Behrend Magazine Winter 2023

Midnight BINGO

Beloved Behrend tradition still going strong after twenty years. Page 16.

From

Celebrating Our Past, Shaping Our Future

In December 1948, the president of the newly formed student council of the Behrend Center, as our college was first known, laid a wreath at the Behrend family’s chapel in Erie’s Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery.

He was fulfilling a promise to Mary Behrend, who was no longer living in Erie, to memorialize her departed family members at the holidays. Through the years, Penn State Behrend has kept that promise with the “Hanging of the Greens,” our college’s oldest tradition.

Both the time of year and the candle-lit chapel setting lend to reflection on the past. But “Hanging of the Greens” is also about honoring the vision of Mary Behrend—the notions she had of a higher purpose for her beloved Glenhill Farm.

If Mary were here today she would hardly recognize her country property—more than 50 academic and administrative buildings, residence halls, dining facilities, athletic fields, and an innovation park, all of which create a home for more than 4,000 students.

We’d like to think she would be moved by the beautiful Smith Chapel and Carillon. Delighted to see the old farmhouse on Station Road as the newly restored Federal House. Amazed at the new Erie Hall fitness and recreation facility situated along her former driveway.

For all the ways Penn State Behrend has grown, though, and all the ways we’ve changed, we have stayed close to our roots, to values forged by our founding: ingenuity, perseverance, and unity of purpose. Through the years, we’ve never lost sight of why we’re here—to create knowledge and understanding, to foster creativity and innovation, and to do these things with integrity in our actions, respect for one another, and a commitment always to excellence.

June 2023 will mark the beginning of our 75th year, and a planning committee is hard at work on ways to commemorate the milestone. We’ll do so with a dual theme of “Celebrating the Past, Shaping the Future.” That’s in keeping with Mary Behrend’s vision in gifting her Glenhill Farm to Penn State—at the time one of the largest gifts ever made to the University.

As Mary said in her remarks at the Behrend Center dedication on October 30, 1948, “It is pleasant to feel that over the years to come, many young men and women will go forth from this lovely spot well equipped with the education they have received.”

And so, as we enter our 75th year, our work—framed by both a strong sense of our history and a keen focus on our future—continues.

Chancellor Ralph Ford rmf7@psu.edu

Photos: Rob Frank ‘06, Matt Kleck.

Change of address/Unsubscribe: Development and Alumni Relations at 814-898-6089 or amm74@psu.edu.

Correspondence: Behrend Magazine, 207 Glenhill Farmhouse, 4701 College Drive, Erie PA 16563-1902. Phone 814-898-6419.

Copyright ©2022 Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. U.Ed. EBO 23-237.

Volume 39, No. 2 Penn State Behrend Magazine is published twice a year and provided free to alumni and friends of Penn State Behrend by the Office of Strategic Communications.

Executive Editor: William Gonda wvg2@psu.edu. Editor: Heather Cass hjc13@psu.edu. Design: Martha Campbell mac30@psu.edu. Contributors: Robb Frederick ‘92 rgf10@psu.edu.

Anderson Presented With Behrend Medallion

NANCY ANDERSON, VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

FOR GE, was recently presented with the Behrend Medallion, the college’s highest award, given to individuals who have brought honor to their profession, their community, and themselves.

Anderson leads GE’s Digital Technology organization and previously served as CIO of GE Power and GE Transportation. She joined GE’s Computer Management Program in 1984, after graduating from Alfred University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She subsequently earned an MBA from Penn State Behrend in 1997.

Anderson served as GE’s Penn State executive for more than five years. During that period, the company sponsored more than $11 million in projects with the University. In 2013, she was named an Alumni Fellow, the most prestigious honor given by the Penn State Alumni Association. In 2017, Anderson created a Trustee Matching Scholarship for students in financial need.

“Nancy Anderson exemplifies our vision of what a Behrend graduate can be,” Chancellor Ralph Ford said. “She is a first-generation college student who has gone on to succeed in a highly competitive, global field. She serves as a role model for women in technology, and she demonstrates genuine care and concern for others on both personal and professional levels.”

Speaker Series Creates Conversation

Penn State Behrend’s 2022-23 Speaker Series launched in October with a program featuring former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, who discussed the war in Ukraine and the best path to peace in eastern Europe. November’s program featured Martina Edwards, the first Black woman to hold a seat at the New York Stock Exchange, who addressed a widening racial wealth gap.

Spring 2023 speakers will be Brendan Hunt, actor and co-creator of Ted Lasso, who will visit the college on Monday, February 13, and Wanjiku “Wawa” Gatheru, environmental justice advocate and founder of Black Girl Environmentalist, on Thursday, March 23. The public is invited to attend. For more information, visit behrend.psu.edu/speakerseries.

Young Leaders Featured

Two Penn State Behrend faculty members—Dr. Jeremiah Keyes, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, and Dr. Lena Surzhko Harned, associate teaching professor of political science—were featured in the annual 40 Under 40 Issue of the Erie Reader, an alternative monthly newspa per in Erie. Also highlighted were alumnus Alex Sphon ’11 and current Behrend Marketing student Liam O’Brien. The 40 Under 40 issue recognizes young innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders shaping the future of Erie. Read about the entire class of 2022 at eriereader.com.

Mid-Career Switcheroo?

A college degree prepares you not just for your chosen discipline, but for a lot of other paths you might take as well. Did you make a major career change after the age of 40? Behrend Magazine would love to hear about it. What were you doing? Why did you decide to change lanes? How did you make the switch, and how is it going now? Email hjc13@psu.edu. Be sure to include your grad year and degree. Photos are encouraged!

IN MEMORIAM

JOSEPH PRISCHAK, a longtime supporter of Penn State Behrend and its students, died Saturday, May 21. He was 91.

