2017 Fall Magazine

Health and Human Development NEWS

FOR

ALUMNI

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FRIENDS

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FALL

2017

Commitment to student success is as strong as ever Pg. 28

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN At the beginning of every school year, I watch the University come to life. From move-in day to that first encounter in a new classroom or lab, connections are being made as new journeys begin.

For those students who are returning to campus after a special summer internship or study abroad experience, many come back with new ideas that profoundly influence their path forward. This summer, HHD students gained knowledge and insights in diverse posts – Hospitality Management students worked at hotels and resorts in major markets around the world, a Nutritional Sciences student worked with the Ojibwe people of northern Minnesota as part of her fieldwork for the Global Health minor, and an RPTM student interned with the Military Family Morale group at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. In one of my favorite examples of the Penn State alumni network in action, a student in Health Policy and Administration had a transformative experience interning for a large health care system headed by an HPA alumnus (see page 9 of this magazine).

I think of these students whenever I talk about the University’s new campaign, “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence.” The campaign provides so many ways to make a difference in students’ lives. Each of the campaign’s thrusts—Open Doors, Create Transformative Experiences, and Impact the World—includes ways to make our wonderful University even more accessible and more engaging for students, increasing the likelihood that they will make the most of their time here and make a difference in the world as alumni.

This fall our college has over 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students here at University Park and over 600 students enrolled in our growing World Campus programs.

They bring energy to their college experience that is infectious and rejuvenating. If your travels bring you in our direction, please come see for yourself. I would enjoy meeting you and sharing my enthusiasm about our mission and our students.

Sincerely,

Ann C. Crouter Raymond E. and Erin Stuart Schultz Dean College of Health and Human Development

Scholarship recipient Justin Delasko (R) with Judith McClaskey (L).

OPEN DOORS Penn State’s founders believed that all children deserved the opportunity to become educated and the University remains committed to a tradition of access and affordability. The College of Health and Human Development educates students to serve all members of our society and is committed to creating an academic community that reflects that same diversity.

Justin Delasko ’17 NUTR returned to Penn State from the stages of New York City. After acting professionally during an eight year hiatus from college, Delasko reenrolled in 2014—only this time with the commitment and responsibilities of a family. The husband and father of two faced plenty of obstacles between him and a degree, but support from the Blessing Trustee Scholarship, established

by Judith McClaskey ’79 NUTR, made his journey possible.

“Being a recipient of a scholarship that recognizes academic excellence not only lifts the financial burden that higher education has on all of us, but delivers a profound message,” he said. The scholarship not only offered some financial security, but also gave Delasko motivation. “It made me feel like Penn State was on my side, knew of my personal situation, and wanted to see me succeed,” he said. “I think it’s a true testament to the care and concern Penn State has for its students.”

Delasko is now in a graduate program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania to become a registered dietitian and has a near-term plan to establish a health and wellness community center in his home county in Pennsylvania.

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GREATER PENN STATE FOR 21ST CENTURY EXCELLENCE

Morgan Kampmeier (R) with her preceptor, Allison Baxter (L).

Stuti Thapa (R) with fellow Global Health Minor students Katherine Huskin (L) and Steven Hanna (C).

CREATE TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES

IMPACT THE WORLD

Penn State’s mission of teaching, research, and service goes far beyond its classrooms and campuses. Students choose the College of Health and Human Development not only for the worldclass curriculum that Penn State offers, but also for experiences that allow them to grow as individuals and as future leaders. Life-changing opportunities outside of the classroom will help guide our students’ future successes.

Morgan Kampmeier, majoring in Hospitality Management, interned in the human resources department at Foxdale Village in State College. “I wake up every morning excited to walk into the doors of Foxdale, and am filled with joy all throughout the day,” she said. “I thought that working in senior living would be a very fulfilling industry, and I was right.”

Seeing the impact of human resources functions on Foxdale residents was a transformative experience for Kampmeier. “A huge part of my job is to motivate the employees and ensure their happiness. Both of which affect their work productivity and attitude that in return affects the residents.” The experience is something she never could have received in a classroom alone and it helped solidify her career plans.

“Knowing that I am helping the older community enjoy the remainder of their lives, even though it is indirectly, is such a fulfilling feeling. I think it is so important that people enjoy what they do and where they work. Since human resources plays a huge role in that, I think I found the right career path.”

Penn State has always been committed to serving the greater good as part of its land-grant mission.

Through all of its programs, the College of Health and Human Development strives to advance research and education to improve human health and wellbeing across the life span. The most important contributions to the future are seen through the ambition and ability of our students and graduates, who will carry the Penn State cando spirit into their careers and communities.

Stuti Thapa, Nutritional Sciences major, spent five weeks in northern Minnesota with the Ojibwe, a Native American people. The trip was part of fieldwork experience for the Global Health Minor offered by the Department of Biobehavioral Health.

While she learned a lot in her courses, immersion in Ojibwe culture, including observing and hearing firsthand about the realities of life on the reservation made the lessons more relevant. “I gained a lot of insight into the health issues that surround this population of people,” she said. “In some ways, a Native American reservation can resemble a different country and therefore residents have health issues that are common in developing countries.”

In addition to tremendous personal growth, the experience provided professional growth, including how to better communicate with different types of people, how to be culturally aware in conversations, and how to be flexible with time and scheduling. Thapa hopes to work in a non-profit environment in the future, seeking to positively impact the lives of others. “I can definitely apply this experience to my future career because it opened my eyes to a whole new avenue of nutrition-related studies,” she said.

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AROUND THE COLLEGE

Grant creates first national center for child maltreatment studies at Penn State Roughly 2 million children in the U.S. experience maltreatment and face the possibility of a lifetime of mental, emotional, behavioral, and physical health difficulties. The importance of mitigating damaging outcomes for victims cannot be overstated. Recognizing this, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), recently completed a competitive process to fund for the first time ever, an academic institution to function as a “Capstone.”

Penn State has been selected based on scientific merit to establish the Center for Healthy Children. The award of $7.7 million over five years will support the center as a national resource for child maltreatment research and training. To further this effort, Penn State has committed $3.4 million in funds, to total more than $11

million, for new research to identify health and developmental solutions, mobilize public investment in child maltreatment prevention and treatment, accelerate science to practice, and spark dynamic system-wide change.

Jennie Noll, the principal investigator of the NIH award, is a professor of human development and family studies in the College of Health and Human Development and director of the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network, a unit of Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute.

False-positive mammogram results linked to spike in anxiety prescriptions Women who experience a false-positive mammogram result are more likely to begin medication for anxiety or depression than women who received an immediate negative result, according to a study led by Joel Segel, assistant professor of health policy and administration. The finding highlights the importance of swift and accurate follow-up testing to rule out a breast cancer diagnosis.

Pennsylvanians consider parks an essential part of the health care system Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly consider parks, trails, and open space to be an essential component of the health care system, according to a study led by Andrew Mowen, professor of recreation, park and tourism management.

Findings show that 73 percent of adults surveyed across Pennsylvania and 68 percent of primary care clinic visitors in Hershey, Pennsylvania, consider parks, trails, and open space to be a critical part of the health care system.

“While residents believe parks are a key part of our health care system, local, state, and federal officials continue to perceive they are discretionary services, often making parks a target for budget cuts,” Mowen said.

This belief was widespread across a variety of different demographic groups defined by age, race, and income status.

Results demonstrate the potential for parks and recreation to be an innovative approach to improving public health.

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The study found that patients who receive a falsepositive mammogram result are also prescribed anxiety or depression medication at a rate 10 to 20 percent higher than patients who receive an immediate negative result. These prescriptions are new and not continuations of previously prescribed medicines.

Additionally, within the group of patients who required more than one test to resolve the falsepositive, there was a 20 to 30 percent increase in those beginning to take anxiety or depression medications.

Photo Credit: PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation

Penn State hosts Pennsylvania’s first Deaf and Hard of Hearing Summer Academy The University hosted Pennsylvania’s first Deaf and Hard of Hearing Summer Academy, which is designed to prepare high school students for their transition to higher education.

Twenty-two high school students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind and reside in Pennsylvania participated in the program from July 9 to 21. Led by many HHD faculty members, participants learned about a variety of topics, including assistive technology; communication

access options; self-advocacy, self-awareness and the law; vocational development; recreation and team building; cooking; financial management; and social work.

