As part of our regular “We Are!” feature, we recognize 17 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:
- Richelle Barkman, instructional designer in the College of Engineering, whose nominator wrote: “Richelle has taken on extra courses as an instructional designer to ensure the highest quality product for our emerging online courses and certified micro credentials. Instructors cite her professionalism, willingness to work with their schedules, and her knowledge and insight as differentiators.”
- Blake Cooper, CRM analyst at Penn State World Campus, whose nominator wrote: “Blake was an integral part of our recent transition to a new software system, Salesforce. His persistence in his communication with our office and the new vendor in resolving problems, in real time, was nothing short of amazing. Our office is very grateful for his dedication.”
- Jennifer Dahlke, administrative assistant at the Penn State All Sports Museum, whose nominator wrote: “Jennifer is an amazing boss. She is very efficient at her job. She is a terrific supervisor that is always thinking of others. She shows her appreciation through kind words to her employees. She is constantly working beyond her typical workday. We are lucky to call her our boss.”
- Alexis Donohue, facilities representative at Penn State Abington, whose nominator wrote: “Alexis is a true champion of Penn State Abington. Her deep knowledge, understanding and unwavering dedication to our campus is essential to our collective success. She is the go-to person for all things Penn State Abington and carries out every task with pride, grace and professionalism.”
- Anthony Farless, peer guide in the Chaiken Center for Student Success for Penn State World Campus, whose nominator wrote: “Tony goes above and beyond as a World Campus peer guide and as vice president of the World Campus Military Service Organization. He recently helped lead a webinar to support new students and is always willing to lend a hand. Tony’s tireless efforts, positive attitude, and unwavering support make him a true asset to Penn State.”
- Cody Haag, police officer at Penn State DuBois, whose nominator wrote: “Recently, Officer Haag quickly jumped into action when one of our community members experienced an unexpected flat tire near the DuBois campus. In addition to checking on the wellbeing of the individual, Officer Haag assisted with changing the flat tire and directed traffic to protect everyone.”
- Troy Harman, adjunct lecturer of history for the College of the Liberal Arts, whose nominator wrote: “Professor Harman has been a huge supporter of mine, throughout the courses I have had him in. He gives encouraging feedback and helps with any issues that may arise. He has encouraged my writing and given it a new sense of purpose. Professor Harman has instilled in me how to be a historian.”
- Clayton Lose, web and creative services team lead in the College of the Liberal Arts, whose nominator wrote: “Clayton goes above and beyond, taking on extra tasks, guiding his team and ensuring deadlines are met. His dedication to accessible, branded sites across Liberal Arts shows his passion and leadership every day.”
- Tiffany MacQuarrie, associate director for global academic engagement in Penn State Global, whose nominator wrote: “Tiffany is a driving, positive force in moving forward virtual global engagement. The Experiential Digital Global Engagement (EDGE) program has made a huge difference in engaging faculty and students across Penn State and international partner universities in countless ways.”
- Olga Moskaleva, regional global engagement coordinator for the Abington, Brandywine and Great Valley campuses, whose nominator wrote: “Olga brings extraordinary dedication, kindness and passion to her work. She is a true champion and advocate for our international students, ensuring they feel supported and valued in every interaction.”
- Nicky Rigg, assistant financial officer in the College of Health and Human Development (HHD), whose nominator wrote: “Nicky is always willing to help and is open to questions. She never makes you feel like you're bothering her. She maintains a positive and upbeat attitude in all her interactions, even when working under tight deadlines. She's a wealth of knowledge and a truly valuable member of our college community.”
- Betsy Parlett, administrative assistant in the Center for Teaching Excellence at Penn State Harrisburg, whose nominator wrote: “Betsy always greets everyone in the office with a smile. She provides a welcoming environment and is helpful. She is a team player and ensures everyone has what they need. Her contributions to the center’s team and to our campus are valued.”
- Kelly Praskovich, director of alumni relations in Eberly College of Science, whose nominator wrote: “Kelly has been such an amazing addition to our team! She brings great knowledge, experience and energy. She is working hard to strengthen our Alumni Society Board's mission and involvement. Kelly has successfully juggled planning many new events for Eberly, and our alumni are more connected because of it.”
- Kristen Robinson, executive assistant to the dean in Eberly College of Science, whose nominator wrote: “Kristen has supported the transitions in and interim leadership in the Eberly dean's office through four deans in the last 10 years. Over the past year she made sure that the interim dean kept all the balls in the air, and at the same time kept team morale positive and supportive. Amazing!”
- Heather Ross, map specialist in Penn State University Libraries, whose nominator wrote: “Special thanks to Heather for her onsite, swift action during a late-night water leak in Central Pattee. Your quick action and teamwork helped prevent damage and ensured the safety of our collections. Our Common Services, Maintenance, Facilities, and Preservation staff were critical too.”
- Alison Witt, talent acquisition supervisor in Human Resources, whose nominator wrote: “Alison is a thoughtful and practical leader. She's an incredible sounding board who offers steady, grounded guidance no matter how packed her day is. Even while juggling a million tasks, she consistently shows up to support her units and her team.”
- Dennis Wozniak, engineering lab manager at Penn State Great Valley, whose nominator wrote: “Dennis is amazing. He is creative, collaborative and kind. He demonstrates consistent care for students, faculty and staff, and he truly shows up to support other units. Everyone on campus enjoys working with him. It’s a joy to see him bring ideas to life in the engineering lab.”
- Vivian Zangari, student engagement specialist in Student Affairs, whose nominator wrote: “Vivian’s dedication and hard work ensured the Student Involvement Fair ran smoothly. Her meticulous planning, leadership and commitment fostered a successful, inclusive event that boosted student engagement and showcased the vibrant campus community.”
Thank you Richelle, Blake, Jennifer, Alexis, Anthony, Cody, Troy, Clayton, Tiffany, Olga, Betsy, Kelly, Kristen, Heather, Alison, Dennis and Vivian — 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.