Prischak grew up on a Crawford County dairy farm and launched his own toolmaking business, Triangle Tool Co., while in his 20s. He founded Plastek in Erie in 1971, serving as president and chief executive until his retirement in 2002. Today, the Plastek Group is a worldwide manufacturer with more than 2,500 employees.

In the 1980s, Prischak was instrumental in creating the Plastics Engineering Technology Program at Behrend. The program, which has produced more than 1,200 graduates, is one of just four nationwide to be accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET.

With separate $1 million gifts, Prischak and his wife, Isabel, created two scholarships for Penn State Behrend students. The Prischak Building on campus—originally home to the plastics program and now part of Behrend’s Science Complex—stands as evidence of Prischak’s commitment to the college and its students.

MARY BETH MCCARTHY, former director of the Academic and Career Planning Center, died July 24 at 67.

McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native, joined Behrend in 1980 as the financial aid and placement coordinator after earning an undergraduate degree in psychology and a master’s degree in counseling. What she expected to be a “blip on her radar” turned into a thirty-four-year career. She was one of the first female leaders at the college, blazing the trail for many more to follow.

McCarthy had a warm presence and a genuine interest in other people. As a career counselor, she helped thousands of students take the next step in their professional lives. She also volunteered her time at schools, educating young people on purposeful gardening and environmental stewardship.

Dr. Jeremiah Keyes

Dr. Lena Surzhko Harned

Meet the New Director of the School of H&SS

Dr. Melanie D. Hetzel-Riggin, a clinical psychologist with more than twenty years of experience in teaching, research, and community outreach, is the new director of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Hetzel-Riggin, professor of psychology, has taught in the school since 2013 and had served as associate director since 2021. She previously served as chair of the psychology program and coordinator of the college’s Master of Arts in Applied Clinical Psychology.

Why did you want to be director of the school?

My professional career has been about helping people. As a teacher, I have helped my students learn and grow into themselves. As a psychologist, I have helped clients develop skills to improve their lives. As a community mental health researcher, I have helped build community coalitions to address many of society’s problems. In becoming director, I am now able to help our school’s students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders in new, more expansive ways.

What are the initiatives you want to focus on first?

One of my primary initiatives is to work with faculty, staff, and other key stakeholders to tell our school’s story—to students and parents, new faculty and staff, donors and friends, and community partners.

I also want to promote themes common across the disciplines in our school. Most of our majors emphasize the importance of critical thinking, communication skills, and the development of global perspectives. I want to work with our faculty, students, and other stakeholders to create curricula and student engagement experiences that promote these themes.

Why are the humanities, social sciences, and arts important today?

We are living in challenging times—dealing with the effects of a worldwide pandemic, climate change, social unrest, and violence in many forms. Studying the humanities, social sciences, and arts gives us insight into the factors that have led us to where we are now and how we can address the challenges we face—how we can use the shared experiences of the past to create a better future for all of us.

Vital Statistics

Hometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin.

Family: Ella, 14, and Gabe, 11.

Pets: A clowder of cats, guinea pigs, a turtle, and a gecko.

First Job: McDonald’s. I have also been a dental assistant, mail sorter, humane society staff member, and history reenactor.

Hobbies: I’m an avid reader, and I love going to the beach and zoos.

Guilty Pleasure: Rita’s Italian Ice gelatos.

Advice for incoming students: College is a time for explora tion, so take classes that sound interesting to you. Join a club, develop a radio show, write for the newspaper. Volunteer.

BLACK SCHOOL OF BUSINESS A SMART INVESTMENT

A report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and Workforce earlier this year ranked the Black School of Business among the top 10 percent of business programs in the nation for value, or financial return, based on net earnings and their level of student debt.

GOODBYE TO ERNIE

Ernie, a beloved “staff member” in the college’s Personal Counseling Office, died this summer. Ernie, an Affenpinscher, was a certified therapy dog that traveled to work every day with his “mom,” Sue Daley, director of Personal Counseling. He brought comfort and smiles to many students, staff, and faculty during his tenure. It seemed fitting to have a dog on campus, as the Behrends themselves were dog lovers and breeders. While small in stature, Ernie had a big presence. He will be missed.

Creative Approach to Learning Content Benefits Students

Leave it to Dr. Arpan Yagnik, associate professor of advertis ing and an expert on creativity, to think outside the box when it comes to providing more affordable learning materials for his students.

Yagnik was recently accepted into Penn State’s Affordable Course Transformation program for faculty who want to transform a course to replace the use of higher-cost published material with pedagogically sound yet affordable content available for under $50.

“It’s a great program aimed at utilizing technology and open resources for enhanced learning,” Yagnik said. “My end goal is to author an open textbook with high-impact, learning-rich assignments that supplement class discussions and readings.

“Creativity is a skill, and skills are better learned by doing than by reading,” he said. “I want to author a book with a lot of exercises and activities to help students hone their creativity.”

Dr. Arpan Yagnik

Gorge Trail Named Great Greenway

Fourmile Creek Trail at Wintergreen Gorge was recently named one of the 2022 Great Places in Pennsylvania in the category of Great Greenways/Trails by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association, a professional organization that represents the field of urban planning. The designation is a recognition of all those who work to maintain and improve one of Behrend’s most beautiful spaces. The second phase of trail improvements are scheduled to begin soon!

HIGH TUNNEL

A seed grant from the Sustainable Food Systems program helped fund the construction of a new high tunnel in the field behind the Otto Behrend Science Building. A high tunnel is a soft-walled greenhouse that extends the growing season by protecting crops from cold temperatures, wind, and sun stress. Some of the food that may be grown in the structure—including habanero peppers—could be used in Dobbins Dining Hall.