“We were proud to host the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Summer Academy, which supports and empowers high school students as they make the exciting, but also challenging, transition to college,” said Diane Williams, head of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Nutritional Sciences students take knowledge into the community Students enrolled in NUTR 456 – Community Nutrition presented twelve interactive learning booths on topics in nutrition, health, physical activity, and wellness to children at Ferguson Township Elementary School during its Community Education Extended Learning after school program.

Students visit retirement home to conduct muscle screenings Students from Chris Bopp’s Community Outreach and Engagement class, KINES 497, visited The Village at Penn State, a retirement community, to complete the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People’s screening program. The tests were performed to determine if participants were at risk for developing sarcopenia, which is age-related muscle loss. Bopp then met with residents one-on-one to review the results.

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AROUND THE COLLEGE

Knapp named Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow

College names two department heads Health economist Christopher Hollenbeak is the new head of the Department of Health Policy and Administration.

Hollenbeak joined the department after serving as a faculty member in the Penn State College of Medicine for seventeen years. He is also chief of the Division of Outcomes Research and Quality and associate director of the Center for Applied Studies in Health Economics.

A. Catharine Ross is the new head of the Department of Nutritional Sciences. Professor of nutritional sciences and physiology and holder of the Dorothy Foehr Huck Chair in Nutrition, Ross has served in the department for 21 years.

The National Academy of Medicine and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) recently named Caprice Knapp, associate professor of health policy and administration, as a member of the 2017-18 class of RWJF Health Policy Fellows.

Knapp and five other health professionals are spending a year in Washington, D.C., working on health-related legislative and regulatory issues with members of Congress and the executive branch. They also will engage in seminars and discussions on health policy and participate in leadership development programs.

“This is an opportunity to be on the front lines of health policymaking in the United States. I am so excited to see how I can play a role in the health care policy landscape,” Knapp said.

History of Hospitality Management at Penn State recognized The Penn State Alumni Association unveiled a historical marker in August near Mateer Building celebrating the rich history of hospitality education at Penn State. Historical markers at Penn State locations across the Commonwealth celebrate the University’s tradition of leadership and achievement in higher education.

Wagman named president of PSAA Steve Wagman ’82 HPA became the 80th president of the Penn State Alumni Association, beginning a two-year term on July 1.

Wagman’s volunteer work with Penn State began nearly 30 years ago, serving as a guest lecturer and later as a mentor in the College of Health and Human Development Alumni Mentoring Program. Wagman was elected to Alumni Council in 2012.

Additionally, HHD alumni recently elected or appointed to the PSAA board include: • Tracey D. Baker ’93 HPA

• Kristen McMullen ’89 HPA • Susan Robinson ’94 HPA

• Heather M. Wolfe ’14 ATHTR

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HPA alumnus serves as commencement speaker, creates scholarship

New inclusive course offers unique learning opportunity

Kevin Lynch ’14 MHA, founder of the Quell Foundation, served as the commencement speaker for the College of Health and Human Development on May 6, 2017.

A new course at Penn State brings together students with disabilities, students pursuing careers to support people with disabilities, and students studying theatre.

Lynch, a veteran of the U.S. Naval Submarine Force who also spent 16 years in the private health care sector, earned a master’s degree in health administration through Penn State World Campus. Shortly after earning his master’s degree, Lynch started the Quell Foundation, which aims to eliminate the social stigma of mental illness.

Supporting Communication Through Performance is offered by the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and examines how various types of performance activities, such as dance, voice, and musical theater, can support communication and participation by people with and without intellectual disabilities.

The Quell Foundation also recently committed funding for the Quell Foundation’s Bridge the Gap Undergraduate Scholarships, which will support Penn State students who manifest promise of outstanding academic success and plan to pursue a career in mental health services.

Students enrolled in the course are from the College of Health and Human Development, College of Arts and Architecture, and the State College Area School District (SCASD) LifeLink program at Penn State. LifeLink PSU enables qualified SCASD students with disabilities, ages 18-21, to sit in on classes at University Park.

FaceAge course provides opportunity for intergenerational connections

Joe Humphreys Student Angling Fund supports 80-year-old fly-fishing course Recognized around the world, Joe Humphreys ’57 PHED, ’63g SECED, a member of the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame, also has a legacy at Penn State. Humphreys served for 19 years as an instructor in Penn State’s angling program.

The fly-fishing course, which began in the 1930s, is still offered today as a General Education course in the Department of Kinesiology due in large part to the Joe Humphreys Student Angling Fund, which supports instructors and helps provide equipment to students.

A new course counters the traditional look of a college classroom by bringing together younger and older adults to examine aging issues. FaceAge: Perspectives on Aging, is an eight-week course in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) that brings together HDFS students and adults aged 50 and older through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Penn State to provide real-life, intergenerational synergy.

The course, which launched in the spring, focuses on perceptions and perspectives of the aging experience and offers students the opportunity to learn from different perspectives and generational cohorts.

“Together, through facilitated conversation and activities, we explore the experience of growing-up, family, aging, well-being, and more,” said course instructor Amy Lorek.

In an effort to maintain the longevity of the program, Woods and Waters Consulting in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, recently organized a fundraising event, which generated additional funds for the endowment.

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Kevin McCarthy, Carolinas HealthCare System

Improving quality of life for others is our mission. Our people make it happen.

Jalyn Taylor

Communication Sciences and Disorders

The car needs washed.

For people who grew up in Central Pennsylvania, the previous sentence may not seem out of the ordinary. However, for those who move to the area, the sentence often grabs their attention.

That’s because the proper phrasing should be, “The car needs to be washed.”

Peter Newman

Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management

Peter Newman’s entire childhood was filled with outdoor experiences, from camping to backpacking to skiing. For vacations, his family and neighbors lived on the edge with experiences such as staying at a ski cabin in Vermont with no heat in the middle of winter.

“My passion for the outdoors came from my parents,” Newman said. “Growing up, there was a theme of adventure.”

Today, he is head of the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, which discovers and advocates for ways that parks and recreation can be a key component to improving the health and well-being of individuals and populations.

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I want to be skilled in multiple components to make an impact on the obesity epidemic. The solution to reducing obesity isn’t one simple answer. If we can understand how multiple components interact, we can better reduce obesity rates.

— Elizabeth Adams Nutritional Sciences

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That common local phrasing is what Communication Sciences and Disorders Jalyn Taylor ’17 CSD studied through the McNair Scholars Program with Carrie Jackson, associate professor of German and linguistics, in Moore Laboratory. The study looked at language experience and its effects on reading comprehension.

For Taylor, scholarly research is a passion.

“Learning is something that I’ve almost always been passionate about,” she said.

“Knowledge is something that I value. I like learning new things about everything.

Friends and family call me the fact finder.”

Kevin McCarthy, Carolinas HealthCare System

Manny Houndo

Health Policy and Administration For student Emmanuel “Manny” Houndo, it was a pivotal moment in his life when Beyoncé shared a YouTube video of him playing her song, “Drunk in Love,” on his violin.

A social media shout-out from Beyoncé, Grammy winner and Super Bowl half-time headliner, is a big deal, particularly for a teenager in high school with a passion for music.

“Amazing!” Beyoncé said in her Feb. 8, 2014 post.

“At that point, I was posting music videos online purely because it was fun. A week after I posted ‘Drunk in Love,’ I got a text from my friend saying Beyoncé shared my video,” Houndo said. “I told my parents, then I looked on Facebook, and everything was going crazy. At that moment I literally watched my views skyrocket.”

Not only did Beyoncé’s fans notice this high school violinist, but the entertainment industry also noticed.

Soon, Houndo found himself performing in Los Angeles for the BET Network’s Experience event, which allows young artists to network and perform with top celebrities in attendance, such as Snoop Dogg and Justin Bieber.

Next, a TV producer contacted Houndo, and before he knew it a contract was part of the discussion.

Student Manny Houndo talks with a staff member at Carolinas Medical Center-Mercy during his summer internship with Carolinas HealthCare System.

Suddenly, new and unexpected possibilities were on the table. But Houndo’s parents reminded him why their family moved from West Africa to the United States, which was for Houndo and his family to get an education.

So that’s what Houndo decided to do.

The academic motivation led Houndo to Penn State, where he is a dual major studying music (classical violin) and health policy and administration. He is also a recipient of the Barbara Howell Raphael Trustee Scholarship.

