’s work and caught up on life since graduation. The time also offered alumni a space to reflect on what they learned during their time at Cairn.��

Since its founding, DoVA aimed to create a community centered on a shared faith and love of art. Department outings like Art Night send students off campus to share a meal and fellowship, while museum trips to nearby cities allow students to explore new artists and styles. Student galleries and the Student Visual Arts Society, a student-led art club, give students the opportunity to showcase their work and learn from one another. That sense of belonging and community continues across class years. This semester, during the first week of classes, current seniors visited a freshman art class to introduce themselves and invite the new students into the department’s community.

The evening highlighted the many paths alumni have taken since graduating. Exhibitors are now working as full-time artists, graphic designers, art teachers, children’s book authors, art therapists, and ministry students. Some are building businesses of their own, while others are pursuing graduate degrees.

Faculty member Matt Stemler, now in his 29th year of teaching visual arts from a biblical perspective, helped shape DoVA in its first decade. Faculty members Cayla Belser and Andrea Fiori were crucial in developing the department into what it is today. Stemler shared, “Pausing to celebrate wasn’t about putting a mark at the end of a measured time, but about calibrating for the next generation of artists to come.”

DoVA’s next decade will look much like its first: training artists to use their gifts in service to Christ and others.

On Wednesday, October 7, four Ģ����Ƶ students representing the University’s PACE club competed in the final round of the Mindful Marketing Ethics Competition. They earned second place in the competition for their efforts. 

The theme of the 2026 competition, sponsored by WebFX, was “AI in Marketing.” The competition began with each team submitting a response to a fictional case regarding how a business could effectively and ethically use AI in the workplace. Based on their 1,500-word submitted response, the top 11 teams were invited to present their position at the final event at Messiah University.

In their written response, the Cairn team addressed the benefits of using AI to analyze and better target customers as well as to perform minor edits. They also created a decision matrix for the company to use so that there would be standardization for client data privacy and authenticity of work product. 

“I was impressed by their dynamic and engaging presentation, their ideas, and their desire to network with the judges after the event,” said Professor Janelle Curtis-Beaman, faculty advisor for PACE. “Their hard work paid off! It was a notable honor to be a finalist and a great opportunity to interact with other students who are navigating the tricky balance of marketing and ethics.”

For Ģ����Ƶ sport management students, learning extends far beyond the classroom. Recent visits to Citizens Bank Park and Trenton Thunder Ballpark provided opportunities to step into the professional environments they are studying and see sport management concepts in action.

On September 24, students enrolled in the Introduction to Sport Management course attended Philadelphia Phillies College Night at Beyond enjoying a Major League Baseball game, students observed the many elements that contribute to a successful professional sporting event, including venue operations, event management, and the overall fan experience.

A few days later, students in the Sports Facilities Management course traveled to , just down the road from Cairn’s campus. The visit offered firsthand insight into the management and operation of a professional sports facility, allowing students to connect classroom concepts with the realities of running a live venue.

While each experience provided a different perspective on the industry, both offered something a classroom alone cannot provide: the opportunity to observe the sports business in action. Cairn’s location in the Greater Philadelphia region gives sport management students access to a wide variety of professional sports organizations and facilities. Experiential learning is a key component of Cairn’s sport management curriculum, and these settings create valuable opportunities for students to engage with the industry firsthand as part of their academic experience.

Festivities began Friday with Experience Cairn Day, welcoming prospective students and their families to campus, followed by the start of Lil’ Sibs Weekend. Friday evening featured the Department of Visual Arts’ 10th Anniversary Alumni Exhibition. Alumni and students celebrated a decade of equipping artists with skills, knowledge, and a biblical perspective on the arts. The evening concluded with a concert featuring singer-songwriter , followed by a bonfire and s’mores at the

Saturday featured a full schedule of activities for alumni, students, and families. The morning began with Coffee with the President, while activities throughout the day provided opportunities for alumni to reconnect. Reunions included Global Missions, Handbells, Chorale, and the 1980s alumni, along with a special recognition of the 1996 Men’s Soccer Team. Despite rainy weather throughout the weekend, Homecoming activities continued across campus. Amusement rides, games, food trucks, and student-led activities provided opportunities for families and friends to enjoy the weekend together. 