Women’s Engagement Council Hosts First Event

PENN

STATE BEHREND’S RICH HISTORY OF INFLUENTIAL

WOMEN BEGAN WITH MARY BEHREND, who in 1948, donated her Glenhill home to the University in memory of her husband, Ernst, founder of Hammermill Paper Company. The first Behrend student was a woman—Dorothy Holmstrom, an engineering major, who was at the front of the line to enroll in the initial class of 146 students.

Recognizing that legacy and the growing importance of engaging women in leadership roles, Penn State Behrend formed the Women’s Engagement Council (WEC) in 2020.

In August, the organization held its first public event, the Run for Women 5K run/walk, drawing nearly 200 participants who completed the 3.1-mile course in Behrend’s Knowledge Park.

Among the highlights: Berkey Creamery ice cream at the finish line, courtesy of the Athletics Department, and Nittany

Lion-shaped awards that were designed and 3-D printed by students in the college’s James R. Meehl Innovation Commons. The Black School of Business provided funds to buy much of the race equipment that can now be used year to year.

The top female and male finishers were both Behrend students: Lindsey Hartle, 18 (21:41), and Luke Dillen, 22 (20:46).

WEC’s future plans include a mentoring program, an awards program/luncheon, and a woman-focused speaker series designed to engage women at Penn State Behrend and in the greater Erie community.

The board recently began accepting applications for free membership in the council. Learn more at behrend.psu.edu/wec. Follow WEC at facebook.com/PSBwomenscouncil and instagram. com/behrendwomenscouncil.

5K run/walk draws nearly 200 participants.

Sign of the Times

Signs, signs, everywhere are signs. But what if you can’t read them? What if you’re not a native English speaker and you work in an industrial setting, for example, where signage communicates critical safety reminders? Now, imagine what it would feel like to see a sign in your language. It would likely make you feel more included, valued, and welcome in your workplace.

People in Erie who speak languages other than English may be experiencing the linguistic equivalent of seeing a friendly face in a crowd as the use of multilingual signs increases in the community, thanks in part to advocacy efforts by a Penn State Behrend faculty member.

Dr. Ashley Yochim, associate teaching professor of English, has partnered with one Erie business, Port Erie Plastics, to make communications easier for its diverse workforce by incorporating multilanguage signage at its facility. The company was inspired by Yochim’s research on the topic.

For her doctoral dissertation, Yochim analyzed the linguistic environment of Erie and learned that having public signage only in English has been a common obstacle for many immigrants and refugees transitioning to life in Erie. That landscape is evolving.

“The linguistic landscape of Erie has changed in recent years because Erie is a refugee resettlement location,” Yochim said. “The changes I have seen in the signage over the years is an interesting dynamic of that increasing population.”

Yochim spoke about her research work at Erie’s Gannon

From left, Dr. Ashley Yochim, associate teaching professor of English; Heather Evans ’98, human resources manager at Port Erie Plastics; and Behrend student Ming Xu, a Psychology major, discuss the multilingual signs that students helped translate for the Harborcreek business.

Students, faculty member help company create multilingual signage for its diverse workforce.

University last February, which inspired students there to create multilingual signs for their campus. An employee at Port Erie Plastics in Harborcreek read a news article about the project and contacted Yochim.

“There was a need for us to better communicate with our team,” said Heather Evans, human resources manager at Port Erie Plastics. “We have a diverse organization, and we are always looking for ways to engage our team and create a strong sense of belonging.”

Excited to make an impact at a local company, Yochim assembled a student task force to work on the project.

“It was rewarding to realize that my research could effect change in the community,” Yochim said. “I welcomed the opportunity to have our Behrend students help me with it. I think sometimes our international students and those who speak other languages fluently feel their multilingualism is not appreciated in our society.”

Port Erie requested languages for directional and safety signs, and students added some of their own ideas for potential signs for the company. Behrend students translated into Arabic, traditional and simplified Chinese, Nepali, Swahili, and Vietnam ese. Gannon students assisted with Spanish.

Grace Mumo, a second-year Biology major, moved to the United States three years ago from Kenya and speaks English as a second language. She translated signs into Swahili, a language she learned as a child.

“I think that this is a very noble act of Port Erie Plastics, and I was humbled to be involved,” Mumo said. “Having multiple

languages on signs shows that businesses appreciate the diversity we have in the world,” she said.

Port Erie Plastics sees its diverse work-force as an asset. “We believe that our diverse workforce makes us stronger, and it also makes this a fun place to work,” Evans said.

Kunyu Pan, a Behrend sophomore in Science, translated signs into traditional and simplified Chinese and said the work can help non-native English speakers obtain their goals and improve the work environment.

“I think it is important to make sure everyone can understand all signage in a factory because misunderstanding can lead to serious injuries,” Pan said.

In fact, the first set of signs Port Erie put in place features a dai ly safety checklist in nine languages, posted at all workstations, offering information on communicating with a supervisor, the location of fire extinguishers and emergency exits, and more.

“It is a great way to start off the workday with the right mindset and safety reminders,” Evans said.

In addition to helping Port Erie employees, Yochim said the project also benefitted the Behrend student volunteers.

“Our multilingual students bring with them such a great skill set, and this project with Port Erie Plastics was a wonderful way to demonstrate how valuable multilingualism is, and how it benefits the community,” Yochim said.

Port Erie plans to add more signs in the future after collecting feedback from its team on where the signs can be most benefi cial, Evans said.

Behrend sophomores Aarati Poudel and Aruna Timsina helped translate the Nepali signage for Port Erie Plastics.

Mirror Project Aims to Improve Urban Education

There is a teacher shortage in U.S. schools, especially in urban schools. It’s a multi-faceted problem that Penn State Behrend is working to mitigate locally through The Mirror Project, an initiative that would address the shortage from several angles, including reducing financial barriers to college for would-be teachers, preparing education majors to teach in urban schools, and increasing minority teachers so that the population of teachers more closely mirrors the population of students.