In his first year, Houndo was the only freshman first violinist in the Penn State Philharmonic Orchestra. This summer, he completed an internship with Carolinas HealthCare System, where Gene Woods ’87 HPA, ’91g MBA, ’93g MHA, FACHE serves as president and CEO. Houndo became interested in a health care career partly because both of his parents are nurses. But it was a high school course focused on international current events that introduced Houndo to the complexities and challenges of providing health care in the United States and around the world.

Houndo hopes to one day make a positive impact on the accessibility and quality of health care, ideally while also using his musical skills.

“People really respond to the pop music violinist; once you make that connection and they hear it and relate to it, they’re sold,” Houndo said. “Right there, in that moment, you have their attention, and if I can say, ‘by the way, think about this,’ then that is such a powerful thing. I definitely want to be able to tap into that on a very large scale.”

Lisa Gatzke-Kopp

Human Development and Family Studies Since high school, Lisa Gatzke-Kopp has been fascinated by the workings of the brain, particularly how thoughts drive actions.

“I was lucky,” Gatzke-Kopp said, “I never questioned what I wanted to do. Essentially, I was chasing the brain, constantly looking for classes, and ultimately a job, that would allow me to study it.”

This specific interest, she recalled, was sparked during an AP Biology class during her senior year of high school.

“The teacher gave a lecture on the neuron and it fascinated me to think that we knew the smallest unit of cell that makes up the brain. I thought that must mean we understood how the brain worked and that idea was captivating to me,” she said.

Today, she is professor-in-charge of the graduate program in the Department of Human Development of Family Studies, where she advises and educates scholars who seek to improve the lives of others through research and teaching.

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I want to encourage kinesiology students who might want to go down a less traditional path to discover what they really want. For me it was public health and for others it may be something different.

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E. Sebastian Vallejo School of Hospitality Management While a student at Penn State, E. Sebastian Vallejo ’17 HM, envisioned a career in the entertainment business, possibly working one day for an international music festival.

“I love seeing people who are happy and in those environments where nothing else matters, just the music, the people, and good food. Those kinds of experiences are some of the greatest memories I have. While working in that environment, you’re having fun while other people are having even more fun than you.”

— Nicole Vairo ’17 KINES Kinesiology

View more stories at hhd.psu.edu/our-story

Brady Lucas

Biobehavioral Health

As a childhood cancer survivor, Brady Lucas views Penn State’s IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON), a fundraiser for pediatric cancer research and treatment, through a different lens than many of his peers.

His personal experience with illness at a young age, he says, may also give him a different perspective on health and medicine, two areas he is studying today as a Biobehavioral Health major.

Lucas learned about THON and Penn State long before he came to the University as a student. Battling childhood leukemia in 2005 and then again in 2010, Lucas was introduced to the scary and uncertain world of cancer, surgery, and chemotherapy. He participated in his first THON as a cancer patient in 2008.

Penn State, THON, and THON’s beneficiary, Four Diamonds, which provided emotional and financial support to him and his family, gave him an outlet to explore his own passion—helping others.

Now, Lucas is healthy and an advocate for childhood cancer patients. He wants to make sure other children and families facing cancer have the same support he did.

“My involvement in THON now has kind of come full circle,” Lucas said. “I was a child cancer patient that received support through THON. Now I want to show current THON families I’m here, that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”

One way Lucas works toward this goal is by serving as THON chair for his fraternity, Phi Kappa Sigma, which is also the fraternity that hosted Lucas when he was a cancer patient.

The generosity of Phi Kappa Sigma is what encouraged Lucas to join the fraternity when he enrolled at Penn State.

Lucas first danced in THON as a Penn State student in 2016, served as dancer relations chair in 2017, and is a speaker and advocate for Four Diamonds. For THON 2018 he is serving as special events director.

Lucas is also co-founder of the Brady C. Lucas Golf Outing, an annual golf tournament that raises money for Four Diamonds. To date, the charity has raised more than $211,000.

Brady Lucas participates in THON 2008 as a Four Diamonds Child.

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PAYING IT FORWARD

Paying it Forward

Giving back comes in variety of forms

By Marjorie S. Miller

Alumni and friends of the College of Health and Human Development make an impact in students’ lives every semester through mentoring, student support, professional networking, and careerpreparation opportunities.

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Alumni and friends offer expertise As president of Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware, Paul Kempinski ’82 HPA has a demanding job. But for the past three years he has taken time to participate in the Department of Health Policy and Administration (HPA) Professionals in the Classroom event to share his experiences and insights with students pursuing similar careers.

Hosted by HPA and the HPA Affiliate Program Group, the program creates an opportunity for talented and accomplished HPA alumni and friends to serve as guest lecturers in HPA classes. The program also includes roundtable discussions giving students more opportunities to network and engage with alumni and other professionals.

“My presentations, and those of other professionals, help students connect what they’re learning in their academic programs to real-world situations,” Kempinski said. “Students are at formative stages of their careers and they are getting ready to make a move in the field. To maybe make an impact on their young careers is very rewarding.”

Paul Kempinski

When Kempinski meets with students enrolled in various HPA courses at University Park, he discusses a range of topics related to health care, such as government policies, careers in health care leadership, and day-to-day operations at Nemours.

“I’m continually impressed by the quality and capability, and the intellectual curiosity of the Penn State students,” he said. “That bodes well for their professional growth, for the University, and for the health care field. It keeps me coming back to participate in the program.”

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PAYING IT FORWARD

“We work collaboratively to find topics of discussion across the different units within the college to make our programming more interdisciplinary.”

— Doris Golebiewski

Affiliate Program Groups Affiliate Program Groups (APGs) in the College of Health and Human Development are chartered by the HHD Alumni Society and include alumni or friends of Penn State who have a common interest in a particular academic, professional, or extracurricular activity for a specific academic program.

APGs focus on promoting development of the academic departments and organize activities around the MACS framework—Mentoring, Awards, Communication, and Social/Professional activities.

Doris Golebiewski ’05 CSD, chair of the APG Committee for the HHD Alumni Society Board, said the key to building successful student and alumni connections is through education and programming.

“I have an opportunity to brainstorm with other departments. We have many participants who want to stay involved and encourage this involvement with current students and younger alums,” she said. “We work collaboratively to find topics of discussion across the different units within the college to make our programming more interdisciplinary.”

Alumni participation with an APG has a direct effect on the strength of many academic programs not only in HHD, but at Penn State overall. Vibrant programs lead to student opportunities and career successes.

“Alumni participate in career roundtables, speed networking events, and alumni in the classroom activities that help prepare students for their careers,” said Abigail Diehl, assistant dean for alumni relations and special projects.

A mentor and a friend Left to right, Mollie Sullivan, mentee; Krystina Burke, mentor; and Cate Keenan, mentee.

As a student majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Krystina Burke ’14 CSD participated in the HHD Alumni Mentoring Program. She still values the insight from her alumni mentor as she prepared for graduate school and eventual placement in the field of speech-language pathology.

“The mentoring experience provided incredible help as I navigated the complicated and high-stakes graduate school admissions process,” Burke said. “My mentor gave me frank and real-world advice that you can only learn from those who have been through the graduate school search process.”

The HHD Alumni Mentoring program is in its 16th year. It has been lauded by Penn State and is the model for many other colleges, many of which now have similar mentoring programs. To date, it has included more than 1,000 participants. Alumni participation in the program is essential and a very easy way to help student success.

Now a pediatric speech-language pathologist at Spectrum Pediatrics in Alexandria, Virginia, Burke returns the favor by mentoring two students through the HHD Alumni Mentoring Program, which matches alumni with students in related academic departments.

“As a young professional, I have a very fresh memory of the graduate school admissions process and employment search. I think the feedback from people who have been through the journey aids those about to begin, as it did for me,” Burke said.

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Hosting student interns One way students get real-world experience in fields they are passionate about is through internships.

Finding locations for internships, however, can be challenging for students seeking opportunities—either independently or, increasingly, as part of academic curriculums.

Offering internship opportunities at businesses or organizations is a way for alumni and friends to give back, as the internship experience can be transformative for a student and provide the real-world preparation often necessary for graduates to receive a job offer.

One such place is Centre Region Parks and Recreation (CRPR). This summer, CRPR hosted two Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management (RPTM) students for internships, one of whom was the program and special events intern, and one who handled social media and marketing.

