MEDIA, Pa. – Penn State alumnus Kevin Pistiner, class of 2015, is making a difference, working to raise money for those with disabilities.
Pistiner began his Penn State journey at Brandywine, majoring in American studies and minoring in civic and community engagement. He chose to attend Brandywine, he said, because of the size of the campus and the ability to get to know his professors better.
“I initially chose Brandywine over other campuses because of the smaller class sizes and the professors knowing every student by their name. Whenever I needed help with assignments, I could always reach out to my professors outside of class for additional support,” he said.
Pistiner was very active with Penn State during his time at Brandywine. He was involved with the Civic and Community Engagement Club and was a founding member of the Penn State Brandywine Art Society.
“In the Civic and Community Engagement Club, we helped students register to vote and encouraged everyone to get involved in their local government,” he recalled. “When establishing the Penn State Brandywine Art Society, I wanted to create a space where students could draw in their free time and de-stress from their coursework.”
In addition to his involvement with campus clubs, Pistiner participated in a research project with Phyllis Cole, professor emerita of English, women’s studies, and American studies.
“During my time at Brandywine, I helped Dr. Cole research the history of the campus and the surrounding properties back to the early 1700s,” he said. “I discovered that this area was primarily a Quaker community. A grain mill was located along Yearsley Mill Road for use by the abundance of grain farmers in the region. My research primarily focused on a schism within the Quaker religion along with exploring the history of members of the Emlen Family who were very influential as leaders and teachers.”
Upon graduating with his bachelor’s degree, Pistiner went on to earn his master’s degree in American studies from Penn State Harrisburg.
Currently, Pistiner is the director of advancement operations at Elwyn, an organization that provides services to over 20,000 children and adults across the country with intellectual, developmental and behavioral challenges. In his role, Pistiner collaborates with multiple departments including fundraising, marketing and finance to ensure the funds raised are properly stewarded and directly support the clients Elwyn serves.
Pistiner said what he enjoys most about his role is being able to problem-solve.
“The most exciting part of my job is devising methods of enhancing our team’s efficiency and finding solutions to any issue we encounter. I’m always striving to ensure my team has all the tools and resources needed to successfully fundraise,” he said. “It’s very fulfilling to play a part in ensuring the individuals in Elwyn’s care receive the highest quality of support to live meaningful and rewarding lives.”
When asked what advice he has for current Penn State students, Pistiner said to get involved in as many activities as possible on campus.