“Teachers who look like their students serve as role models and mentors, help students learn more and dream higher, and reduce dropout rates,” said Dr. Eric Corty, director emeritus of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and professor emeritus of psychology, who spearheaded The Mirror Project.

In Erie’s Public Schools, where 34 percent of the students are black, only 3 percent of the teachers are black. There is only a 10 percent chance that any child will have a non-white teacher during his or her elementary years in Erie’s public school system.

In addition to growing the number of minority teachers, The Mirror Project aims to increase the number of urban students who are prepared to attend college by making changes to the Elementary and Early Childhood Education (EECE) program offered at Behrend.

Among the changes is a proposed Urban Education certificate that would provide EECE and Secondary Education in Mathematics majors with the oppor tunity to deepen their knowledge of the cultural, historical, political, and socio logical foundations of urban education and focus on best practices to support learners in an urban environment.

“Course options will explore topics such as utilizing trauma-informed

teaching practices, serving culturally and linguistically diverse learners, and addressing sociological factors that influence urban education in the class room,” said Dr. Michelle Cook, assistant professor of special education. “Though the certificate is still in development, we hope to offer it to our students at Behrend soon.”

Over time, as these students assume teaching positions in urban schools, the long-term outcomes of their students can be expected to improve,” Cook said.

“This change will not take place quickly,” Corty said, “but, like compound interest, it will be real, meaningful, and

lasting. Erie and Penn State Behrend can stand together as an example of how a town-gown partnership can make a real difference in the futures of both.”

The Mirror Project seeks to cover the full cost of tuition at Behrend for an Erie Public Schools student who will be an EECE major. Corty has offered to match contributions up to $250,000 to The Mirror Project endowment. If you wish to contribute, contact Kevin Moore, director of development and alumni relations, at 814-898-6159 or kem7@psu.edu. For more information on the project, contact Dr. Michelle Cook at 814-898-6243 or mbc5376@psu.edu.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS AND DESIGNATIONS

are

an often-overlooked expense for business majors. Students can spend hundreds of dollars, or more, on exam fees and prepara tion materials pursuing certifications and designations that are important in their chosen fields.

Students in the Black School of Business can get help with these out-of-pocket expenses by applying for up to $1,000 in reimbursement for study guides, training materials, and exam fees.

Joseph Waeltz, a student in Behrend’s Finance program offered through World Campus, was pleased to qualify for funding through the Professional Designation Fund.

“In my case, it covered nearly $700 in expenses and exam preparation for my CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Level 1 exam, which I took in August,” Waeltz said. “The application process was easy, and I was beyond excited to learn that I would be reimbursed for those costs. They really add up.”

In the past five years, the Black School of Business has awarded more than $75,000 to nearly 125 students.

“The expenses must be for items outside of classroom work and students initially pay for them out of pocket and apply to be reimbursed,” said Dr. Ozgun Demirag, professor of operations and supply chain management and a member of the committee that evaluates all award applications. “The average amount we have awarded over the past five years is $15,000 annually.”

Peter Lamis, a senior dual majoring in Finance and Manage ment Information Systems, used the funding to pay for his Scrum Master Certification.

“I plan on applying for my Data Analytics certification after I finish my data warehousing and business intelligence classes,” Lamis said.

With the help of the awards, students have been able to com plete certifications such as Certified Financial Planner, Certified Public Accountant, and Project Management Professional at little to no cost, something any business major can recognize as a smart financial move.

Jessica Snider, who earned an Accounting degree in 2021 and a Master of Professional Accounting degree in May, received $1,000, which covered the exam fee for each of the four Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam sessions as well as the application fee. Her goal is to become a Certified Management Accountant.

“The Black School of Business is always looking for opportu nities to help students achieve their professional goals, and this is just one of the ways the school contributes to our success,” Snider said. “I am extremely thankful for the fund. It relieved me of the financial burden it takes to become a CPA.”

EV Rider

Alumnus helps engineer LiveWire line of electric motorcycles for Harley-Davidson.

Shortly after graduating from Penn State Behrend in 2006 with a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Isaac Aunkst was working as an engineering contractor for GE Transportation Systems when he found an area of work that lit him up (pun intended)—electric propulsion and motors/ power-train technology.

After GE, Aunkst worked at General Dynamics Electric Boat, helping to develop the next generation of propulsion drives in submarines for the U.S. Navy. His work often took him to Milwaukee, the hometown of Harley-Davidson (H-D), maker of the iconic motorcycle. So, H-D was already on Aunkst’s radar when he learned the company had released its first electric vehicle (EV) prototype—Project LiveWire—and was looking for engineers to work in the EV technology space. He was all in.

“I learned early on that I have to work on things that interest me—big things, fun things, like trains, submarines, and motor cycles,” Aunkst said.

H-D announced Project Livewire in June of 2014, and Aunkst signed on as a senior electrical design engineer four months lat er. At first, he was responsible for design and delivery of LiveWire’s motor and con troller. After the company started produc tion of the motorcycle in 2019, his work ex panded to include the complete vehicle.

“Today, I’m responsible for the engineer ing and technical support for the manufac turing and service of LiveWire vehicles that are customer-owned,” he said. “I use this ‘current product’ role to gather feedback, which is then routed to designers working on future EV products.”

LiveWire, which began as a division of H-D, is now becoming its own entity. In 2021, the company announced the launch of the LiveWire all-electric motorcycle brand to be focused initially on the urban market, cementing the obvious: LiveWire is not your father’s Harley.