“Hands-on, real-life experience is key for any intern. The experience allows them to take the philosophical knowledge and group work and put it into real-life scenarios. It also allows them to maneuver through new obstacles,” said Pamela Salokangas ’95 RPTM, CRPR director. “As a Penn State alumna, I had an outstanding internship experience and modeled the internships my agency provides after that same model.”

Interns at Centre Region Parks and Recreation help out with the Lil Strider’s program, a class for children ages 3 to 5 that teaches them how to ride on two wheels.

Helping students succeed Alumni also support HHD students through gifts, awards, and scholarships. Student support is a critical component of opening doors to allow students to focus on their education and career preparation.

David McClung ’79 HPA is CFO at Nexion Health in Maryland and president of the HHD Alumni Society Board. He previously served as a mentor in the HPA Mentoring Program and as a board member for the HPA APG. Recently, he established the Dave McClung Award that assists students in the Department of Health Policy and Administration, where he received his degree, or the Department of Kinesiology, where his son received a degree.

“Penn State started me on the path to success. I’ve had a great career, and it all started at Penn State. I am blessed to have the means and resources to give back,” McClung said.

“Whether this award helps the recipient get books or cover their lab fees, it’s getting them to graduate and hopefully succeed, like I was fortunate enough to do.”

Ashlee Snyder ’17 KINES was the first recipient of the Dave McClung Award. Now a graduate student at Arcadia University, the award assisted her with expenses while transitioning to a doctoral program.

“This award can help to change a student’s education,” she said. “Mr. McClung has shown me that my hard work was worth the time and effort. He has also shown me that there is someone else who believes in me and my ability to succeed.” n

“Penn State started me on the path to success.

I’ve had a great career, and it all started at Penn State. I am blessed to have the means and resources to give back.”

— David McClung Fall 2017 | 15

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RESEARCH

Strong starts

By Marjorie S. Miller

From pre-conception to pregnancy to postpartum, scientists in the College of Health and Human Development contribute to a growing field of research on the physical and emotional health of pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and the family.

A healthy pregnancy Half of all pregnant women in the U.S. begin their pregnancies overweight or obese, and 60 percent of these women gain more weight than is recommended for a healthy pregnancy.

“This is a problem,” according to Danielle Downs, professor of kinesiology and obstetrics and gynecology.

“Obesity and excessive weight gain in pregnancy are related to a number of pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and macrosomia—a newborn who’s significantly larger than average—all of which can create a series of problems for both mom and baby,” Downs said.

Maintaining weight within guidelines can help both mothers and their babies have an easier pregnancy and delivery, and it can help mothers return to their pre-pregnancy weight more easily.

In response to this issue, Downs and her research team, including Jennifer Savage Williams, assistant professor of nutritional sciences and interim director of the Center for Childhood Obesity Research, developed Healthy Mom Zone.

Healthy Mom Zone is an intervention program that teaches overweight women about healthy weight gain while promoting exercise, eating healthy, setting achievable goals, and self-monitoring of behaviors to keep weight gain on track.

Participants use a number of mHealth tools, mobile phones and other wireless technology, to monitor their behaviors. Some of these tools include a Wi-Fi scale and dietary phone app. The preliminary findings from a feasibility study showed that women appreciated the intervention and it promoted positive eating and exercise beliefs and perceived behavioral control.

A randomized control trial of thirty overweight and obese pregnant women using Healthy Mom Zone is currently underway. The long-term goal is to develop customized intervention plans to help all women manage their weight during pregnancy.

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RESEARCH

Strong Healthy Women Downs and fellow researchers, including Mark Feinberg, research professor of health and human development, also developed the intervention Strong Healthy Women (SHW), which is designed to improve the health-related attitudes, behaviors, and health status of women before they become pregnant.

“Making healthy behavior changes before thinking about having a baby may be the ideal time for preventative intervention,” Downs said. “This intervention may offer researchers and health care professionals a framework for designing other programs aiming to improve women’s health before, during, and after pregnancy.”

Researchers conducted the SHW intervention in a group of non-pregnant women ages 18 to 35 from fifteen low-income rural communities in Central Pennsylvania in a randomized, controlled trial. The program of six sessions, delivered over a twelve-week period in community settings, focused on modifying behaviors related to key risks for adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight.

The program helped participants address a combination of physical and psycho-social risk factors such as poor nutrition, low physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use, and high levels of stress. The group format of the SHW program helped motivate women through social support from peers and the group facilitators.

In following the women for one year after the formal group sessions ended, researchers found that women using SHW principles, compared with controls, had significantly greater improvements in attitudes, self-efficacy for eating healthy foods, perceived internal control of birth outcomes, intent to eat healthy foods, and intent to be more physically active.

Downs and the research team are currently adapting SHW to focus on weight-related behaviors and integrate smartphones to deliver portions of the intervention.

A good night’s sleep Sleep, stress, and co-parenting conflicts are some of the most common issues parents face after the birth of a child. Researchers in the college are working to understand how to minimize and prevent these problems through studies and interventions.

In Project SIESTA—a study of bedtime and nighttime parenting, family functioning, and infant-parent sleep—researchers found that persistent co-sleeping (room and bed-sharing beyond the baby’s first six months) was associated with higher levels of marital stress, parenting stress, and less effective parenting at bedtime.

The study demonstrated that parenting behavior at bedtime, the emotional availability of the parent, and specific bedtime practices, all helped predict sleep in the infant and the quality of the infant’s attachment to the mother, said lead researcher Douglas Teti, head of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies.

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Healthy parents Another program for parents developed by researchers in the college, Family Foundations, aims to help couples maintain strong family bonds, reduce stress, and raise healthy children through prenatal and postnatal classes. Research shows the program helps reduce parents’ mental health problems and enhance children’s emotional, social, and behavioral health, according to Feinberg, lead researcher and developer of Family Foundations.

Long-term research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, shows that families who were assigned to the program experience more positive outcomes than families in the control groups, including better parenting teamwork and parenting quality, and less parental stress and depression, and reduced conflict between parents and family violence.

As a result of these program impacts, children of parents participating in the Family Foundations program showed better self-regulation as early as one year after birth, and better social competence and fewer emotional and behavior problems through at least age seven.

The program’s impact on postpartum depression (PPD) is also highly important, as PPD affects about 15 percent of mothers in the U.S. and 40 percent of low to moderate income women, Feinberg said.

“Depression tends to make people more irritable and withdrawn. Parents who are depressed may overreact to small problems, have less patience with children’s fussiness, and show fewer expressions of affection and love,” Feinberg said. “This is problematic because we know that to develop optimally, infants and children need warm, engaged interaction with caregivers.”

Although Family Foundations classes were designed to improve parent and child well-being and family relationships, some outcomes were a surprise, according to Feinberg.

“We found that pregnant mothers with moderate to high levels of financial stress, depression, or anxiety can have better birth outcomes if they take Family Foundations classes, even though they only receive half the classes before birth,” Feinberg said. “We think that improving the coparenting relationship before birth leads pregnant mothers to feel more supported by their partner, and less depressed and anxious.

This reduction in mental health problems then may have positive biological implications for the pregnancy and birth process.” n

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Student Scient At University Park and around the world, HHD students are actively involved in research that supports health and human development

By Jennifer Cruden

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Undergraduate Kinesiology student Andrew Oneglia spends many of his days inside a laboratory wearing a white coat and protective gear as he processes various samples from study participants.

His work is part of a larger effort at Penn State to find a solution for women at risk of osteoporosis and other ailments caused by bone loss.

Oneglia is assisting Mary Jane De Souza, professor of kinesiology and physiology, with a study on dried plums in the Women’s Health and Exercise Laboratory.

ntists Essentially, researchers want to know if daily consumption of dried plums can help prevent or reverse the loss of bone due to osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Oneglia processes fecal, urine, and blood samples to check for biomarkers of bone turnover, phenolics, vitamin D 3 and expression of immune and inflammatory mediators to assess potential mechanisms contributing to changes in bone health with dried plum consumption. The 20-yearold will also assist with drafting the academic article that outlines the study’s findings.

“I’m gaining experience in every aspect of being a researcher,” Oneglia said. “Dr. De Souza is making sure I have all aspects developed to become a top researcher.”

HHD student researchers Andrew Oneglia, Carissa Heine, and Aubrey Tallon are Rodney A. Erickson Discovery Grant recipients.

The program supports undergraduate student engagement in original research, scholarship, and creative work.

