SCHOLAR - The Magazine of the Schreyer Honors College

SCHOLAR

Message from Dean Patrick Mather

TablE of CoNTENTS

Greetings from 101 Atherton Hall! It is an extraordinary time for the Schreyer Honors College community as we celebrate our 25th anniversary. As dean, I feel fortunate to be part of an organization at this important moment in its history. As the age of a college, 25 years may seem long, implying that we have arrived. In many respects—as this issue of SCHOLAR celebrates—we have arrived and achieved so much for our Scholars and honors education at large. On the other hand, we are a young college full of inspiration, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit. In fact, we’re like a 25-year-old startup with many new ideas percolating in Atherton and Simmons Halls. It excites me and gives me a great amount of hope that our college will adapt to the needs of tomorrow’s Scholars— today’s eighth graders—as we seek to shape those who shape the world.

I invite you to explore our 25-year history as a college, captured in the cover story of this year’s issue of SCHOLAR: The Magazine of Schreyer Honors College. It’s an engaging piece that gives voice to how innovation, community, agility, and integration have established Schreyer as a leader in honors education. Beyond the cover story, you’ll read about admirable work and achievements from our Scholars, become better acquainted with some of the Honors College staff, and discover how a Schreyer t-shirt helped lead to a marriage.

These stories help us reflect on “the year that was” for Schreyer Honors College, which was also my first as dean. The most impactful experiences for me during my first year were the deep and broad relationships I developed with a multitude of current Scholars. Each connection came about in its own unique way, whether it was during my office hours, walking across

campus, during Donuts with the Dean, or in the classroom. In each case I got to see a bit of myself through these students while gaining nuanced understanding of the pathways traveled by today’s Schreyer Scholars.

Now that I’ve been here for a year, our team is focusing, in strategic ways, on the first-year experience of our Scholars; ways of instilling a sense of belonging, and ways in which we can support all Scholars in their pathways to research and creative works that align well with their personal values and emergent mission. As part of an inclusive strategic planning process initiated this summer, we are examining our strengths, challenges, and opportunities as we set goals that collectively enhance the experiences of all Scholars, from the time they first hear about us to ringing the gong and beyond. I believe firmly that learning and scholarship are social, community-based undertakings that are best experienced on the foundation of positive relationships. And those relationships are built one conversation at a time— something I strive to model each day.

I am deeply grateful to all our current Scholars and alumni for making the Schreyer Honors College what it is today. I also look forward with great anticipation to seeing where our future Scholars will take us. We Are!

Patrick T. Mather, PhD Dean, Schreyer Honors College

The Pennsylvania State University

Mission

The mission of the Schreyer Honors College is to promote:

• Achieving academic excellence with integrity

• Building a global perspective, and

• Creating opportunities for leadership and civic engagement

Vision

To educate people who will have an important and ethical influence in the world, affecting academic, professional, civic, social, and business outcomes.

To improve educational practice and to continue to be recognized as a leading force in honors education nationwide.

History of Schreyer Honors College

Schreyer Honors College is a leading force in honors education. Under the leadership of director Paul Axt, Penn State launched the University Scholars Program in 1980.

In September 1997, William and Joan Schreyer presented a $30 million gift, and the College was expanded and renamed in their honor. A gift of an additional $25 million in 2006 was part of the “For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students.” In the last four decades, more than 16,000 individuals have graduated with honors from Penn State.

Celebrating the life of Joan Schreyer (1929-2021)

By Cathy Carlson and Ray Schmitt

Editor’s note: This piece has been adapt ed from an original story that appeared in Penn State News on November 24, 2021

Joan Legg Schreyer, who passed away in November 2021, helped set the stan dard for philanthropy, leadership, and vision at Penn State.

When she and her late husband, William “Bill” Allen Schreyer made their contri bution in 1997 to endow the Schreyer Honors College, it was, at the time, the largest single gift in University history. It also paved the way for hundreds of Schreyer Scholars to graduate with honors from Penn State each year and become leaders in their fields.

In remembering Mrs. Schreyer, [then] Penn State President Eric J. Barron said that she “has inspired and will continue to inspire our students with her belief in their ability to make a difference in the larger world.”

“All of us who take pride in Penn State have reason to be profoundly grateful to Joan Schreyer,” said Board of Trustees Chair Matt Schuyler. “With Bill, she offered wholehearted support for the people and programs of this University, and the Schreyer Honors College has elevated and affirmed our entire institution’s reputation for excellence, drawing top students whose achievements go far beyond the academic and serve to challenge and inspire our whole community.

