Student Life

Fanta Ballo often says that growing up in Harlem raised both the artist, and the activist, in her. As a teenager, Ballo found that her voice was routinely silenced or overlooked, and so she turned to writing as a way to reclaim her agency, and help process the world around …

Hiking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, camping. For Wilkes Adventure Education (WAE), these fun and thrilling experiences are all par for the course. WAE is one of several Student Development programs available at Wilkes, using adventurous, alternative learning approaches to build essential skills such as teamwork, communication, goal setting, problem solving, …

This holiday season, Wilkes University’s Division of Performing Arts is excited to present a variety of concerts showcasing vocal, orchestral, band and jazz performances. Free and open to the public, the performances run from Nov. 23 – Dec. 7, 2025, at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts …

Channeling creativity is something that has always come naturally to Rocco Pugliese. A lifelong performer, the senior from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, began his Wilkes journey as a sophomore in the Upward Bound program. His passions eventually led him to study music recording technology at Luzerne County Community College before transferring to …

For assistant biology professor Yuzo Yanagitsuru, it all boils down to something quite simple: “I like fish.” It may sound straightforward, but anyone who knows him would understand that Yanagitsuru’s journey to Wilkes, and the research he oversees here, has been the culmination of a lifelong passion.

Assetou Xango started their journey to Wilkes University in Colorado. Angelique Palmer started hers in the desert of New Mexico. While the student and faculty member’s paths had different first steps, each led to the discovery of a home in the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing. Xango, a …

At Wilkes, Isabella “Bella” Lesante will “turn passion into purpose, and purpose into impact.” Lesante, a transfer student, is following her vision to help others.  For over 20 years, Lesante, from Sugarloaf, Pennsylvania, has been involved with Community Services for Sight, a local, non-profit organization whose mission is to help …

When Josh Dombrowski started his college search, he knew about Wilkes University’s small class sizes and personal connections between faculty and students. He liked the fact that Wilkes was only about an hour drive from his hometown of Shamokin, Pennsylvania. Then a visit to campus sealed the deal. “I fell …

When Minnie Nguyen, a senior from Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, came to Wilkes, she thought a pharmacy major was the path to her future. After experimenting with plants, birds and bacteria, she discovered a love for lab work and a major in biology. Before she changed her major, Nguyen served as …

When Lourdes Navarro decided to attend Wilkes University, she thought she knew exactly what to expect. “I’m going to learn English, make a few friends and come back.”  The senior from Chupampa, Panama, learned English and made more than a few friends. During her time at Wilkes, the environmental engineering …