Andrew Oneglia Carissa Heine, a Nutritional Sciences major, conducted research in Ghana with Alison Gernand, assistant professor of nutritional sciences and Ann Atherton Hertzler Early Career Professor in Global Health.

Heine and Gernand have been working with women planning to become pregnant to identify vitamin and mineral deficiencies that are co-occurring and may influence the health of a future pregnancy. Now Heine is examining what lifestyle practices and behaviors may influence micronutrient status in pre-pregnant women.

“Universally, more research is needed in this planning to become pregnant stage so that you can have a really healthy pregnancy that you’ve planned for,” Heine said.

The research experience has several benefits for Heine. She is learning how to apply for a grant, prepare and conduct interviews, and enhance her communication skills. She also has had the opportunity to travel internationally, improving her cultural competency and awareness.

“To gain these skills during my college experience as an undergraduate student is huge,” Heine said.

Carissa Heine

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HHD student researchers Carissa Heine, Katie Smith, Steven Hanna, and Aubrey Tallon are Schreyer Honors Scholars.

Katie Smith

Katie Smith, a Health Policy and Administration major, has had multiple opportunities to conduct research as a student. For example, Smith conducted in-person interviews as part of an embedded international experience for instructor Celeste Newcomb’s course Exploring the Health Care System in Costa Rica.

Each day, students visited a hospital or clinic and talked with the doctors and staff. Students also shadowed Attention Technical Assistants of Primary Care workers, who travel to residents’ homes and assess patients.

Ultimately, Smith formulated her analysis into a capstone project for the course and research poster titled, Examining Primary Care Organizational Structure in Costa Rica. The poster earned second place in the Undergraduate Research Exhibition for course-based projects and first place in the HHD Alumni Society Research Poster Competition.

“The trip to Costa Rica taught me to always keep a broader perspective and be open to new experiences,” Smith said. “It Steven Hanna

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also taught me how think critically, seek multiple sources, and really look at the full picture.”

Steven Hanna, a Biobehavioral Health major, works in the Stress, Health, and Daily Experience (SHADE) Laboratory with Joshua Smyth, director and Distinguished Professor of Biobehavioral Health. In the lab, Hanna has completed literature searches and summaries, literature reviews, data entry and analysis, and helped compile a project book and methods section for a study.

Through research funded by the Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment, Hanna also conducted field research with Derrick Taff, assistant professor of recreation, park, and tourism management, at Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland as part of a collaboration between SHADE and Healthy Parks Healthy People, a National Park Service program aimed at promoting and encouraging use of national parks and other protected natural areas as health resources.

“Research opens our eyes to things we don’t know. It helps us understand both the world and the people in it.”

— Felicia Gater

Felicia Gater, right, prepares samples for food test participants.

At the park, Hanna surveyed visitors about how their experience in nature influences their health and well-being.

Hanna is also using these data to understand how different locations and features found in the park may elicit different emotional responses for his honors thesis.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to work in a National Park, so I got to fulfill that while also doing some research and helping the National Park Service,” Hanna said. “I also now understand the differences between field and lab research. In field research, you have to be a bit more flexible and able to work with what’s given to you in the environment. It’s been beneficial to have both of those experiences.”

As a double major in Nutritional Sciences and Food Science, Felicia Gater ’17 NUTR, FD SC spent three semesters as an intern in the Sensory Laboratory where she worked closely with Pete Bordi, associate professor of hospitality management and director of the Center for Food Innovation (CFI), and staff. One activity the CFI conducts is testing products with participants, then providing data to help hospitality organizations make decisions about formulation, marketing, and other areas.

product development and helped her better understand how sensory science works in the food industry.

“Research opens our eyes to things we don’t know,” Gater said.

“It helps us understand both the world and the people in it.”

Inspired by her own experience as a Renaissance Faire performer, Aubrey Tallon is studying the ways gender may impact how one conducts themselves as an independent performer.

“It is my goal to uncover ways in which all genders use erotic capital, and use this data to create an open dialogue about the use of sexuality as a tool to increase earnings and influence.”

— Aubrey Tallon

“I have learned how consumer testing works within the food industry, including the types of products tested or compared, the types of questions that are asked, and the type of test administered,” Gater said.

The experience helped Gater secure an internship with McCormick & Co., which gave her a view into the world of

“My work focuses on the use of ‘erotic capital,’ or the influence and earning power a person has as a result of their sexual attractiveness, by independent performers to improve their tips and show attendance,” Tallon said. “In other words, how performers use sexuality to make a living on the road more lucrative.”

The Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management student took a closer look at the phenomenon by conducting one-on-one interviews with independent performers from three Renaissance Faires in the Northeast and issued short questionnaires designed to collect demographic information of performers.

“I believe that this is an important area to study because society, as a whole, equates the use of erotic capital with the female gender. It is my goal to uncover ways in which all genders use erotic capital, and use this data to create an open dialogue about the use of sexuality as a tool to increase earnings and influence,” Tallon said. n

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FOR THE

GREATER GOOD,

GLOBALLY

By Jennifer Cruden

When Kathy Drager and Nimisha Muttiah ’15g CSD met Danush in 2016, he was a high school student who wanted to go to college, but first needed to complete a standardized test with multiple-choice questions.

Unfortunately, Danush is unable to communicate through spoken word due to cerebral palsy. His muscle movement is also restricted so he is unable to clearly point to answers on the test.

Inside a simple room in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Drager and Muttiah helped Danush use, for the first time, a communication device which another Penn State engineering alumna developed.

“It was really amazing to see how excited the student got about using the equipment, but at the same time it reminded me how cognitively challenging using this type of equipment can be for students with complex communication needs,” Muttiah said. “I think this is just the beginning to many more collaborative projects between Penn State and Sri Lanka.”

The visit also allowed Drager to observe the innovative, low technology approaches that a country with fewer resources can develop to accomplish goals. For example, the center has designed and created needed items out of corrugated cardboard, an easily accessible material. By layering multiple Kathy Drager with Danush and his father.

Drager, professor of communication sciences and disorders, traveled to Sri Lanka with the equipment, called Voz Box. (Voz is Spanish for “voice.”)

The pair took the Voz Box to the Cerebral Palsy Lanka Foundation in Colombo, the capital city. At the center, they met with the founder, Gopi Kitnasamy, and his 16-year-old son, Danush, who is unable to communicate through spoken word due to cerebral palsy.

Drager and Muttiah helped Danush try the Voz Box, to show him, his teachers, and therapists the possibilities using advancing technology.

Project Vive

There, Drager met with Muttiah, who earned a doctoral degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2015 and is now a senior lecturer in the Department of Disability Studies at the University of Kelaniya. Drager, also associate dean for research and graduate education in the College of Health and Human Development, served as Muttiah’s academic adviser and research supervisor at Penn State.

The Voz Box is the result of Project Vive, founded by Mary Elizabeth McCulloch ’16 ENGR. Vive (pronounced “veevay”) is Spanish for “to live.”

Inspired by McCulloch’s time as an exchange student in Ecuador, where she volunteered at an orphanage for children and adults with disabilities, the company works to give a voice to the voiceless.

The device features a customized sensor placed on the body part a user has the most control. The sensor is connected to the box, which contains a custom-programmed board and Bluetooth capability. The box takes movement from the sensor and sends that to an earpiece. The earpiece asks the user what they want to say through various menu options that the user clicks through using the sensor. When they have selected their statement, it is broadcast through a speaker.

In the United States, the use of augmentative and alternative communication systems (AAC), which often include computers, tablets or mobile devices, is advancing. These systems help children better communicate with their families and peers.

Such technology is not widely available in Sri Lanka.

For Muttiah, helping Danush use AAC equipment for the first time reminded her that AAC tools are still new in Sri Lanka.

sheets and wrapping these layers in tape, they have created sturdy, lightweight equipment, ranging from chairs, to wheelchair lap trays, to homemade puzzles and toys.

“For me, being able to see somebody do something they couldn’t do before validates the work that I do,” Drager said. “It also reminded me that not only does the developed world have a lot to offer the developing world, but if we combine the tools we have access to with their ingenuity, that’s going to help solve problems.”

Muttiah returned to the center this summer, providing staff with necessary training for the equipment in hopes to allow Danush and other children to continue using the tool.

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To South America and back Since 2012, hospitality management professor Hubert “Bert” Van Hoof has spent a considerable amount of time in South America to mentor local faculty, who often have limited resources, on how to conceptualize and design studies, collect data, analyze findings, and write academic articles for peerreviewed journals.