ON STRADDLING FINE LINES

Harley-Davidson has a 120-year history of success and brand strength that makes it an American icon. Known for its powerful gleaming chrome machines with rumbling V-twin engines that rattle windows, it’s almost unimaginable that H-D would consider an electric model.

And, yet, who better to take the lead and define cool in the EV sector than the maker of one of the most desirable motorcy cle brands in the world?

LiveWire motorcycles are sleek, stylish, futuristic-sounding street bikes made to zip through cities. They don’t look or sound anything like a Harley, but they are eye- and ear-catch ing, nonetheless. Visit LiveWire.com to see—and hear—for yourself. Be sure to turn up the volume.

FROM PAPER TO PRODUCT SUPPORT

One of the things Aunkst enjoys most about his work at Live Wire is being involved in the “full product lifecycle experience.”

“I have taken a motorcycle design all the way from a ‘paper study,’ where every part and function is just a concept, through writing the requirements, setting the specifications, prototyping, testing, tuning, production, and, finally, providing product support for customers,” he said. “This full experience keeps me engaged and excited about the work I do every day.”

Isaac Aunkst ’06

LiveWire debuted its second model—the S2 Del Mar—this year. The initial batch of 100 custombuilt “launch edition” machines sold out in eighteen minutes. There’s a waiting list for regular production models, which are expected to arrive in the spring of 2023. They are being manufactured in H-D’s Pennsylvania plant.

Aunkst plans to have one in his garage soon.

“Harley-Davidson and LiveWire are very supportive and encouraging of getting employees, especially engineers, on their motorcycles,” he said. “We ride the same bikes that we design and manufacture. I’ve owned three H-D bikes over the last seven years, and a new LiveWire is in my near future.”

ISAAC AUNKST ’06

Photo: Front Room Studios

The Power of Philanthropy

Behrend’s record-setting campaign closes as the impact of giving grows.

Penn State Behrend’s six-year fundraising effort, part of the University-wide campaign “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” conclud ed in late June with unprecedented results.

In all, more than 4,500 individual and organi zational donors made more than 17,000 gifts to bring Behrend’s campaign total to more than $75 million—well above the original campaign goal of $52 million. Among the 44 units of Penn State that fundraise, Behrend came in among the top 10.

“Nearly 75 years ago, the generosity that helped define the Behrend student experience began with one individual, Mary Behrend,” said Chancellor Ralph Ford at the college’s campaign close celebration earlier this year. “That spirit of giving continues today with the collective support of friends and partners, contributing the resources that make it possible for us to deliver excellence in education, research, and outreach.”

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDE:

• More than 50 new scholarships, advancing a key imperative of the campaign—to open doors to a Penn State education to even more students.

• Investments in our James R. Meehl Innovation Commons and Knowledge Park with a two-fold impact of advancing economic development and growing Open Lab learning experiences for Behrend students.

• Funding of a new home for Susan Hirt Hagen CORE at Federal House, expanding the college’s commitment to meeting community needs.

• Support for our regional Women’s Health Initiative being under taken in partnership with Magee-Womens Research Institute.

To all those who contributed to the campaign, Penn State Behrend owes a debt of gratitude for making a difference in the life of the college and the success of our students.

Students revealed Penn State Behrend’s final fundraising total at the college’s Glenhill Appreciation Dinner in May, marking the conclusion of the six-year campaign.

Greg Yahn ’85, ’99, right, president of Advanced Finishing USA in Fairview, Pa., and a member of Behrend’s Council of Fellows board of directors, was recognized for his service as chair of Behrend’s campaign. Greg and his wife, Heather ’00, pictured here with Chancellor Ralph Ford, were also inducted into the Glenhill Society, which recognizes friends who have a lifetime giving record of $50,000 or more to Behrend.

Student members of Behrend’s Studio Theatre, under the direction of Emily Cas sano, assistant teaching professor of music, theatre, and visual arts, performed a medley of “thank

songs to the audience of donors and friends.

MIDNIGHT

Bingo, a staple in the lives of many older adults, takes on a whole new look when the Lion Ambassadors host a Friday-night session in McGarvey Commons. Students line up early to get a good seat at the most popular event on campus.

This is not your grandma’s game. It’s raucous and silly. Ridiculousness is not only encouraged, it’s wildly cheered. Dressing to theme—whether westernwear, beach attire, superhero costumes, or pajamas—is rewarded with an extra bingo card.

Everybody loves Midnight Bingo, so named because it starts at 10 p.m. and

ends at midnight. It’s an exclusively Behrend tradition founded in the 1990s.

“It was originally created by a group of resident assistants and quickly became a popular event on campus,” said Kristen Comstock, assistant director of alumni relations. “When those RAs had all graduated, there was no one to pass the torch to, so Behrend’s Lion Ambassadors took it on and began hosting the games in 2004.”

Eighteen years later, Midnight Bingo is still going strong, drawing big crowds to games held about three times each semester.

Ultimately, players hope to win a whoopie cushion, a foam finger,

a gaming system, a fan, wireless headphones, an inflatable kayak, board games, a jar of pickles, a Bob Ross fanny pack, or the one prize that everyone is happy to receive: a giant tub of cheese balls.

“Students love it because it’s a game of luck where you simply sit back and hope for the best,” said Isabella Porco, a senior Nursing major and president of Lion Ambassadors. “Club members buy the prizes with students’ needs in mind, so some are practical and valued while others are just silly prizes. The funniest prize we’ve given out while I’ve been involved would be a toss-up between a WWE wrestling belt and a traffic cone.”

There is always a grand prize—a gaming system, a flat-screen TV, a cutting-edge virtual reality headset— given away at the last game of the night, which is typically a “cover all.” If there is more than one bingo on that game, they’re going to have to battle it out in some crowd-entertaining way. They might have to race on tricycles, sing karaoke, play a trivia game, or win a virtual “Beat Saber” match in front of a cheering crowd.

