Brandywine Alumni Spotlight: Casey Algeo, class of 2017

MEDIA, Pa. – Penn State alumna Casey Algeo, class of 2017, has carried her Brandywine beginnings and Nittany Lion pride into a successful career in hospitality and community engagement.

Algeo began her Penn State journey at Brandywine in 2014, majoring in hospitality management. After two years, she transitioned to University Park, where she completed her bachelor’s degree. She chose to attend Brandywine for her first two years of college to save money and attend college close to home.

“My family has a history of attending Penn State, so I’ve known where I wanted to go to college from a young age. When I applied to college in high school, I only applied to Penn State,” she said.

“I knew that, financially, it was smarter for me to start my college career at Brandywine," she added. "It’s only 15 minutes from home, so I was able to commute and save money before going up to University Park.”

While at Brandywine, Algeo was very involved, as she was a member of Brandywine Benefitting THON and was a Nittany Lion mascot. She recalls being the mascot as one of her favorite memories at Brandywine.

“I really enjoyed getting to go to events as the Nittany Lion during my time at Brandywine. I was even asked to come back during my third year when I was at University Park to do events during breaks.”

When she transitioned to University Park her third year, she was still heavily involved with THON, as she was a dancer for her special interest group, FOTO.

Algeo said that her time at Penn State really helped prepare her for life post-graduation, crediting her hospitality courses and the University’s large alumni network.

“The School of Hospitality Management helped me in a lot of ways. It helped me in a professional setting, making sure that I knew how to present myself at work and in interviews,” she said.

“The school also has an alumni chapter in Philadelphia, and it hosts networking events every year," she added. "Penn State has such a large alumni network, and it’s so important to keep in touch with those connections because they can help you down the line with finding a new job.”

Upon graduating from Penn State, Algeo went on to work in roles in hospitality management. In October 2024, she started her career at the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, where she works as a membership manager. In her role, she recruits new members to join the chamber and cultivates relationships with current members to make the most out of their membership.

When asked to give advice to current Penn State students, Algeo said to "Get involved."

“I feel like this is very cliché, but get involved. Be open to any opportunity, whether it’s a club, an on-campus job or an internship opportunity,” she said. “Even if it’s an internship that only lasts a semester, it’s a great opportunity to see whether or not you like the field you’re about to go into.”

Algeo also emphasized the importance of tapping into Penn State’s alumni network.

“Lean on your network as well. Penn State is well-known for its strong alumni network, and that’s for a reason," she said. "Continue to invest in building that network and utilizing it when you need it.”