What started out as a one-year sabbatical as a Prometeo Scholar at the University of Cuenca-Ecuador, where Van Hoof was tasked with developing faculty members’ research skills and initiating initiatives at the college and university level, led to outreach efforts at several other universities in Ecuador and Argentina.

Under the guidance of Van Hoof, faculty members and graduate students at Ecuadorian and Argentinian universities and Penn State worked together, developing and honing skills, and ultimately publishing various peer-reviewed journal articles, such as “Fluctuating Emotions: Relating emotional variability and job satisfaction” in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology and “The impact of other customers and gender on consumer behavior in the Ecuadorian restaurant industry” in The European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality, and Recreation.

“When you see the limited means available in other places as compared to what we have here at Penn State, this is

26 | Health and Human Development

something we as Penn Staters, and as the fortunate ones, should do more of,” Van Hoof said.

Historically, universities in Ecuador were teaching institutions.

However, several years ago, those universities faced challenges when a new national law was enacted requiring research to be a major activity for higher education institutions, according to Mateo Estrella, professor and former dean of College of Tourism and Hospitality Management at the University of Cuenca.

This new landscape motivated Estrella to start a program to raise his faculty’s awareness about research and enhance their research skills.

Estrella came to Penn State in 2010 as a Humphrey Scholar, which enables professionals from designated countries undergoing development or political transition to spend a year of enrichment in the United States, and worked with Van Hoof on several projects. Afterward, he invited Van Hoof to the University of Cuenca as a Prometeo Scholar to develop research initiatives and train faculty members to become researchers. The Prometeo program is sponsored by Ecuador’s national government and brings foreign scholars to Ecuador to mentor university faculty in developing their research skills.

“When you see the limited means available in other places as compared to what we have here at Penn State, this is something we as Penn Staters, and as the fortunate ones, should do more of.”

– Hubert “Bert” Van Hoof

“The intention was to increase our research program and start small research projects from scratch, accompanying faculty members step-by-step through the research process, ending with papers published in national and international journals,” Estrella said. “This was a very important initiative and the results were very relevant for the faculty.”

Through the collaboration, Estrella said his fellow faculty members have presented research at various national and international summits. The effort also resulted in more than twenty published articles in peer-reviewed journals and several faculty members finding motivation to continue conducting research with positive results.

Another result is a collaborative research group that consists of Penn State faculty and faculty at four universities in Ecuador: the University of Cuenca, the Catholic University Quito, the Central University Quito and the Polytechnic University of Guayaquil.

Van Hoof also began similar work at two universities in Argentina after a chance meeting in Ecuador with Patricia Ercolani, professor of geography and tourism at Southern National University in Bahia Blanca, Argentina.

Ercolani said the collaboration has been particularly beneficial to her graduate students because it helped them to be competitive nationally and internationally as they pursue careers in academic research.

“The presence of Dr. Van Hoof was essential,” Ercolani said.

“His experience in the process of high-impact publications, especially in the English language, made a difference for

students. He clarified the research and publication process for students and faculty at the Southern National University and the University of Mar del Plata, and we worked on publications in English together.”

Alei “Aileen” Fan ’16g HM, assistant professor at Purdue University, assisted Van Hoof with the international research collaboration while earning her doctoral degree in hospitality management at Penn State.

“The collaboration with faculty in South America helped broaden my research domain,” Fan said. “With the assistance of South American faculty, I have conducted several crosscultural studies comparing behavioral differences between North American and South American consumers. Such collaboration helps me to enhance my research experience and expertise in cross-cultural issues.”

For Shi “Tracy” Xu ’17g HM, the collaboration with faculty members in South America gave her a leading role in four published peer-reviewed journal articles, three conference presentations, and several other projects at various stages of completion.

Xu’s paper about employee emotional variability received the Best Paper Award at the Southern Management Association’s Conference, a subsidiary of the Academy of Management.

“I am grateful to have worked with collaborators in South America through Dr. Van Hoof ’s connections. It not only helps me in my academic career, but also benefits our collaborators in terms of their research agendas,” Xu said. n

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d e tt i m Com r

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s s e c c u S ' s t n e d u t S The college’s commitment to student success is as strong as it has ever been. Evidenced by increased investment in facilities, professional staff members, and the active Penn State network, resources dedicated to student success provide the strong support students need, giving them an edge in their aspiring careers.

As also featured on the cover, from left to right, students Stuti Thapa, Andrew Oneglia, Katie Smith, Manny Houndo, Brady Lucas, and Elizabeth Adams.

andPaul Human Development 28 | Health Photo/Cover: Hazi Photography

Even before students officially arrive on campus, a team of professional advisers provide guidance to students transitioning from high school or Commonwealth campuses to University Park.

Full-time, professional internship coordinators like Marc McCann, Rick Shurgala, Terry Cummins, and Amy Thul-Sigler (left to right), help students identify internship opportunities and navigate the process for obtaining the best match. Internship experiences remain an important component of the educational process and for students’ career preparation.

In order to graduate on time, students need seats in classes to fulfill program requirements. At times, some courses fill up quickly, which can create added pressure for students, or worse, delay graduation.

To help alleviate this issue, Health and Human Development faculty members regularly teach additional sections of popular and required courses, not only for the benefit of our students, but also for those across the University.

Fall 2017 | 29

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Campus can sometimes be a crowded place, so the college has purposely designed its spaces to be conducive to student life. Students also bring with them energy that can be invigorating to faculty and staff members. From study nooks to gathering spaces throughout our facilities, students can find places for individual study, group projects, and community building. A new student resource computer lab is dedicated for incoming students to schedule classes during orientation sessions and for current students to use throughout the semester.

30 | Health and Human Development

Industry representatives provide insights to students through a variety of networking events, classroom presentations, and alumni-student roundtables hosted throughout the year on campus and at professional conferences across the country. Infusing real world, industry knowledge is invaluable to students and it allows them to grow personal, professional, and networking skills that will help their careers.

Experiential education— or learning outside the classroom—through traditional study-abroad programs, field research, and embedded international experiences as part of a traditional course, all help students understand and prepare for the world to which they will be contributing.

Fall 2017 | 31

One of the great aspects of the Penn State experience is being able to lean on and learn from other members of the Penn State family.

The network of Penn Staters has been invaluable to students and alumni for generations. That’s why we asked alumni of the College of Health and Human Development to offer their best advice to recent graduates who are transitioning into their professional careers.

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Alumni, send us your best advice for Penn State students When reflecting on your college experience, likely there are things you know now that you wish you’d known then. And we want to put that knowledge to good use!

We need alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the College of Health and Human Development to write down their best advice for students.

The wisdom will be featured on our social media channels, including the new student-focused Twitter account, @HHDStudentInfo.

To participate: 1. Use a 4x6 index card (one side) 2. Legibly write down your best advice 3. Include your name and connection to HHD (graduation year and major, title with HHD, etc.)

4. Upload a clear photo of your index card to: hhd.psu.edu/college/index-card-submission

The index cards will serve as invaluable pieces of advice for more than 4,500 HHD students, and will likely reach students across Penn State.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: MAC HEEBNER Kinetic Revolutions

“When you sit across the treatment room from a patient and see his or her face light up...that’s what is meaningful.”

MacDonald “Mac” Heebner IV ’96 EXSCI, ’00g MBA watched as a young boy and avid New Orleans Saints football fan tried on his prosthesis leg for the first time, which featured a custom designed socket with a Saints logo. In that moment, the boy had come a long way after experiencing a partial leg amputation due to a tumor.

Together, Heebner and fellow Penn State alumnus Jeffrey Brandt ’95 PSYBS were part of a team that helped ensure this boy walked again.

“We were watching him run around in the parking lot on it; he loved it,” Heebner said. “There’s a lot of math, science, and engineering behind it, but when you sit across the treatment room from a patient and see his or her face light up and see the difference it can make, that’s what is meaningful.”

Heebner and Brandt, co-founders of Kinetic Revolutions, are problem solvers. Together they identified a problem within the prosthetics industry that negatively impacted patients and practitioners.

The problem the pair tackled was the pylon – or shin bone replacement – within a larger leg prosthesis for patients with a partial leg amputation below the knee. What they recognized is that practitioners had to personally cut each pylon for each patient based on the patient’s height. This presented several problems, one being that it took precious time from practitioners that should be spent with their patients.