“Joan was a generous and gracious presence whose belief in the importance of higher education will continue to guide us for many years to come.”

That generosity is embodied by the original $30 million gift from the Schreyers that established the college bearing their name and the $25 million that followed in 2006. By establishing and continuing to uphold an interdisciplinary program that offers a living-learning environment, undergraduate research opportunities, international opportunities, and more, their contributions help to maintain Penn State’s position as a leader in honors education.

“Before my arrival [last summer], I had the honor and great pleasure to meet with the Schreyer family, and that visit left an enormous impression on me,” said Patrick Mather, dean of Schreyer Honors College. “Mrs. Schreyer, her daughter DruAnne, and their family welcomed me with warmth, grace, and humor, and I’m most appreciative of the time we spent together.

“The vision and generosity of the Schreyer family are timeless, and we are grateful for everything they have given to create this remarkable experience for Scholars at Penn State,” Mather added.

Joan Legg Schreyer was born in Buffalo, New York, on April 22, 1929, and grew up in the Buffalo area. She met her husband in 1951, and they married on October 17, 1953. After Bill completed his ROTC commitment with the Air Force in Wiesbaden, Germany, the Schreyers returned to the Buffalo area before relocating to Princeton, New Jersey, in 1968. Joan and Bill lived there for 45 years while he worked for Merrill Lynch and rose to the position of chairman and CEO.

Joan was credited with helping Bill make human connections that contributed to driving his professional success. In turn, the couple made it a priority to share that success through volunteer leader ship and philanthropy. His alma mater,

where he was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 1979 and served as Board of Trustees chair from 1993 to 1995, was a significant benefactor of those efforts, so much so that Penn State named Joan an honorary alumna in 1991.

“Joan Schreyer embraced Bill’s alma mater, and we are profoundly grateful that she continued to be a presence and an inspiration in our community after Bill’s death in 2011, attending Schreyer Honors College events and furthering their shared legacy,” said O. Richard Bundy III, vice president for Development and Alumni relations.

Before settling in State College to be near her family, Joan Schreyer was a celebrated hostess and volunteer leader in Princeton, New Jersey, known for the brandied cranberries she made for friends and family over the holidays and for her famous sour cream coffee cakes for the annual Princeton Hospital Auxiliary Christmas Bazaar. She chaired both the Car Raffle and the Dinner Dance for the annual Hospital Fete. She was an active member of the Junior League, was on the board at Nero Psychiatric Institute, was a patron at Morven, and was a longtime member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Princeton.

Schreyer Honors College hosts John Quiñones for annual Luchinsky Lecture

by Ray Schmitt and Joy Drohan

John Quiñones has appeared on American television screens for decades. His work as a reporter for ABC News and as a host for the same network’s hidden camera, ethical dilemma show “What Would You Do?” has reached millions of viewers.

Despite his accolades and fame, he is not immune to stereotypes and prejudice that pervade our society. With grace, empathy, and sometimes humor, Quiñones dedicates much of his professional and private life to fighting against such harmful preconceived notions.

At the 27th annual Mark Luchinsky Memorial Lecture this past January, he recounted a story of flying to New York. While standing in line to board with his fellow passengers traveling first-class, he noticed almost all of them queueing up in the economy class line. While he waited in place, a woman at the front of the other line decided to engage him.

“I wasn’t dressed up. I was wearing a baseball cap, a sweatshirt, and jeans,” he said. “As I’m standing there, clearly Latino, [she] looked over at me and said, ‘Sir, are you even in first class?’”

He explained how the woman demand ed he move to the back of the other line, and that she remarked how the call for first-class passengers to board was made in English. Quiñones chuckled as

he said that other passengers began to recognize him and wonder aloud if they were on a “What Would You Do?” segment. He finally responded to the woman as they boarded the plane.

“As I’m walking past her, I leaned over and said, ‘Ma’am my name is John Quiñones and I do this TV show called “What Would You Do?” and you would be perfect for the show. You could play the part of the racist,” he recalled, laughing.

Before he could use journalism and prime time television to combat America’s societal ills, Quiñones had to tackle a fair share of adversity. He entered first grade unable to communicate with his teacher or classmates because he didn’t speak English. In his teenage years, due to his heritage, most of his teachers encouraged him to consider a trade. He came from a poor family in San Antonio and did not have a clear path to college.

Quiñones credits his 10th-grade English teacher, Mrs. Gutierrez, with encouraging his love of storytelling and his desire to become a journalist. She introduced him to the teacher who supervised the student newspaper and he rose quickly from reporter to chief of editorials. He went on to college and graduated from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio before being awarded a fellowship that paved the way to a graduate degree from Columbia University in New York.