Athletics remained an important part of the weekend, with women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer games taking place throughout the day. During halftime of the men’s soccer game, Cairn Athletics honored former athletes through the induction ceremony. This year, Cairn Athletics honored Rebecca Graber ’18 and Andy Miller ’09 as Athletic Hall of Honor inductees. Graber was a member of the from 2014–2017, while Miller was a member of the from 2004–2007.

From alumni reunions and athletic traditions to music and family activities, Homecoming 2026 provided an opportunity for the Cairn community to come together and celebrate the connections that continue long after graduation. Do you want to be informed about what upcoming alumni events are in store for the year? Connect with us!

Save the Date
Homecoming: Friends & Family Weekend
September 24–25, 2027

Bilotta brings more than 30 years of experience in Christian higher education, including extensive work in academic leadership, program development, faculty development, and digital media communications. Most recently, he served as Dean of Academic Planning and Operations and Chair of the Department of Digital Media Communications at the University of Valley Forge, where he helped grow the department from a single academic program into five undergraduate majors and one graduate program. His appointment also strengthens Cairn’s ability to serve students transferring to the University following the University of Valley Forge’s transition. Bilotta brings firsthand knowledge of Valley Forge’s academic programs, curriculum, and students, providing an important point of continuity for students who choose to continue their education at Cairn.

“Leone brings an unusual combination of academic leadership, program-building experience, and professional expertise in digital media,” said Dr. Adam J. Porcella, Senior Vice President and Provost of Ģ����Ƶ. “We are particularly grateful for the opportunity to welcome him to Cairn as we seek to serve students coming to us from Valley Forge. His familiarity with their programs and their students will help make that transition as smooth as possible, while his experience will strengthen our Digital Media and Communication offerings for all of our students.”

During his tenure at Valley Forge, Bilotta led university-wide strategic planning, faculty governance, and academic operations while developing new academic programs and strategic industry partnerships. He also played a leadership role in the institution’s integration of artificial intelligence into curriculum and institutional practice.

A longtime practitioner in music and media production, Bilotta has more than 15 years of experience leading worship and touring with music groups. He has served as executive producer for 17 albums and consults nationally on church audio and production systems. His professional background brings practical, industry-informed experience into the classroom and complements Cairn’s emphasis on preparing students for vocational service. Bilotta earned a Master of Music in Music Education with a concentration in Technology from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Westfield State University. Bilotta’s appointment reflects Ģ����Ƶ’s continued investment in the Digital Media and Communication program and its commitment to providing students with academically rigorous, professionally relevant education within a distinctly Christian context.

The newly formed School of Professional Studies brings together a broad collection of academic programs and departments, including the departments of Business and Technology, Teacher Education, Music, and Graduate Counseling. The EdD and Criminal Justice programs are also housed in this school. Dr. Stephen Dill is serving as the interim dean.

The School of Liberal Arts & Sciences maintains its name in this transition but (in transferring a few programs to the School of Professional Studies) has a renewed focus on the interdisciplinary education found in the liberal arts. Dr. Victoria Aquilone has been appointed as dean ahead of the Fall 2026 semester. The previous dean, Dr. Aneesh Khushman, is serving as the chair of natural sciences.

The School of Bible & Theology (previously the School of Divinity) is also home to Cairn Theological Seminary. The seminary was not introduced in order to offer new programs, as Ģ����Ƶ has offered graduate-level Bible education since 1992. This was instead a decision that reiterates and clearly communicates Ģ����Ƶ’s longstanding commitment to biblical and theological education to prospective students and churches. The Master of Divinity, Master of Arts (Religion), and Master of Arts (Executive Ministry Leadership) are offered through the Seminary. A more robust look at Cairn Theological Seminary will be available in the Fall 2026 issue of , to be released in late October.