Additionally, the modified pylon often needed frequent adjustment, for children each time they grew and for adults as the swelling from an operation decreased or from a fluctuation

34 | Health and Human Development

in height during different life stages. This all equated to additional doctor visits, which insurance does not always cover.

It is critical for the pylon to be a precise length based on a patient’s height, otherwise it can cause additional ailments for the patient, such as back pain. To address these issues, Heebner and Brandt developed an adjustable pylon that patients can easily alter at home.

“For a child, when they get an amputation they don’t stop growing. That means every six weeks you’re an eighth of an inch off. These little micro adjustments can really impact a patient’s happiness and life function,” Heebner said.

Heebner and Brandt were childhood friends in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and then roommates at Penn State. Their company has two offices. Heebner leads the Walnut Creek, California, location and Brandt is at the helm in Exton, Pennsylvania. Since 2010, their company has sold thousands of adjustable pylons, mostly in the United States.

Heebner credits several Penn State professors for helping prepare him for this endeavor, including George Thomas Tait ’61g, ’69g PH ED, retired associate professor of exercise and sport science; Bob Ricketts ’87 PH ED, retired senior lecturer in kinesiology; the late John Lucas ’70g HIST, professor emeritus of exercise and sport science; and Ron Smith, professor emeritus of kinesiology.

“The interactions with that group of professors as an undergraduate student helped me get to where I am today.

They influenced the way I think about things and how I break down complex problems and look for solutions,” Heebner said.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: TIMOTHY FARRELL For Timothy Farrell ’14 RPTM there is something special about seeing someone truly experience nature for the first time.

“It’s a lot of fun being able to facilitate what may be, for many of our visitors, their first interaction with a more natural environment,” Farrell said. “It’s always rewarding when you can see that you’ve sparked a new interest in a young student, a family, or even an older visitor, and I get to do that on an almost daily basis.”

As interpretive park ranger with the National Park Service at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, a unit of Gateway National Recreation Area just outside of New York City, Farrell interacts with visitors to help facilitate their understanding of the wildlife refuge through interpretive walks, group programs, and other public programming.

Farrell is also the volunteer coordinator for the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Program through which he manages regular volunteers who provide a variety of services to the wildlife refuge. He also organizes a variety of volunteer events throughout the year, working with groups like the American Littoral Society, The Nature Conservancy, Student Conservation Association, and local community groups.

This role has inspired Farrell to seek out ways to give back during his personal time. He also takes time to discover the plethora of recreational opportunities available in New York City.

“There are so many great parks in this city, and so many great opportunities to really pursue any interest you may have,” Farrell said.

<

Farrell was an undeclared sophomore pursuing a physics degree at Penn State when his career path took an unexpected turn. Enrolled in a wilderness literature course, Farrell and his classmates spent five days backpacking in the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area in West Virginia.

“It was during that trip that I decided to change my major to Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management and pursue a career that I would enjoy every day,” Farrell said.

At Jamaica Bay he’s living that passion.

Farrell credits the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management for preparing him for his current role, including his experience as an Outdoor School counselor with Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, which he draws on each time a school group visits the wildlife refuge.

“The department provides such a hands on, interactive learning experience that it really helps you to develop skills that you will actually use in your career,” he said. “My courses offered me opportunities to plan events; recruit, train, and manage real volunteers; lead backpacking trips; develop and implement educational programs for kids; and so much more.”

In particular, Farrell values the department’s requirement to complete a one-semester internship before graduation.

“I think the process of securing your own internship and finding somewhere that you want to spend four months is a great way to really figure out how to market your knowledge and skills as well as figure out which direction you want your career to go,” Farrell said.

While Farrell loves his job, becoming a park ranger was not always the plan.

National Park Service

“It’s always rewarding when you can see that you’ve sparked a new interest in a young student, a family, or even an older visitor, and I get to do that on an almost daily basis.”

Fall 2017 | 35

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: ARIELLA CAMER A

Photo Courtesy of Ariella Camera

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Ariella Camera (third from right) visits the Bong County Ebola Treatment Unit in Liberia in 2015 while working with USAID.

In 2015, Ariella Camera ’09 BBH visited an Ebola treatment unit while employed at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). While there she met a health worker who contracted and survived Ebola. That same worker continues to dedicate his life to delivering high quality health care to anyone.

This dedication is why Camera believes health workers are the backbone of the health system. Those same workers drive her passion.

“My daily motivation is the incredible health workers I have met all over the world who dedicate their lives to improving the lives of others even in the most challenging of circumstances,” Camera said.

Camera started her career in public service and health care at Rockland County’s Department of Health and Hudson River Healthcare, both in New York. Now, as a public health adviser for Human Resources for Health in the Global Health Bureau at USAID, Camera works to support health systems programing to improve health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.

Specifically, she looks at finding sustainable solutions to workforce health-related challenges.

“A more resilient and responsive health system results in a healthier population,” Camera said. “Health workers are at the frontline of disease detection and control. As the world becomes increasingly connected and diseases easily cross borders, we must ensure that health workers are able to address evolving population health needs and emerging epidemics in their countries and regions, while continuing to deliver essential healthcare services.”

Prior to her current role, Camera was a presidential management

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fellow at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services where she worked on implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. She also served as an AmeriCorps Community HealthCorps member with Hudson River Healthcare focusing on community health and outreach.

Camera credits the Department of Biobehavioral Health at Penn State for providing her with a comprehensive understanding that an interdisciplinary approach to health care is important to ensuring sustainability. She also credits her volunteer experiences at Penn State as instrumental to her career choices today.

“Penn State continues to remind me of the importance of community and public service,” she said.

As a member of Global Medical Brigades, Camera volunteered in rural communities in Honduras to help provide access to care and public health services. The experience influenced her commitment to working in developing countries and shaped the trajectory of her career towards international development.

She volunteered at Penn State’s University Health Services in Health Promotion and Wellness, where she worked to increase awareness and knowledge of health issues, such as sexual health, nutrition and fitness, wellness, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, and body image and eating disorders. She also provided health education programs to students.

Camera said working with students and getting hands-on health care experience helped prepare her for her career.

“Being able to have these opportunities to learn about the U.S. health care system, and other health care systems abroad, has been truly valuable to understanding how we can strengthen these systems to better serve their communities,” she said.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: EMILY PRESSLER In Central Harlem, New York City, Emily Pressler ’11, ’14g HDFS works to make sure children are supported through college, regardless of their family’s income.

Pressler is a senior research associate at Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ), a non-profit organization that aims to end generational poverty in Central Harlem.

“HCZ is really a community-based organization that understands in order to help end generational poverty, we need to support children and the adults wholly in their lives, which incorporates programming much further beyond the classroom,” Pressler said.

HCZ supports children and families through parent educational programs, charter schools, pre-kindergarten programming, after school programs, career preparation, a college support office, community-building services, farmers markets, health centers, social-work services, tax preparation assistance, and many more avenues. All services are free.

The work of HCZ is important for a number of reasons, Pressler said. For example, while high school graduation rates are on the rise in the U.S. and college enrollment rates continue to increase, large disparities still exist in college graduation rates based on race and ethnicity or socio-economic status.

“As a country we need to support every individual so they can fulfill their potential,” Pressler said. “As the costs of attending college have increased, the risks associated with starting a postsecondary education and not completing it have also grown.”

Photos courtesy of Harlem Children’s Zone (3)

Pressler said that while not everyone in the country chooses college, she believes in doing what she can to help those who want that opportunity.

“You never know what ideas are sitting inside of that one student who may be able to help solve one of our greatest challenges,” she said.

Becoming a parent has further solidified her professional motivations.

“I have always been interested in supporting the well-being of lowincome children and their families, but Emily Pressler becoming a parent has really heightened that professional interest,” Pressler said. “As a parent, you can relate with a bigger group of people because you understand that their lives are intertwined with someone else’s success and wellbeing. I am confronted on a more intimate level with the reality that parenting is incredibly challenging.”

Pressler said her degree in Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State opened her eyes to how children can be supported in and out of the classroom, a main goal in her work.

Research opportunities she had while a student, as well as advice from her adviser, motivated her to take classes and interact with experts in multiple fields, she said.

“While in a class or working on a project with someone who is trained in a different program, you can begin to learn how someone might view the same problem through an entirely different lens,” she said.

Pressler’s training also allowed her to explore developmental processes at both micro and macro levels, exposing her to a variety of ideas, which she now incorporates into her work.

