As part of our regular “We Are!” feature, we recognize 19 Penn Staters who have gone above and beyond what’s asked of them in their work at the University.
This week, on behalf of the entire Penn State community, we’d like to say thank you to:
- Beth Blehi, administrative support for the Office of Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Response, a division of Student Affairs, whose nominator wrote: “Beth is irreplaceable! She is a wealth of knowledge and experience, and she is always willing to step in and help her teams with anything they may need.”
- Renee Carbonara, financial planning analyst in the College of Education, whose nominator wrote: “Renee’s attention to detail and strong organization keep finances accurate and on track. She is a reliable partner who ensures smooth and effective financial management.”
- Cole Cullen, producer/director at WPSU, whose nominator wrote: “Cole and the WPSU team have been incredible partners! Their expert storytelling produced cohesive, compelling videos that made our critical team rollout a true success. We are so grateful for your talent and dedication!”
- Dorie Glunt, finance coordinator in the Bellisario College of Communications, who received multiple nominations. One nominator wrote: “Huge shoutout to Dorie for being a rockstar. She has been invaluable in training me on reconciling, submitting expenses and preparing contracts. She somehow manages to train me and support others in the college all while navigating the finance OST transition with grace. We are truly grateful for her.” Another nominator wrote: “Dorie has supported the Penn State Powwow budget for over a decade, always friendly and able to figure out even the most complex financial situation. This past year she was especially invaluable in providing continuity and making sure everything got done amid difficult and unexpected circumstances.”
- Billie Jean Horvath, academic adviser at Penn State World Campus, whose nominator wrote: “Shoutout to Billie Jean Horvath for her outstanding support of the Shenango campus through additional advising efforts. She consistently demonstrates a student-first and team-first mentality, going above and beyond to support students, colleagues and the World Campus community. Thank you!”
- Jana Jaffa, assistant director of graduate career services in Smeal College of Business, whose nominator wrote: “Jana continually goes above and beyond for our students and colleagues. Through the development of the micro-internship and leadership development programs, she has created transformative opportunities for student growth, leadership and career success. We are lucky to have her.”
- Chasity King, buyer in Central Procurement, whose nominator wrote: “I would like to recognize and thank Chasity for her efforts in completing a time sensitive quotation and purchase for our program. Chasity worked diligently with our program’s fiscal officer to successfully facilitate this process, and we are truly grateful for her assistance!”
- Randy Kochik, engineering support specialist in Eberly College of Science, whose nominator wrote: “Randy identified an opportunity to improve the safety of the NMR facility and developed a 3D-printed NMR tube holder for the facility. The holder provides better stability for sample tubes on the bench tops.”
- Crystal Lenox, academic program coordinator in the College of Health and Human Development (HHD), who received multiple nominations. One nominator wrote: “I would like to recognize and thank Crystal for the outstanding work she has been doing during the Academic Consultation and Course Scheduling (ACCS) sessions for our college. Crystal consistently demonstrates initiative, attention to detail and a willingness to go above and beyond to ensure tasks are completed accurately and efficiently.” Another nominator wrote: “Crystal is a rockstar during New Student Orientation and Academic Consultation and Course Scheduling. With a positive attitude, she gets advisers all the information they need, supports our work-study students staffing our student kiosk, and helps address any questions from our incoming students.”
- Sandy McBride, program coordinator for career studies at Penn State Harrisburg, whose nominator wrote: “Sandy goes above and beyond in her role. She pours her heart into career studies and its students, largely contributing to the program’s success. Sandy is always looking for ways the program can grow to further benefit its students and the campus community. She is incredibly supportive of those around her.”
- Jim Meinecke, senior director of food services in Auxiliary and Business Services (ABS), whose nominator wrote: “Jim has been the driving force behind the ABS Service Framework Rollout, coordinating every detail, aligning stakeholders and keeping our team motivated. His leadership, collaboration and sense of humor made a complex initiative so much fun. Jim, ABS is lucky to have you!”
- Jennifer Renoe, financial planning analyst in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS), whose nominator wrote: “Jenn has gone above and beyond supporting EMS during the finance OST transition. Beyond her FPA duties, her help in reviewing, cleaning up, and approving Concur reports has eased year-end workload and helped students, faculty and staff receive reimbursements. Penn State is lucky to have her!”
- Frank Ritter, professor of human-centered computing and social informatics in the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), whose nominator wrote: “Frank gives his time to undergrads, doctoral students, and junior and senior faculty. Often, he's the voice that says what others won't, always pushing for a more welcoming college. He has quietly shaped the careers and confidence of more people than he probably knows. He is a rare and invaluable colleague.”
- Nick Russo, digital access coordinator in Educational Equity, whose nominator wrote: “Nick does so much for University Park and all Penn State campuses. He shares his accessibility expertise widely and is a go-to resource for campuses, departments and groups across the University. His work helps ensure students who need accessible course materials and accommodations can fully participate. We are lucky to have him.”
- Matt Siekman, student engagement specialist in Student Involvement and Leadership, a division of Student Affairs, whose nominator wrote: “Matt is an incredibly positive and enthusiastic team member who encourages students and staff to engage in the community. A role model through his service, he is resourceful, caring and genuine — ready to build, create and lead by example. His impact inspires others and strengthens our community.”
- Jeff Smith, maintenance mechanic at Penn State Behrend, whose nominator wrote: “Jeff is a standout with his attention to detail and willingness to jump into any project that comes up. He takes his job to heart and genuinely enjoys interacting with anyone on campus — whether staff, student or visitor — and does so with a smile on his face.”
- Kati Taylor, financial associate in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS), whose nominator wrote: “Kati consistently goes above and beyond to support others, proactively helping faculty and keeping transactions moving. Her patience, kindness and positive approach have made a meaningful difference during the OST transition. Numerous faculty have shared how much they appreciate Kati's support.”
- Jade Veit, assistant director of strategic communications at Penn State Great Valley, whose nominator wrote: “We are so grateful to Jade for a standout spring event season! From reimagining the Scholarship Brunch and student acknowledgement profiles for our donors, to creating memorable experiences through Coffee & Connections, the golf outing and beyond, her positivity lifts our team and entire campus.”
- Errol Wizda, director of student success in Smeal College of Business, whose nominator wrote: “Errol leads with genuine care for people. He prioritizes staff well-being, checks in personally and creates a supportive environment where employees can thrive. He also fosters collaboration and connection, bringing teams together through engaging activities.”
- Amy Yarlett, advising specialist at Penn State Brandywine, whose nominator wrote: “Since joining us in July 2025, Amy has jumped in with both feet. She has taken on challenges in retention, launched a new advising scheme for NSO and hired a new career services specialist — all with aplomb, insight and good humor. I am so glad to have her as part of the team.”