As part of our regular “We Are!” feature, we recognize 20 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:
- Brittany Brainard, janitorial worker in the Office of Physical Plant at Penn State Behrend, whose nominator wrote: “Brittany takes pride in her work and ensures the Reed Union Building always looks its best. Her attention to detail stands out, but it’s her kindness that makes the biggest impact. She regularly supports coworkers with thoughtful gestures, creating a positive environment. We are blessed to work with her!”
- Cathey Chaffee, academic program coordinator in the College of the Liberal Arts, whose nominator wrote: “Cathey is the academic program coordinator for the philosophy (PHIL) undergraduate program. On top of her duties to PHIL, she goes above and beyond as the backup for the communication arts and sciences (CAS) and the applied linguistics (APLNG) programs. Thank you, Cathey, for always being willing to help!”
- Pat Clark, case manager in Student Care and Advocacy, a division of Student Affairs, whose nominator wrote: “Pat has supported students for nearly eight years with professionalism, warmth and a positive attitude. His genuine care and commitment make a real difference, and students are fortunate to benefit from his support.”
- Mary Beth Day, financial coordinator in the Office of Budget and Finance, whose nominator wrote: “Mary Beth is the College of the Liberal Arts’ contact for all questions regarding the finance OST transition. I have worked with her on two occasions now, and she worked with me to go step-by-step through new processes. I am very thankful for her time, patience and helpfulness!”
- Justin DiMatteo, director of information technology at Penn State Brandywine, whose nominator wrote: “Justin programmed wireless doors in the residence hall, eliminating the need for an outside contractor. His work saved time and resources while supporting safety and the student experience. A strong example of collaboration and commitment to getting the job done right.”
- Terre Fetterolf, academic records coordinator in Fox Graduate School, whose nominator wrote: “Terre is a consummate professional and will always assist students and staff with their thesis inquiries. Terre always brings joy and laughter to the office. Terre is truly an asset to the Penn State community.”
- Daniel Foster, associate professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences, whose nominator wrote: “Dr. Foster has dedicated his career to mentoring and empowering agricultural education students and colleagues. His enthusiasm is contagious and his commitment to developing educators is leaving a lasting legacy with exponential impact.”
- Chris Frye, maintenance worker utility in the Office of Physical Plant, whose nominator wrote: “Chris is tasked with filling in when others are off. He is aways happy to fill in wherever needed with a smile and a can-do attitude. We count ourselves lucky to have him in our district. He is an asset to all.”
- Jennifer Gray, instructional designer in the College of Health and Human Development (HHD), whose nominator wrote: “Jennifer is an outstanding instructional designer. She has excellent ideas and she is a strong problem solver. She is an amazing collaborator, a team player and a leader. She is innovative and creative, and she is committed to providing high-quality courses. She's an asset to any team!”
- Thomas Klemick, director of athletic communications at Penn State Harrisburg, whose nominator wrote: “Tom and his team have been instrumental in elevating our athletic programs through their broadcasting and marketing expertise. They create an engaging experience for fans while effectively showcasing our student-athletes and their achievements both on and off the field.”
- Michelle Lutz, career counselor at Penn State Dickinson Law, whose nominator wrote: “In the few short months Michelle has been here she has immersed herself in all things career services. She is a very quick learner, avid initiator and executor, team player and helpful co-worker. Most importantly, she has connected very well with students. She is a great addition to the Career Services Office!”
- Erin McCullough, absence management specialist in Penn State Human Resources, whose nominator wrote: “In a world where customer service is almost non-existent, Erin is the exception. She helped me navigate a challenging time in my life with the utmost concern and knowledge. Her friendly voice on the phone and her prompt follow-up emails make her a wonderful asset to the benefits department.”
- Melissa Millar, library services manager at Penn State Berks, whose nominator wrote: “Melissa is an ‘unsung hero’ here at Berks. She consistently is someone who makes a meaningful difference. Melissa is selfless and dedicated to helping students, faculty and staff by relentlessly trying to improve their experiences. Berks is so lucky to have her!”
- Jennifer Rittenhouse-Pruss, lab coordinator for the Department of Biology in Eberly College of Science, whose nominator wrote: “In Jennifer's first few months in this position, she has improved the organization and communication of the four core labs in the department and improved the experience for the thousands of undergrads that come through these labs each semester! All who work with her appreciate what she does.”
- Serena Sidwell, marketing operations specialist in the College of Engineering, whose nominator wrote: “I'm thrilled to nominate Serena for her unique level of dedication to our team. She tirelessly jumps in to help on tasks beyond her role, initiates opportunities for community and fun to bring people together, and is passionate about building real connections with staff across the college.”
- Sondra Struble, clinical curriculum operations manager at the College of Medicine, whose nominator wrote: “Sondra is always willing to listen, discuss, collaborate and teach — even when she is learning the new program herself. She goes above and beyond in helping and mentoring even though her schedule is very busy. That is greatly appreciated, because there are not many that would take the time to do all she has done.”
- Lisa Sukenik, consultant in Penn State Human Resources, whose nominator wrote: “Lisa has been an invaluable partner to the managers and employees in the units she supports during the post-finance OST transition. She is consistently welcoming, responsive and kind, and she provides guidance and resources that help teams feel supported.”
- Caden Summers, IT support specialist in Penn State IT, whose nominator wrote: “Caden saved the day recently after a teaching assistant’s laptop died less than 30 minutes before a class they taught was about to begin. Caden was helpful and kind as he calmly and quickly got the TA set up on another laptop. Caden was our hero!”
- Mike Uchneat, director of facilities for Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, whose nominator wrote: “Mike manages everything from fixing leaks to installing multi-million-dollar equipment, from welcoming and settling in new faculty to helping retiring faculty wind down their programs. Mike does all of this with great empathy, consideration and attention to detail. We are so grateful!”
- Meagan Wilkinson, instructional designer at Penn State World Campus, whose nominator wrote: “Meagan is an amazing instructional designer. She is creative and committed to providing a high-quality product. She is an excellent collaborator and team player. She has great ideas and she finds innovative ways to address problems. She's an asset to any team!”
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.