“My day-to-day work at HCZ really spans the range of the human lifespan, and I continue to learn how the context in which individuals develop influences them,” Pressler said. “I love it.”

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Alumni embark on a journey to see

‘The Wolves of Yellowstone’

By Rob Peeler

Photo Credit: Vic Gladstone Photography

For 100 years, people from all over the world have enjoyed the U.S. National Park System. Visitors of all ages have hiked Yosemite Valley, swam in the Merced River, and bird-watched at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

But few have had the chance to experience these parks with those who conduct research within the parks.

Earlier this year, two groups of Penn State alumni embarked on a journey to explore “The Wolves of Yellowstone” with faculty members in the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management (RPTM).

Peter Newman, professor and head of RPTM, and Derrick Taff, assistant professor of RPTM, each led groups that explored Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks in January and February, respectively.

Along the way, both Newman—who was once a park ranger at Yosemite—and Taff discussed their research on visitor impact on the parks’ environments.

“Traveling with alumni to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in winter was an incredible experience,” Newman said. “U.S. National Parks just celebrated its 100th year as an essential part of our nation’s landscape. Our alumni were able to meet with other Penn Staters who currently work in the National Parks and see first-hand how Penn State students, faculty, and alumni make a difference through research and by creating the next generation of leaders and scientists.”

These trips—organized by the Penn State Alumni Association and facilitated by various tour operators—are designed to show alumni how Penn State research can impact the world. Participants have a front row seat not only to experience trips with small groups of fellow Penn Staters, but also to witness first-hand the impact of Penn State research.

“Peter imparted a wealth of information about National Park usage, visitor impact on the parks’ environments, and how climate change is impacting animal habitat and visitor usage,” said Vic S. Gladstone ’68, ’69g SPA. “Although this was our first Penn State Alumni Association tour, we will be seriously looking into other such unique travel experiences.”

Alumni trip to Kilimanjaro planned for Summer ’18 Next summer, RPTM faculty members will lead a Penn State Alumni Association two-week wildlife and climbing expedition to Tanzania. The first four days will be spent with student researchers participating in the Parks and People study abroad program and include a safari in Mikumi National Park.

The remaining ten days alumni will be trekking on Africa’s tallest mountain— Kilimanjaro. Visit alumni.psu.edu/TanzaniaAdventure.

Fitness or Fiction?

We are continually bombarded with information on how to get in shape or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Some days, it seems like every scroll up, scroll down, or swipe is infused with a tip— or secret—meant to make us healthier.

To clear up some of the clutter, experts in the College of Health and Human Development weigh in from a scientific view on some the most talked about—and sometimes debated—fitness trends.

Exercise trends HIIT. TRX. Curves. CrossFit. Bootcamp. Which of these workout trends are best?

More important than any one platform or franchise, researchers say it is essential for a workout routine to include all five components of fitness: • cardiovascular endurance • muscular strength • muscular endurance • flexibility • body composition Covering each of the above components in any workout program can help ensure optimal fitness levels.

Doing the same type of exercise day after day can contribute to exercise-related injuries and boredom, leading to reduced commitment to activity. This is where a variety of activities seen across many of the latest trends can also be beneficial, as the plans often include mixing up exercises as part of their approach.

Wearables

Tracking apps

Research has shown that self-regulation and self-monitoring are important strategies for people looking to become more active or maintain their activity.

Registered dietitians and personal trainers have used food and exercise logs for decades to help clients become more accountable for their behaviors with the goal of increasing individual health. Now, many people track their eating and exercise habits through the use of phone-based apps, such as MyFitnessPal or MyPlate.

Wearable technology devices—such as Fitbit, Apple Watch, or Samsung Gear—feature tools to help people monitor their activity.

Scientifically, fitness outcomes for people who utilize a wearable device are no different in helping them succeed at their goals than those who use a simple pedometer or exercise log book. In order for any of these methods to work, people have to want to use the information it provides and commit to doing an activity.

At the same time, wearable devices can make logging and committing to activity easier. Not only can the devices track users’ activities automatically (vs. that of a handwritten log), they can also notify users of inactivity and offer encouragement through feedback or prompts.

The best time of day to work out According to researchers, the best time of day to be active is when it can be regularly fit into a person’s schedule and made into a routine.

Some benefits of exercising before work include better chances of making it a routine, an increase in energy during the day, and better sleep at night. Some downsides of early workouts include not getting enough sleep or not having as much energy to exercise.

Evening exercise may allow for higher intensity workouts or longer duration, in addition to helping relieve stress from a workday. However, evening workouts can also impact sleep and be influenced by interruptions, such as work meetings, family activities, or other commitments.

But do these apps actually work?

Some studies have shown benefits of using these apps, such as healthier eating habits and more physical activity, when used correctly. If people are honest and accurate while using such apps, keeping a log can be a great way to monitor behaviors, increase self-regulation and awareness, and improve overall health.

Meditation and mindfulness Our researchers have talked about different options for exercising the body. But when it comes to overall health and wellness, exercising the mind may be just as important as the body, and researchers say it can be added into any schedule.

One way to meditate is to pay attention to your breath and where it is in your body. Also called “enhanced awareness,” this type of meditation involves being conscious of behavior, feelings, and surroundings at any given moment.

Meditation and mindfulness, as part of a healthy lifestyle, can reduce feelings of stress and depression, and can improve immune function.

They can also play a role in enhancing a physical activity practice.

Those new to meditation can use guided tracks available through a variety of apps and websites.

Standing desks Sedentary lifestyles with too much time spent sitting increases the risk for many chronic health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. A standing desk decreases the amount of time one spends sitting. It may also help improve strength and endurance in one’s core and legs.

Currently, however, the data on standing desks does not indicate that this practice alone is enough to improve overall health.

Studies have indicated the average number of calories burned per hour while standing was only slightly higher than while sitting—88 versus 80.

However, that doesn’t mean standing desks aren’t beneficial. If standing at a desk allows a person to move more throughout the day or add in additional exercises while standing, this would increase overall activity. Increased overall activity, even in small ways, should be considered beneficial.

Drinking 8 glasses of water per day Most people are familiar with the advice of drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. For some people this might be the exact right amount.

However, there are numerous factors that impact how much water people should consume. Body size, physical activity level, and heat/humidity levels all affect how much water someone should drink.

A good rule of thumb, in general, is that individuals should aim to drink half of their body weight in ounces of water each day. For example, someone who weighs 150 pounds should drink 75 ounces of water per day.

Department of Kinesiology faculty members Melissa Bopp, associate professor; Megan Schuchert, instructor; and Scherezade Mama, assistant professor; all contributed to this article. Always consult your physician before beginning any new fitness or health routine.

Office of the Dean College of Health and Human Development The Pennsylvania State University 325 Health and Human Development Building University Park, PA 16802-6501

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Articles may be reprinted with permission; for more information please contact the Office of College Relations at 814-865-3831 or healthhd@psu.edu. For general correspondence, please write to the Office of College Relations, College of Health and Human Development, The Pennsylvania State University, 325 Health and Human Development Building, University Park, PA 16802-6501; e-mail healthhd@psu.edu; or visit www.hhd.psu.edu. This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce. (HHD18013) U.Ed. HHD 18-013

Become a Mentor

Fall 2017 Events

Allow your professional skills and experience to impact Penn Staters.

Apply to be an alumni mentor. Application period: October 2017

hhd.psu.edu/alumni/mentoring-program

Oct. 9 Exercise is Medicine Dean’s Walk Biobehavioral Health Building

Oct. 13–15 Parents & Families Weekend College Open House, Oct. 14 Oct. 27–28 HHD Alumni Society Board Meeting Henderson Building

Nov. 1 Schmitt Russell Lecture R. Scott Kretchmar Henderson Building Dec. 16 Commencement

Dean Ann C. Crouter Associate Deans Dennis Shea, Undergraduate Studies and Outreach; Kathryn Drager, Research and Graduate Education Assistant Deans Douglas Ford, Undergraduate Education; Joyce Hopson-King, Diversity and Inclusion; Abigail Diehl, Alumni and College Relations and Leadership Initiatives Development Kathleen Rider, Director Magazine Production Designer: Dennis Maney; Writers/Editors: Jennifer Cruden, Marjorie Miller, Rob Peeler; Director: Scott Sheaffer

hhd.psu.edu