From there he launched a 40-year tele vision career in which he has made a tangible difference in the world. He told the Luchinsky Lecture’s 300-person audience that his most impactful and inspiring story was a report on homeless children living in the sewer system in Bogota, Columbia. After the story aired on ABC’s “Primetime Live,” viewers donated $1 million to help establish an orphanage for these children.

“As a journalist and correspondent, I’ve been blessed with an opportunity to shine a light on the issues many people don’t want to hear about,” he said. “In so many ways, it’s like Schreyer Honors College’s mission to shape students to be moral agents who can influence the common good.”

In wrapping up the evening, Quiñones took time to answer questions from the Luchinsky Lecture audience. When asked if he believed the media was improving its representation of minoritized people, Quiñones emphatically answered yes. And his reasoning went beyond the diversity of the types of stories being told and the people telling them.

“It’s not just important to have people of color on television telling you the stories,” he said. “It’s also important that we have those people in management, people who tell [me] to go cover the story in San Antonio or San Diego or State College. That will, in the end, serve for better news coverage all over the country.”

SCHREYER SNAPSHOTS

(1) In September, Dean Patrick T. Mather hosted his first Donuts with the Dean event. He welcomed Scholars to the Schreyer Courtyard at Atherton Hall to continue the tradition of donuts, coffee, community, and conversation.

(2) In October, dozens of Scholars serving in leadership roles attended the Building Belonging workshop, led by Scholar alumnus Spud Marshall ’08. Joined by Dean Mather and College staff at 3 Dots in downtown State College, the group took part in an interactive and dynamic learning experience. Through activities and guided conversation, they explored key leadership skills designed to help shape their organiza tion’s or team’s success. A subsequent workshop followed in March.

(3) The full Honors College community was invited to the State Theatre in November for a private screening of the Disney Pixar animated feature film “Soul.” Along with the film, attendees enjoyed live jazz music prior to the screening and a post-film discussion led by Dean Mather.

(4) Dean Mather was part of a running relay team from the Chemical Engineering department that completed the Mountainback 50-mile relay race in November.

(5) In January, Scholar alumnus Douglas G. Evans ’86 ’93g was one of eight Penn State graduates to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, the University’s highest honor presented to alumni. Evans, the president and chief executive officer of Lungpacer Medical Inc., and his wife, Regina, are also the benefactors of the Douglas G. and Regina C. Evans Award for Research Achievement in the Schreyer Honors College.

(6) Scholar Megan Swift was named the Daily Collegian’s editor-in-chief in February. She began at the newspaper in 2019 and worked as a news candidate, arts blogger, general news reporter, politics reporter, assistant news editor, and news editor prior to her current role.

(7) In March, Scholar alumnus and Scholar Alumni Society Board member Dr. Sam Bonsall ’04, ’12g hosted “Create Your Future” at The Graduate Hotel. The event included discussions on finding your passion, defining an objective, weaving a narrative, and more. Scholar attendees used these conversations to help develop networking skills that would prove beneficial in their professional lives.

(8) The inaugural Schreyer Pocket Garden crops were planted in April. Rising third-year Scholar Vancie Peacock, who led the way in founding the Pocket Garden located in the Simmons Hall courtyard, and a team of volunteers planted kale, spinach, carrots, and lettuce. The harvested crops were donated to the Lion’s Pantry.

(9) On the first Friday of May, Schreyer Honors College honored five graduating Scholars at an awards brunch. The celebratory day continued with an afternoon reception, and the annual Medals Ceremony. More than 3,000 guests, including friends and families, gathered at Pegula Ice Arena to commemorate the achievements of this year’s class. In total, 474 Scholars graduated with honors from Penn State this spring.

Nora Van Horn receives the inaugural Changemaker Scholarship

Van Horn earned degrees in philosophy, Chinese, and global and international studies. She also poured time, effort, and energy into changemaking endeavors that impacted the entire Penn State community. Van Horn created a department of sustainability within the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), and she helped to launch Penn State’s Environmen tal Sustainability Fund. Additionally, she took on an array of advocacy work to help change how Penn State addresses sexual violence.

On becoming the first recipient of the Changemaker Scholarship, Van Horn said she is honored to carry Neil Patel’s name and legacy with her.

“I had the opportunity to go to a celebration of life for Neil and talk with his family and friends to learn more about [Neil] and his life,” she said. “I was so moved by the stories they shared about his positivity and desire to make the world a better place.”

