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:
- Fred Aebli, lecturer of information sciences and technology (IST) at Penn State Scranton, whose nominator wrote: “I recently contacted Fred for help regarding a student at the Hazleton campus who needed clarification on internship requirements. Fred responded promptly and shared a helpful link to an IST and IT internship website from his campus. The site offers valuable information.”
- Emily Bush-Clark, administrative assistant senior suport in the Department of Applied Linguistics in the College of the Liberal Arts, whose nominator wrote: “Emily is terrific! She is reliable, a great source of knowledge, a team player and, most importantly, an awesome person. Emily is a superstar in everything related to events, gets you the info you need before you realize you need it, and is the first to volunteer to help. Keep being you, Emily!”
- Emily Clapper, student disability specialist at Penn State World Campus, whose nominator wrote: “Emily demonstrates exceptional dedication, empathy and professionalism in her role with Student Disability Services. Her collaborative approach and strong work ethic greatly enhance the team's effectiveness and positively impact both students and colleagues.”
- Kim Cook, distinguished professor of cello in the College of Arts and Architecture, whose nominator wrote: “Prof. Cook is an incredibly caring, knowledgeable and experienced member of the string faculty at the School of Music. She is extremely dedicated to her students and very generous with her time and talent.”
- Trish Evanitsky, market research specialist at Penn State World Campus, whose nominator wrote: “Trish brings creativity and curiosity to every survey research and analytics project she takes on. She consistently seeks out opportunities to share what she has learned with the rest of our team, elevating everyone's work. Trish is kind and thoughtful, and I'm so grateful to work with her!”
- Kristy Fisher, administrative support manager for advising and global programs in the College of Engineering, whose nominator wrote: “Kristy has been unwavering in her dedication to our office. She keeps us moving with projects and job searches and is always available to answer questions. She goes above and beyond in her work for our office and the students we serve in the College of Engineering. She is appreciated!”
- Bill Folmar, proposal and awards generalist for the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agricultural Sciences, whose nominator wrote: “Bill does a fantastic job working with all of the grants in our department! He is super knowledgeable, extremely dependable, takes great pride in his work and has a wonderful sense of humor. We are so blessed to have him on our team and enjoy every minute working with him!”
- Katie Kerstetter, director of the academic operations office at Penn State Great Valley, whose nominator wrote: “Katie is the ultimate go-to colleague, tackling any task with heart, a sense of humor and compassion. From supporting students to stepping into last-minute projects, her professionalism and kindness make a lasting impact on us all. We’re so grateful for her steady presence and unwavering positivity!”
- Karen Kreger, assistant vice president of housing and food services, whose nominator wrote: “Huge shoutout to Karen Kreger, a trusted thought partner, for her amazing support of housing across campuses — especially at Harrisburg! Her deep knowledge, calm leadership and student-first mindset make her an invaluable go-to partner who always goes above and beyond.”
- Maria Lopez, administrative assistant in the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL), whose nominator wrote: “Maria deserves a shoutout for her dedication and leadership. We launched a new office, and she spearheaded the launch. She took on a great deal of responsibility and made the transition run smoothly. Thank you, Maria, for stepping up to the plate when we needed a leader.”
- Casey McGee, financial specialist in the College of Medicine, whose nominator wrote: “Casey goes above and beyond in his day-to-day duties. He asks where he can help out and always does it with a smile on his face. He might not have all the answers, but he will do what he can to find the answer for you!”
- Tabitha McKean, academic adviser in the College of Engineering, whose nominator wrote: “Tabitha is always ready to greet and work with our students, welcoming them with enthusiasm and a smile. She is a great source of professional knowledge and has an unmatched dedication to students. She regularly presents her work and best practices at the university level and beyond.”
- Nathan Milner, academic adviser in the College of Engineering, whose nominator wrote: “Nate has taken on tremendous responsibility to coordinate the college's NSO this summer with many changes. He does this flawlessly, organizing the advising team to support 2,000 new students with their schedules and briefings. Nate is truly a team player, ensuring students are positioned for success.”
- Dwayne Morris, academic program specialist for medical education at the College of Medicine, whose nominator wrote: “Recently, there was last minute shortage of facilitators for PBL (a small group teaching for our medical students). With less than a day to recruit new PBL facilitators, Dwayne found replacements, reorganized PBL groups and communicated these changes to faculty and students involved. Great job, Dwayne!”
- Ron Nargi, IT specialist in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS), whose nominator wrote: “Ron was one of the first people I met when I started my new job at EMS. He was incredibly friendly and made a great first impression. Thanks to his expertise in setting up my equipment, my first day as a remote employee went flawlessly.”
- Elizabeth Parrett, student disability resources coordinator at Penn State Brandywine, whose nominator wrote: “Elizabeth is the consummate disability services professional, a well-informed advocate for students and a leader in making our campus accessible and welcoming. She is a dependable and resourceful ally, and she is ever forward-thinking in preparing our campus to implement accessibility initiatives.”
- Mark Powell, administrative assistant in the School of Theatre in the College of Arts and Architecture, whose nominator wrote: “Mark is an invaluable resource for the faculty and staff in the school, offering guidance and assistance to them as they navigate complex processes. He readily volunteers to take on special projects and is the consummate team player. He is such a positive force, and we are very grateful to have him!”
- Krissy Pydynowski, recruiter in Penn State Human Resources, whose nominator wrote: “Krissy has been invaluable in our department's search for two new team members. She helped us screen the many applicants and prepare interview questions, and she kept us organized and focused. She was responsive and always cheerful and upbeat!”
- Dan Sunderland, technical service staff at Penn State Great Valley, whose nominator wrote: “Dan shines so bright. He is extraordinarily kind and considerate toward all students, faculty, staff and campus guests. He is always upbeat and smiling. He knows our campus like the back of his hand and is quick to identify and communicate potential challenges and opportunities to help us succeed.”
- Penny Ward, instructional designer in the Office for Digital Learning in the College of Engineering, whose nominator wrote: “Penny brings exceptional care to every project. Her focus on accessibility, keen attention to detail and strong relationships with faculty have a big impact. She deserves a huge thank you for the great work she does — often behind the scenes, but always appreciated!”
Thank you Fred, Emily, Emily, Kim, Trish, Kristy, Bill, Katie, Karen, Maria, Casey, Tabitha, Nathan, Dwayne, Ron, Elizabeth, Mark, Krissy, Dan and Penny — 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.