Win or lose, there’s no doubt that Midnight Bingo holds a special place in the hearts of Behrend students, alumni, and the Lion Ambassadors, who have as much fun hosting as playing.

Lions off to a Strong Start

AMCC Champs—Women’s XC: The Penn State Behrend women’s cross-country team picked up its twelfth overall and fourth straight AMCC championship this season. Senior Savanna Carr won the AMCC individual title with a time of 24:06.4 to edge teammate sophomore Olivia Nola in the 6K course. Carr earned her fourth AMCC Runner of the Year accolades, while Lindsey Hartle was named AMCC Newcomer of the Year. Carr, Hartle, Nola and four others were named All-Conference.

AMCC Champs—Men’s XC: Behrend won its third straight and fourteenth team title in program history this fall. Behrend had seven runners in the top ten, including the individual winner, Kody Klein. Klein won the 8K race in 27:14.5 to be named the AMCC Runner of the Year. Behrend had seven runners make All-Conference.

Runners of the Year: Savannah Carr, Kody Klein (women’s and men’s cross-country)

Co-Player of the Year: Hannah Phillips (women’s volleyball)

Defensive Player of the Year: Sam York (men’s soccer)

Coach of the Year: Greg Cooper (men’s and women’s cross-country)

AMCC Fall Sports Runners-Up: Women’s tennis, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s volleyball

AMCC Regular-Season Co-Champions: Men’s soccer (6-0-1 conference record) with Mount Aloysius. Senior Sam York is ranked first in NCAA Division III statistics in shutouts.

f Cross-Country:

f Men’s Soccer: 11

f Women’s Soccer: 9

f Women’s Tennis: 6

f Women’s Volleyball: 4

f Men’s Golf: 1

Niland inducted into Erie Sports Hall of Fame

Head men’s basketball coach Dave Niland was inducted into the Erie Sports Hall of Fame this year. Niland is in his twenty-eighth season at Behrend and has produced twentyseven straight winning seasons to rank twentieth among the NCAA Division III’s winningest programs in the past decade.

The Behrend Lions have earned NCAA or ECAC postseason bids twenty-five times in the last twenty-six years. Niland has been named AMCC Coach of the Year a league-record seven times, with his teams winning eight AMCC regular season league titles and six conference tournament championships.

Niland is the all-time leader in Behrend basketball history wins with 534. His teams won twenty or more games seventeen times. His 1999-00 squad posted the most wins in school history (twenty-six) while advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight in the first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

As a student-athlete, Niland was a standout at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York.

BEHREND HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2022

Penn State Behrend inducted nine individuals into the college’s Athletics Hall of Fame in October. Pictured, from left, are Brian Streeter, senior director of Athletics, Aaron Meehl ’12 (soccer), Arica Christman ’12 (tennis), Ronson Mazany ’11 (track and field), Ashley Gruber ’12 (softball), Geoff Lang ’11 (baseball), Kate Monoskey ’12 (track and field), Adam Kaiser ’10 (basketball), Anne (Lawrence) Sekulski ’12 (swimming, water polo), and Tom Lulich ’05 (basketball).

ITALIAN ATHLETES GET

Penn State Behrend Athletics is typically busy all summer, hosting a range of youth summer camps. One group, in particular, really went the distance to spend a week at Behrend.

A group of swimmers and water polo players, age 12 to 18, from Trieste, Italy, had the chance to learn firsthand what it’s like to be a student-athlete at a U.S. college. For a week, they lived in Behrend’s residence halls, worked out in Junker gym, watched movies in Reed, ate at Dobbins Dining Hall, experienced American cuisine, and spent a lot of time in the pool learning from Behrend water polo coaches Joe Tristan and Gina-Bella Mata’afa.

Universities in Italy do not have athlet ics programs, so it was an eye-opening experience for the visiting swimmers and water polo players, some of whom hope to study (and play) internationally one day.

The program is coordinated by Marco Vecellio, director of CollegeLife Italia, a college sports recruiter based in Rome.

A

TASTE OF AMERICAN STUDENT-ATHLETE LIFE

Vecellio said that Behrend has exceeded their expectations, describing the campus, facilities, and accommodations as firstrate. He paid Housing and Food Services

BLIND ATHLETES COMPETE AT PENN STATE BEHREND

Envision camp introduces junior athletes to hockey, horseback riding, and more

In August, more than sixty vision-impaired junior athletes, ages 5 to 18, visited Behrend for the Envision Blind Sports summer camp.

The camp introduces students to sports they have never tried, such as archery, rock climbing, and horseback riding. Some events are modified to keep the athletes safe. In the pool, for example, counselors tap swimmers’ shoulders with a foam pool noodle to signal that they are close to the wall.

Campers spent a week at Behrend, traveling from ten states, including Colorado and Hawaii. They played soccer and floor hockey and threw foam-tipped javelins. They bounced at a tram poline park and navigated a treetop ropes course.

“Some of these kids have been sidelined their whole lives,” said Wendy Fagan, an instructor in Slippery Rock University’s adapted physical activity program who founded Envision Blind Sports in 2007. “Our campers learn they can play sports that maybe they thought were closed off to them. That builds a lot of confidence.”

what might be the highest compliment, considering the source: “The food is very good,” he said, “and we’re Italians, so we are very picky about food.”

Twenty swimmers and water polo players from Italy spent a week at Behrend this summer.

Student Success

Outreach program, engineering student featured in magazine

Fungus bears Behrend name

This summer, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute, in collaboration with Penn State Behrend, completed sequencing of the genome for the fungus Gnomoniopsis castanea Behrend v1.0. It is the first time that the genome of a fungus in this genus has been sequenced, meaning it will act as the reference for the sequencing of other species of fungi.