2021-2022 Student Awards

Astronaut Scholarship

Ellie Kim Erickson Discovery Grants

Alessandro Ascani Orsini

Nate Cherok

Maya Debski

Quinn Deitrick

Sarah Esslinger

Leah Gallo

Allison Giombetti

Leonardo Girlando

Michael Hewitt

Sara Jimenez Rincon

Vincent Mariani

Emily Meinert

Hannah Mirshahi

Rishika Patil

Emma Petrick

Timothy Pickarski

Sopida Pimcharoen

Angelina Santamaria

Blaise Sava

Ayush Sharma

Julian Sim

Safitaj Sindhar

Claire Tse

Barry M. Goldwater

Scholarships

Nora Van Horn, a spring 2022 Scholar alumna, has been awarded the inaugural Neil C. Patel Memorial Changemaker Honors Scholarship.

The Changemaker Scholarship was established in December 2021 in honor of its namesake, Neil Patel, who died from COVID-19 earlier that year. It honors Patel’s memory and recognizes Scholars who exemplify his commitment to family, community, education, and opportunity.

“Neil embodied the ideals envisioned for Schreyer Honors College community members,” said Patrick T. Mather, dean of Schreyer Honors College. “He did this through his interdisciplinary nature, community approach to learning, and genuine caring for his classmates. Because of that, and to encourage others to strive for those ideals, the legacy scholarship bearing Neil’s name is so very important to our college.”

Chet Patel, Neil’s father, said that the family is proud that Van Horn was chosen as the in augural recipient because she personifies so many of the values that mattered to his son.

“Nora’s interests in morality, philosophy, and her work in sustainability at Penn State are evidence of commitment to bettering the lives of others, which was most important to our son, Neil,” Patel said. “We will be cheering her on as she makes an impact on the world for years to come.”

Mather agrees that the change Van Horn ef fected while at Penn State will go a long way to helping Neil Patel’s memory live on.

“Nora has unending energy, combined with a big heart. That’s a powerful combination that, when applied to change-leadership, is potent and worthy of the distinction bestowed by the inaugural Patel scholarship,” Mather said.

With her time at Penn State concluded, Van Horn will move on to Harvard Law for fall 2022, where the Changemaker Scholarship funding will assist her in her academic pursuits.

Support the Changemaker Scholarship at raise.psu.edu/NeilPatel

Finishing with a flourish: Chloe Mazer earns thesis award

Chloe Mazer, like her Scholar peers, spent years dedicated to the completion of her honors thesis project. She delivered a viable proposal, developed a command of scholastic work related to her topic, and made her own contribution to that scholarship. Then, when the time came, she submitted her work alongside other undergraduate theses to be considered for a significant award.

On May 5, 2022, one day before the Schreyer Medals Ceremony and two days before Penn State graduation, she received the Robert F. Guentter Jr. Outstanding Undergrad uate Thesis Award. Her work, “A Mixed Method Review of Cognitive Decline in the Older Incarcerated Adult Population,” earned her $1,250 as the grand prize recipient.

Scholar alumna Ava Self ’21 was named first runner-up and graduating Scholar Edward Spagnuolo was the second runner-up.

Mazer explained that the genesis for her thesis came during her second year thanks to “a biobehavioral health ethics class where I was tasked to write a series of three papers.”

Ellie Kim

Jack Piazza

National Science Foundation

Graduate Research Fellowship

Victor Ginsburg

Joshua Miller

Edward Spagnuolo

SchREyER hoNoRS

collEGE AwARDS

The Paul Axt Prize

Jocelyn Krieger

The Evans Award

Sean Melanson

Bear Koehler Award

Benjamin Wackerman

The Reddy Mission Award

Nicholas Birosik

Grace Lemke

Abigail O’Connell

2021 Student Involvement Award

Adwait Chafale

PENN STATE AwARDS

2022 Alumni Achievement Award

Alison

Sienna

Therese

Neil Patel’s commitment to making positive changes in his community will be remembered and honored through the annual awarding of the Changemaker Scholarship.

2022 Distinguished Alumni Award

While she didn’t specifically cover cognitive decline or dementia among the older prison population in those papers, Mazer, who minored in gerontology, developed a keen interest in issues affecting that group.

“As I started to dig into the research, I just saw a lot of things that made me sad and uncomfortable with the way that older incarcerated individuals are treated,” she said. “And a personal experience with dementia came from my grandmother’s dementia diagnosis.”

With the seed planted, Mazer began looking for resources to support her work. She first turned to Linda Wray, associate professor of biobehavioral health. She approached Wray to gauge her interest in a directed study on aging and health disparities.

