UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School recognized three alumni — Jennifer Hoewe, Jonathan U. Dougherty and Gail Folena-Wasserman — with Fox Graduate School Alumni Society Awards at the Fox Graduate School Alumni Recognition Dinner on March 29 at the Nittany Lion Inn.
2025 Early Career Award
Jennifer Hoewe has been named the recipient of the Fox Graduate School Early Career Award, which recognizes alumni who have demonstrated exceptional success in their fields within 10 years of earning a graduate degree. Hoewe received a doctoral degree in mass communications from Penn State in 2015.
Hoewe, an associate professor of communication and political science at Purdue University, is a scholar specializing in mass communication, political communication and media psychology. Her research examines how media consumption influences political engagement, including voting behavior. Her research has provided insights into the influence of media on democratic engagement. She has held academic positions at the University of Alabama and Purdue University, where she earned tenure in 2022. Her scholarly work includes 43 peer-reviewed publications and multiple book and encyclopedia contributions, with more than 1,300 citations. She is currently authoring a book that explores the transformation of news consumption in the 21st century and its impact on civic and political participation.
In addition to her research, Hoewe is an educator known for high teaching evaluations and a strong commitment to mentorship. She has taught both large lecture courses and smaller seminars, with a focus on the relationship between media and behavior. She also has held leadership roles in professional organizations, including as head of the Communication Theory and Methodology division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
2025 Outstanding Service Award
Jonathan U. Dougherty has been honored with the Outstanding Service Award, which recognizes alumni who have achieved professional success while demonstrating significant service to the University and the Penn State Alumni Association. Dougherty received two degrees in architectural engineering from Penn State, a bachelor’s degree in 1999 and a doctoral degree in 2016.
Dougherty has spent over 20 years advancing education and professional development in the architecture, engineering and construction industries. Early in his career, he worked for a Washington, D.C.-based general contractor, where he led the development of corporate training infrastructure and served as director of corporate knowledge and university engagement. In that role, he oversaw education for more than 400 employees and contributed to hiring efforts and internship program growth.
He has served on several industry committees, including the Baltimore-Washington Laborer’s Joint Training Fund and the Montgomery College Construction Industry Advisory Committee. He chaired the Architectural Engineering Institute’s International Student Design Competition for six years.
Currently vice president of strategic initiatives at Providence Engineering, Dougherty oversees marketing, talent development, workforce initiatives, and the company’s Employee Stock Ownership Program committee.
At Penn State, he remains active as a mentor and alumni leader. He serves on the board of directors for the Fox Graduate School Alumni Society, is an emeritus member of the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Advisory Board, and currently serves as president of the Penn State Engineering Alumni Society. He has led efforts to establish a $500,000 endowed scholarship for engineering students.
Dougherty’s contributions to education, professional development and alumni engagement have earned him several honors, including the Penn State Volunteer of the Year Award.
2025 Lifetime Achievement Award
Gail Folena-Wasserman has received the Fox Graduate School Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her distinguished career in the biopharmaceutical industry and her contributions to mentorship and workforce development. Folena-Wasserman received a master’s degree in 1979 and a doctoral degree in 1982, both in chemistry.
Folena-Wasserman retired in 2022 as the global head of biopharmaceutical development at AstraZeneca. In this role, she oversaw analytical, process, formulation and drug product development for both early- and late-stage therapeutics. She also directed clinical manufacturing and life-cycle management. Previously, she was a senior vice president at MedImmune, where she founded the biopharmaceutical development function and led the integration of MedImmune into AstraZeneca following its acquisition.
Her work has contributed to the development of several major biologics, including Synagis, the first antibody licensed to prevent an infectious disease (RSV in infants), as well as Flumist, Fasenra, Imfinzi, Tezpire and Beyfortus. She holds four patents and has made significant advancements in vaccine and biologic drug development.
Recognized by PharmaVOICE as one of the 100 Most Inspiring People in 2011, Folena-Wasserman is also committed to mentoring future leaders. She serves on the Biopharmaceutical Innovation Advisory Board at the University of Delaware and chairs the board of the Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology at Montgomery College. Her efforts support academic-industry partnerships and promote innovation in workforce development.
She has received multiple awards for her accomplishments, including the Eberly College of Science Outstanding Science Alumni Award in 2003 and the Penn State Alumni Association Alumni Fellow Award in 2007.
Nominations for the 2026 Fox Graduate School Alumni Awards will open in fall 2025. More information will be available then on the Fox Graduate School website.