The fungus was discovered on American chestnut trees being studied by EMILY DOBRY ’20 when she was a Behrend undergraduate student re searcher for the Lake Erie Regional Grape Research Extension Center in North East, Pa. Dobry isolated the genome for the fungus as part of her master thesis research in horticulture.

“Initially, we assumed this was an unusual presentation of chestnut blight infection,” she said, “but after taking samples and doing research, we did not find blight, but a pathogen commonly known as chestnut brown rot. At the time, there had been no published report of this fungus in in our hemisphere.”

Dobry, who is now a Ph.D. student in Penn State’s Agricultural and Environmen tal Plant Sciences program, continues to study the strain.

Sophomore Mechanical Engineering major ELLEN SHADE was featured recently in Progressive Railroading magazine for her involvement with the Wabtec Girls Who STEAM camp, a summer camp for middle-school age girls who are interested in science, technolo gy, engineering, the arts, and math. The camp is a partnership between Wabtec, which has a locomotive manufacturing plant in Erie, and Behrend, where most camp activities take place.

Shade spent camp week as a STEAM volunteer, helping dozens of campers and the Wabtec interns who mentor them find their way around the Behrend campus. Shade attended the very same camp as

a seventh-grader and thought it would be fun to help the younger girls have the experience she had at that age.

STUDENTS DESIGN RACE AWARDS

Student researchers in Penn State Behrend’s James R. Meehl Innovation Commons designed and 3-D printed Nittany Lion awards for the college’s first Run for Women 5K run/walk hosted by the Women’s Engagement Council this summer.

BEN FAHRNEY, a senior Mechanical Engineering student and product design engineer in Innovation Commons, oversaw the project, while engineering students

EMMANUELLA IWERE, MATT ROCKAGE, and EVAN LANG did the printing in the lab.

It was no small job. More than fifty awards were created in three different sizes. Innovation Commons is an open ideation, product development, and prototyping center staffed by students guiding innovators and entrepreneurs through early product development. It is open to entrepreneurs and innovators throughout the region who are looking for a place to organize, collaborate, compose, and construct their ideas.

MAKING HISTORY IMMERSIVE

The Hagen History Center in downtown Erie recently opened a new exhibit, “The Story of Us,” that includes interactive displays created by student researchers in Behrend’s VAR (Virtual/Augmented Reality) Lab under the direction of Dr. Chris Shelton, assistant professor of clinical psychology. The 3,000-square-foot exhibit highlights the growth of Erie from its indigenous people to its later-arriving immigrants. Interactive displays encourage visitors to view artifacts from all angles (views created using 3-D scanned images), make a recipe (virtually) from the 1890s or the 1950s, and more. Visit eriehistory.org for more about the exhibit.

Alumni Honored

STEVEN BUGAJSKI, a 1994 Manage ment Information Systems graduate who also earned an MBA at Behrend in 2004, was recently presented with the Behrend Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.

The award is presented annually to an alumnus or alumna of Behrend who has made significant contributions to and achievements in their profession, in their community, and at Penn State Behrend. Recipients are those who have demonstrat ed professional leadership, been active in community affairs, and contributed to the betterment of society, social values, and/or justice.

Bugajski is the vice president and chief information officer for U.S. Steel, where he leads the company’s global IT operation, including digital strategy and cybersecurity.

He serves as an executive in residence for the Black School of Business, has mentored dozens of Behrend students, and together with other U.S. Steel IT professionals, has developed programs for students to learn about business, technology, and cybersecurity in the corporate world.

Two Behrend graduates—JOSEPH SNYDER and DR. ALA STANFORD—were chosen to receive Alumni Fellow Awards, the most prestigious honor given by the Penn State Alumni Association.

Snyder graduated in 1997 with a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. He is the retired president of Process and Data Automation, LLC, a member of the Krones Group and a full-service industrial integration firm specializing in the design, programming, and commissioning of automated equipment and systems.

Snyder founded Process and Data Automation in 2002 as a three-person business and grew it into a premier control systems integration and data services company with nearly fifty employees. In 2015, he relocated the business to Penn State Behrend’s Knowledge Park.

NURSES CONNECT WITH COLLEGE COMMUNITY

Behrend Nursing students helped the Health and Wellness Center with two health fairs at the Reed Breakwall this fall to raise awareness of the health services available at Behrend, to promote general wellness, and to provide students with important health information.

Stanford ’91 began her college career at Penn State Behrend before graduating with a Biology degree from University Park. She earned her medical degree from Penn State’s College of Medicine in 1997. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Stanford created the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, bringing together more than 200 health-care professionals to test—and subsequently vaccinate—thousands of residents in Philadelphia’s minority neighborhoods. In 2021, she expanded the consortium’s scope, creating the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity.

In her current role as a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regional director, she works to see that communities across her six-state region of responsibility have access to information and resources to stay safe and healthy.

Lauren Cass, a sophomore Communication major; Marcus Jacobs ’22, a Master of Project Management student; and Justin Williams, a sophomore Computer Engineering major, work in the college’s VAR (Virtual/Augmented Reality) Lab and helped create interactive exhibits for the Hagen History Center in Erie.

Meet Don Mallick— a Pioneer at Behrend and in the Sky

Member of Behrend’s first class had high-flying career as a NASA test pilot.

“It was an extremely tough job, often leaving me with burns on my hands and arms,” he said. “Soon, I realized my parents had the right idea about college.”

A new Penn State campus—Behrend Center—had just opened, and Mallick was one of the first 150 students in the inaugural class. He majored in Mechanical Engineering and spent a year at Behrend before transferring to University Park, as all students had to do in the early days of the college.

“When I got there (University Park), I found that the other students referred to Behrend students as coming from ‘the country club,’” he said. “Behrend really did have a beautiful setting, but it was a place of serious study.”

