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:
- Bryan Bernier, help desk staff in the College of Health and Human Development (HHD), whose nominator wrote: "Bryan is extremely knowledgeable, really listens and knows the perfect amount of information to give. He is patient and gives his time generously to help us. Bryan is a truly kind person who delivers top-notch service! I'm so very grateful he is part of HHD."
- Dean Blackstock, business analyst in Teaching and Learning with Technology, whose nominator wrote: "Huge shoutout to Dean! He is a true breath of fresh air. His in-person support makes a massive difference. His positive attitude makes our workplace a much better, more inclusive place. Thank you, Dean, for being so welcoming!"
- Ashley Conte, business analyst in the Office of Research Information Systems, whose nominator wrote: "Ashley is a rock star! Whenever help is needed, she's the first to step up and lend a hand. Her outstanding support and positive attitude make a difference for both our team and end users every day. We're incredibly lucky to have Ashley on our team!"
- Kyrie DeShong, project manager in Enterprise Change and Transformation, whose nominator wrote: "Kyrie went well above and beyond recently in the Enrollment Management recruitment space including shepherding the group through the design of the new operating model and designing a functional SharePoint site as a leave behind. The incredible depth and versatility of her work was amazing!"
- Grace Donahey, Human Resources consultant, whose nominator wrote: "Grace consistently goes above and beyond as an HR partner. She is thoughtful, responsive and exceptionally supportive. She usually anticipates challenges before they arise and is helping to identify solutions before I even come to her. Her guidance makes difficult situations feel manageable!"
- Ulrike Shaon Donahue, physician in University Health Services (UHS), a division of Student Affairs, whose nominator wrote: "Dr. Donahue is an amazing and supportive physician who looks at you as a whole person and is really cheering on your wellness. Every visit you can see her care and passion for the work she does. She is incredibly empathetic and listens. Thank you, Dr. Donahue, for taking such good care of your patients."
- Jennie Gibson, graduate academic program coordinator in the College of Engineering, whose nominator wrote: "Jennie consistently goes above and beyond. She generously shares her knowledge and tips, greets everyone with warmth and a welcoming smile, and is always ready to pitch in. Her positive, can-do attitude, reliability and unwavering support make her an invaluable part of the team."
- Parvathy Hughes, administrative support in Health Promotion and Wellness, a division of Student Affairs, whose nominator wrote: "Parvathy is an incredibly multifaceted employee. Her strengths add to and compliment others in the office. She is bright, kind and energetic. She pulls you in with her stories and builds bonds easily. The work she does daily helps maintain the integrity of our office. We are so lucky to have her."
- Matt Humphrey, UX designer in the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research, whose nominator wrote: "Matt has consistently demonstrated a commitment to making our web resources in the Office for Research Protections as user-friendly as possible. We appreciate his skills, hard work and collaborative spirit!"
- Amy Kuntz, supervisor of faculty engagement and learning design in Teaching and Learning with Technology, whose nominator wrote: "I am nominating Amy in recognition of the outstanding support she has provided me with setting up and navigating my course on Canvas. Amy has taken the time to patiently teach me how to structure my course, improving the quality and delivery for student learning and engagement! Thank you, Amy!"
- Jim Lawhead, Extension associate for dairy science in the College of Agricultural Sciences, whose nominator wrote: "Jim is an absolutely wonderful addition to our department. He is always so cheerful, great to converse with and always ready to lend a helping hand. He goes above and beyond to help our department and our dairy producers in the state."
- Kent Matsueda, instructional designer supervisor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), whose nominator wrote: "Kent is an awesome leader who goes above and beyond to make sure his team feels seen, heard and supported. He's also a creative problem-solver who helps improve workflows in new and innovative ways, making our work smoother, more efficient and more enjoyable!"
- Annie Murphy, retail store manager at the Berkey Creamery, whose nominator wrote: "A big shoutout to Annie during Arts Fest! Thank you for all of the behind-the-scenes work you put in to make Arts Fest another great success for the Creamery. Your dedication and teamwork made all the difference, one cone at a time!"
- Audrey Murray, office manager for Residence Life, a division of Student Affairs, whose nominator wrote: "Audrey's dedication, professionalism and commitment to excellence make her an outstanding office manager in East Halls. She expertly supports daily operations, assists others with care and efficiency, and plays a vital role in creating a positive student experience."
- Lisa Myers, senior administrative officer at the College of Medicine, whose nominator wrote: "Thank you to Lisa! Lisa keeps the University Park Regional Campus running smoothly. She manages the standardized patient program, leads our support staff and champions the well-being of medical students, faculty and staff — all with kindness, positivity and a team-first spirit."
- Denise Ogden, professor of marketing at Penn State Lehigh Valley, whose nominator wrote: "A special shoutout to Dr. Ogden for being an exceptional professor, an inspiring mentor and a great colleague. Your passion, kindness and dedication make a lasting difference in the lives of our students. Thank you for all that you do and for the positive impact you make every day."
- Bre Robinson, executive assistant to the provost, whose nominator wrote: "Bre is dedicated, kind and incredibly knowledgeable. She always advocates for her peers, leads by example and makes our workplace better every single day. Working with her for the past seven years has been an absolute privilege, and I'm grateful for the friendship we've built along the way."
- Mark Wherley, instructional designer in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS), whose nominator wrote: "Mark brings incredible care, insight and dedication to everything he does. His thoughtful testing, steady support and commitment to accessibility made a real difference in our website migration and beyond. We’re lucky to have him on the team!"
- Kimberly Wick, instructional designer at Penn State Behrend, whose nominator wrote: "Kim is extremely helpful. Her work with the Center for Educational Innovation has helped set me up for the accessibility deadlines. She did significant legwork on helping with my Canvas course and left me in an excellent spot to finish up making it accessible."
- Aaron Yorchak, instructional designer in the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), whose nominator wrote: "Aaron is an amazing colleague and designer! He's kind, caring and always willing to help. He listens, checks in and helps others troubleshoot. He also brings thoughtful ideas that continually improve our instructional design practice and the way we approach our work."
- Patrick Zavorskas, program coordinator in the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, a division of Student Affairs, whose nominator wrote: "Patrick is such a grounding and welcoming presence. His vision, courage and care are so evident in the programming he develops. He helps people feel connected, valued and inspired. I'm so glad he is here."
Thank you to these individuals and everyone across the University who contributes to making 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.