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Commonwealth University honors 3 with Keepers of the Flame awards

PA (11/06/2026) — Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) has named three Commonwealth University individuals as a recipient of the fifth Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Keepers of the Flame Award.

Award recipients are Albert Jones, Athletic Director at Lock Haven; Madelyn Rodriguez, Executive Director, Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Affairs at Bloomsburg; and Taylor Donahue, Director of Housing & Residence Life, Lock Haven and Mansfield.

As CU's chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, Jones, also a Lock Haven alumnus, spearheaded initiatives that fostered a culture of inclusion across multiple campuses. His impact has also extended into the corporate sector, where he served as director of human resources at West Pharmaceutical Services and First Quality McElhattan, promoting equitable practices and employee engagement.

Jones' trailblazing achievements include being the first African American to serve as athletic director at Lock Haven and as director of HR at First Quality. His leadership has broken barriers and amplified underrepresented voices.

An inspiring speaker, Jones motivates others through his authentic commitment to self-reflection, purposeful goals and inclusivity. His mantra of "paying it forward" reflects his lifelong dedication to building environments where everyone is valued and empowered.

Rodriquez exemplifies professionalism and dedication to creating an environment where everyone feels welcomed, valued and supported. Her work demonstrates a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and accessibility, not just as an institutional responsibility but as a way to strengthen relationships and foster a thriving community.

As a leader, she is collaborative, thoughtful and adept at bringing people together. She builds relationships across departments and campuses, facilitates open conversations and works with colleagues to address the needs of the university community. Her efforts have helped cultivate a culture of listening, learning and shared responsibility for positive change.

Her impact is also evident in her support for students and colleagues through mentoring, advocacy, programming and partnership-building. She consistently creates opportunities for others to feel seen, heard and empowered. Her dedication to addressing inequities continues to inspire others to build a more inclusive university.

Donahue finds unique ways of connecting with students of all identities and backgrounds. In addition to her current role at the Mansfield and Lock Haven campuses, she has also served as assistant director of residence life at Mansfield for five years and is a dedicated Mansfield alumna.

She uses humor and intellect to build camaraderie and trust without sacrificing her own boundaries, meets students exactly where they are and goes above and beyond for those in need. She helped develop and oversee the Campus Care Fund at Mansfield, a fundraising initiative alongside the Dean of Students that provides financial assistance to students facing basic-needs insecurities such as food, housing and more. She has shown great passion for this initiative and a strong dedication to equity on our campus.

Donahue also has an unmatched level of patience, which allows her to be a stronger, more level-headed advocate in times of change or crises. Her empathy for and understanding of people with different lived experiences sets an important tone of inclusion and belonging for CU-Mansfield, making her an incredible role model for students and colleagues.

She works closely with the Office of DEIB at Mansfield, supports programs and encourages students to attend, and provides creative ideas for strengthening campus efforts.

The 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. The award recipients were announced during PASSHE's annual DEI Summit held at Kutztown University.

"The Keepers of the Flame Award recognizes people whose work makes a lasting difference for our students and university communities," said Christa Cobb, assistant vice chancellor and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. "This year's recipients have helped create opportunities for students to succeed, strengthened their campuses and demonstrated the impact that thoughtful, committed leadership can have on others."

Media Attachments

Albert Jones

Madelyn Rodriguez

Taylor Donahue

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