ABINGTON, Pa. — U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean and award-winning ESPN reporter Lauren Sisler shared a powerful and candid conversation about substance use disorder and stigma at Penn State Abington this week, followed by the ribbon cutting for the campus’s Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP).
Both women have been deeply affected by addiction within their families, and Abington’s commitment to supporting students in recovery — and those with loved ones impacted by this crisis — drew them to campus to share their stories, they said.
Each has written a book to tell the stories of their families, which are unique but similar at their core.
“My son wrote in our book, ‘I wouldn’t change a thing,’“ Dean said, tearing up as she referred to her book, "Under Our Roof: A Son's Battle for Recovery, a Mother's Battle for Her Son." “I wouldn’t have said that at all, but it taught me to learn to love your story. You learn from the hardship, the struggle, the fight.”
For Sisler, the author of "Shatterproof: How I Overcame the Shame of Losing My Parents to Opioid Addiction (and Found My Sideline Shimmy)," coming to terms with her parents' deaths led her to share her story after years of glossing over it, she said.
“I don’t want to see people walking on that same path in silence. We as a society love the highlight reels on social media, but my son needs to know he can come back from adversity swinging. That is the beauty of the life we live,” she said. “Recognize that you can’t put it all on yourself and shed the stigma. We have to keep amplifying this message.”
“What you’ve walked through or you’ve gone through, we are leveling the playing field right here. Let’s not compare our stories. Your journey is no less or more important than anyone else’s. It’s an opportunity,” Sisler told Abington students, faculty, and staff.
Hailey Gamble, a 2025 Abington graduate, worked as a peer counselor in CRP and returned for the event.
“Today underscores how essential having a resource like this is on every college campus and how fortunate the Abington community is to have one," Gamble said. "Addiction doesn’t discriminate, and it sends a ripple as it affects anyone who comes in its path. That’s why it’s critical to support those in our community who may need extra help, especially if they feel they don’t deserve it. We are behind you, always.”
Katherine Rodriguez, a double-major in rehabilitation and human services and psychological and social sciences, is a current peer counselor.
"I’ve seen how much students need a space where they can breathe, feel understood, and talk openly. This cozy CRP space gives students affected by substance use or mental health challenges a place to feel supported-not judged," she said. "I truly love supporting students through whatever they’re carrying and having a space like this makes that support even more meaningful."
Moderator Glenn Sterner, a former associate professor of criminal justice at Abington and now affiliated with the University of Kentucky, is a nationally respected expert whose work spans public health, substance misuse disorder, stigma, human trafficking and online gambling.
“Stigma remains a significant barrier for those who may need assistance with substance use issues, and partnerships that bridge higher education, policy, and public awareness like this with Rep. Dean and Ms. Sisler can help to ensure that our work in higher education is relevant to addressing these issues in practice,” he said in advance of the event.
“It’s so important that students can get a Penn State education while in recovery, and they have their own space on this campus,” Sterner added.
The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting for the CRP, which is supported by a grant from the Independence Blue Cross Foundation.