As part of our regular “We Are!” feature, we recognize 21 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:
- Patricia Agosti, pre-award specialist in the Neuroscience Institute at the College of Medicine, whose nominator wrote: “Patti is the ideal departmental research administrator — thorough, detail-oriented and clear. She consistently provides well-documented submissions with helpful explanations, making the review process smoother, more efficient and far less time-consuming.”
- Greg Angle, web designer at Penn State Outreach, whose nominator wrote: “Greg has been an incredible partner with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) as we update our systems and website. His patience, tact, drive and creative problem-solving allowed him to handle tight deadlines and challenging situations with a high level of professionalism. Thank you, Greg!”
- Michael Blass, IT generalist at Penn State Hazleton, whose nominator wrote: “Mike is always helpful, incredibly patient and extremely knowledgeable. He is prompt in helping out faculty, staff and students, and he demonstrates great leadership skills within his team and on campus.”
- Jo Ann Durdan, interim regional lead for continuing education at Penn State Scranton, whose nominator wrote: “Jo Ann has been providing service for three Commonwealth Campus continuing education units since the beginning of the year, and, since April, she has been doing it as a one-woman department. She has been doing amazing work!”
- Jeff Eberman, student advocacy specialist at Penn State Harrisburg, whose nominator wrote: “Jeff joined the team last October and has brought a wealth of experience and insight to our work. His work, focusing on conduct and off-campus student support, encompasses difficult discussions which Jeff navigates with calmness. We are lucky to have him!”
- Mike Eger, mechanic for the Department of Chemistry in the Eberly College of Science, whose nominator wrote: “Mike has been working tirelessly to prepare labs for three new faculty members. These projects simply wouldn’t have progressed without his unwavering dedication and determination. Mike consistently goes above and beyond. We are incredibly grateful for all you do, Mike!”
- Tyler Estright, student engagement specialist in the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), whose nominator wrote: “Tyler goes above and beyond as an exemplary team player. His work reflects a deep passion for student success, and he approaches every interaction with kindness and dedication. Tyler truly embodies the Penn State spirit in all that he does. He's an invaluable part of the College of IST.”
- Serena Hermitt, education program coordinator for the Antiracist Development Institute at Penn State Dickinson Law, whose nominator wrote: “Serena is amazing! She is so helpful, organized and pleasant to work with. Serena has juggled so many projects with aplomb and is an invaluable asset to the Penn State community.”
- Sasha Musap, IT support specialist in the Office of Research Information Systems (ORIS), whose nominator wrote: “I want to recognize Sasha for the excellent customer service he provides on behalf of ORIS. On several occasions, Sasha has responded to support tickets submitted by our team. He always responds quickly and kindly, providing us with clear guidance on how to resolve our problems.”
- Beth Neail, instructional designer at Penn State Harrisburg, whose nominator wrote: “Beth consistently goes above and beyond to support faculty with their courses and to ensure course content is accessible. She is a team player. When help is needed, she always steps up. She is an effective collaborator and has great ideas. She is an asset to the Harrisburg campus!”
- Elizabeth Nelson, reference and instruction librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley, whose nominator wrote: “Elizabeth makes research less intimidating and a lot more fun. Her engaging and approachable communication style makes information accessible and memorable. She turns research instructions into interactive experiences — such as making paper airplanes — transforming learning into a dynamic process.”
- Jen Oshinski, regional human resources strategic partner for the Wilkes Barre, Hazleton, Scranton, Lehigh Valley and Schuylkill campuses, whose nominator wrote: “Jen is always so helpful and kind! Her communication and prompt responses are echoed by her team, a testament to her leadership. We are so lucky to have her support for our campus!”
- Joseph Pelick, business systems analyst in Penn State IT, whose nominator wrote: “Joseph goes above and beyond in his role, demonstrating sharp analytical skills and a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Beyond these strengths and a strong work ethic, he embodies kindness, integrity and unwavering respect. His witty sense of humor inspires and uplifts everyone around him.”
- Melissa Praediger, event planning assistant at Penn State Abington, whose nominator wrote: “Missy is a true star at Abington. She is the first person many go to for help in planning events on campus. Her thoughtfulness and care in helping to pull off big events — especially the recent visit by the Board of Trustees — helps the campus shine. Thank you, Missy, for all you do for Abington!”
- Sara Roth, program coordinator community outreach at Penn State Lehigh Valley, whose nominator wrote: “Sara always goes above and beyond! She is so kind, helpful and knowledgeable. She has been supporting the LPN program at two campuses and has been an amazing asset to the Lehigh Valley community, coordinating multiple programs for adults aged 55+ and even a bus trip to Gettysburg!”
- Mike Sherlock, IT director and strategic partner in Auxiliary and Business Services, whose nominator wrote: “Mike is all about team support! Whenever an operation identifies a situation that needs support, he steps in to assist with coordination and gets results. It may be a situation that he does not have any direct oversight of, but he knows how to get the right staff involved. We feel valued by his help.”
- Nick Silka, associate director of information technology services at Penn State Behrend, whose nominator wrote: “An instrument was down and the manufacturer was unhelpful in the troubleshooting instructions. Nick helped for multiple hours, using his IT knowledge to figure out what the problem was and solve it. I know that any time I have an IT-related instrument problem, Nick is the person to call!”
- Jeremie Thompson, talent acquisition specialist in Human Resources, whose nominator wrote: “We are so thankful for Jeremie in the HR office at University Park! Our program at Penn State Harrisburg hires many student workers, and Jeremie shows incredible patience, kindness and thoroughness during the hiring process. He is always quick to respond to the many emails that are sent his way.”
- Terry Walker, IT support specialist in Penn State IT, whose nominator wrote: “Terry brings a wealth of experience, wisdom and expertise to Penn State. His meticulous attention to detail and strong problem-solving skills allow him to navigate complex problems. He consistently demonstrates professionalism and Penn State values. We’re fortunate to have him on our team!”
- Hannah Wang, instructional designer in IT Learning and Development, whose nominator wrote: “Hannah jumped in with both feet to assist with training for the ECRM initiative with the Learner Org after we lost a support resource. Her attention to detail when creating materials for users, as well as her always positive demeanor and encouragement to trainees, was amazing. Thank you, Hannah!”
- Aimee Wheeler, student advocacy specialist at Penn State Harrisburg, whose nominator wrote: “Since joining our team, Aimee has truly embraced her role. Overseeing our WE cARE Pantry, she introduced food packs and procured fresh produce from a local orchard. As our campus sexual misconduct resource person, her compassion and advocacy for students is a gift. We are lucky to have her!”
Thank you Patricia, Greg, Michael, Jo Ann, Jeff, Mike, Tyler, Serena, Sasha, Beth, Elizabeth, Jen, Joseph, Melissa, Sara, Mike, Nick, Jeremie, Terry, Hannah and Aimee — and to everyone who helps make Penn State such an incredible community!
Do you know someone who deserves a shout out? If you do, consider nominating that person by filling out a short online form.