Mallick did not end up finishing his degree at Penn State, though. He wanted to fly planes like his older brother, and the Korean War gave him a reason to interrupt his college education. At 19, he was too young to fly for the U.S. Air Force but old enough to fly for the U.S. Navy. By 1952, he had earned his wings.

He served as a Navy fighter pilot on three different aircraft carriers in the European and Pacific theaters.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Once his four-year commitment was up, and with a wife and growing family, Mallick decided to return to college at the University of Florida in the aeronautical engineering depart ment. He kept flying as an active Navy Reserve member.

“Once a month, I could blow the cobwebs of study out of my head by flying the F9F-6 Cougar jet in the reserves,” he said.

Shortly after graduation, he landed a job as a test pilot at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which would eventually become part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

“When I was offered the job, I earned a salary of $7,700 a year, which was nearly $1,000 less than a job I had been offered in the private sector, but money was not my primary consideration,” Mallick said. “I just wanted to fly.”

AT THE FOREFRONT OF MODERN AVIATION

NACA/NASA favored military officers as test pilots because they had experience, nerves of steel, and a willingness to face dangerous situations. It’s risky work. Test pilots are the first to take unproven technology into the sky to see how it works.

“I tested new fighters, helicopters, multi-engine aircraft, small amphibian aircraft, and some vertical takeoff and landing machines,” Mallick said. “After one year of flying at NASA, I had the confidence to fly almost anything.”

The testing done at NASA’s Langley facility in Virginia, where Mallick worked at the time, primarily involved improving aircraft

It took only three months working the night shift at a steel forging plant in Pittsburgh in 1947 for Don Mallick to decide to go to college.

stability and handling qualities. Mallick conducted three notable programs there:

• The F-86D wing shaker program. “At times, the conditions resulted in so much aircraft motion, you couldn’t read the instrument panel,” Mallick said.

• The F8U-3 Sonic Boom Program, NASA’s first program to document the nature and strength of sonic booms that reached the ground. It was Mallick’s introduction to flying in a pressure suit. “Runs were made to 60,000 feet and at Mach 2.0,” he said.

• A ground-based confinement simula tion of the trip to the moon. For this, Mallick and two other NASA research pilots spent up to a week at a time in a space capsule set up in a large, dark ened room. Complex memory tests were conducted during the simulation, and the pilots had to perform maneu vers on an active flight panel. The information gained was vital to future moon missions.

A MOVE TO CALIFORNIA

In 1963, Mallick; his wife, Audrey; and their four children moved to California, where Mallick began work at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center. There, he reached the pinnacle of his career, even flying rocket-powered aircraft.

“Over the years at Dryden, I participat ed in dozens of programs, including the Blackbird Program, which involved ten years of testing the aircraft’s propulsion, structure, heating, stability, control, and more,” he said.

In 1967, he was promoted to chief pilot at Dryden, assigning and monitoring pilot programs and overseeing pilot safety.

“I didn’t lose one pilot in seventeen years as chief, and I consider this one of my greatest achievements,” he said.

When he retired as deputy chief of Dryden’s Aircraft Operations Division in 1987, Mallick had accumulated more than 11,000 hours of flight time in 125 different aircraft.

MALLICK’S ODYSSEY

After retiring, Mallick wrote two books–a family history book and a book about his flying career. “The Smell of Kerosene: A Test Pilot’s Odyssey” was published by NASA in 2004.

“I was pleased and proud they published it,” Mallick said. “I think it was the first one that NASA published for one of their pilots.”

A one-hour documentary based on the book was recently finished, and the producer hopes to find a buyer for it soon.

Today, at 92, Mallick is still living

independently in California.

“During my career, I saw both triumph and tragedy,” he said. “Research and test flying is a hazardous profession. I had good friends who were killed flying. I have great hopes there is a world after, and that one day, I will share a drink and some good stories with them again.”

Snapshots

SCHOOLS WELCOME STUDENTS WITH FUN, FOOD, FREEBIES!

Each of Behrend’s four academic schools held “Welcome Back” events for students this fall, with each putting their own unique twist on it. The School of Humanities and Social Sciences hosted a “Kochel Karnival,” the School of Engineering “Geared Up for the Semester,” the Black School of Business encouraged everyone to “Get Back 2 Business,” and the School of Science cooked up fun at a “Science Snacks” event.

STUDENTS EXPLORE INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

The fall Discovery Fair at Penn State Behrend was an opportunity for students to learn about and visit with members of a whole host of clubs and organizations on campus to find one, or three, or ten they want to join. There’s a club for everyone at Behrend!

CAREER AND INTERNSHIP FAIR BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS.

Penn State Behrend’s fall Career and Internship Fair fea tured more than 160 companies, including Toyota, Exxon Mobil, Bausch & Lomb, and U.S. Steel. The September event drew more than 1,100 students in search of job opportunities and educational experiences.

WE ARE

A LEADER IN OPEN LAB LEARNING

Our students get hands-on experience solving real-world problems— in business and industry, and nonprofit and community organizations.

If your company or organization is interested in partnering with Penn State Behrend, visit behrend.psu.edu/openlabstrategy.

YUNG GRAVY BRINGS HIGHENERGY SHOW TO BEHREND

Rapper Yung Gravy was the featured act at a studentsonly concert held outdoors on the soccer field on a perfect summer evening at the start of the 2022 academic year. More than 1,600 students enjoyed the free performance, which was part of Behrend’s Welcome Week activities.

Gravy, whose real name is Matthew Hauri, broke out with the song “Mr. Clean” in 2017. This summer, his song “Betty (Get Money)” charted on the Billboard Hot 100. The track samples Rick Astley’s hit “Never Gonna Give You Up.” It put Gravy on the radio.

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