“While I’m a gerontologist by training, it was over the course of the spring semester in 2020 when Chloe started talking about being interested in older incarcerated adults,” Wray said. “That topic was totally outside my area of expertise, so we asked Dr. Loeb to do a guest lecture on health and aging in older incarcerated adults.”

Dr. Loeb is Susan Loeb, professor of nursing and department of medicine, who, after her guest lecture, stayed on with Wray as a co-supervisor for Mazer’s thesis project.

“The fact that her interest area was so spot-on aligned with mine, I just couldn’t say no,” Loeb said. “It was a really reward ing experience. Chloe took control and was in charge of the ‘ship’ while we mentored her in the research process. We all brought different strengths to the table, and it was fabulous.”

With guidance from Loeb and Wray, Mazer determined that a mixed-method review was the best fit for her body of research and went to work. Along the way, she learned about making

matrix tables and article selection trees. She discovered meth ods and measurements used to diagnose cognitive decline along with biological mechanisms underpinning the condition.

In her Robert F. Guentter Jr. Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Award presentation, Mazer shared her findings, processes, and methods and answered questions from the audience. All told, the eight-person award jury chose her work as the most outstanding among the three finalists. The committee chair, Benzak Business Librarian, and head of the Schreyer Business Library, Diane Zabel, detailed what elevated Mazer’s thesis to grand prize status.

“Her research project was rigorous and well designed, and she did an excellent job of providing background and context for the reader,” she said. “Chloe’s systematic review of the literature on cognitive functioning in incarcerated older adults has the potential to inform researchers, practitioners, and policymakers on this timely and important topic.”

Mazer, who describes herself as passionate about public health and developing health intervention programs and campaigns, shares the vision that her thesis can have a real-world impact on healthcare for older incarcerated adults living with cognitive decline.

“My hope is that future research can build upon what’s work ing, adopt [best practices] from nursing homes and directly apply it to the prison setting,” she said. “Better interventions [are needed] in the future because this problem is probably only going to get worse.”

Faculty Feature: Robert Melton, Professor of Aerospace Engineering

At an Honors College Medals Ceremony you hear his voice before Penn State’s president, provost, or Schreyer’s dean. It has been that way for 19 years covering more than 50 ceremonies.

Robert Melton, professor of aerospace engineering and director of under graduate studies, is a fixture within Schreyer. As the head marshal, he calls each Medals Ceremony to order, along with helping to assem ble Scholars for the procession and leading his fellow marshals to the stage. Since 1982, he has maintained a place within the Univer sity Marshal Corps and notes that the College’s Medals Ceremonies are “particularly special” for him.

“[While] all the commencement ceremonies are grand, joyous celebrations of the students’ accomplishments, the Schreyer Medals Ceremony is the only one in which both the president and provost participate,” he said. “Each Scholar’s name is read alongside ‘with honors in (their research discipline).’

Family and friends are present, and it all has an intimate feel. I enjoy the responsibility of helping the ceremony go smoothly and seeing these Scholars receive such an important recognition.”

Melton also remarked that it was “absolutely thrilling” to be a part of the spring 2022 medals ceremony that welcomed more than 3,000 people to Pegula Ice Arena. It was the first time since spring 2019 that Scholars and their families, friends, and guests could gather for an in-person Medals Ceremony.

Not only does Melton lend his time to the Scholars’ culminat ing Honors College event, he has also been teaching honors courses at University Park since 1982. This year, he’ll offer an honors option in AERSP 309 Astronautics, which he has done since 1984, when the course was created. Students in the course will receive an introduction to space and space flight, laws of particle mechanics, orbits and trajectories, space vehicles, and propulsion.

“It’s always a great pleasure to work with Scholars as they explore some fairly advanced topics within the discipline,” Melton said. “They ask some really insightful questions that have led me to a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

“Scholars generally have great self-motivation and intellectual curiosity, but like everyone else starting a particular course, they don’t usually know about the more advanced concepts,” he added. “So, I need to make sure that I’m posing some engag ing questions and challenging assignments.”

As his department’s director of undergraduate studies, Melton is afforded another avenue with which he can support Schol ars. He maintains a dialogue among the seven departmental honors advisors and meets regularly with colleagues in other engineering disciplines to discuss policies and ideas to pre pare Scholars for thesis and research writing.

Melton’s efforts provide one example of how Penn State faculty help to deliver an honors education with the power to “shape people who shape the world.”

Summer Bridge program helps set the stage for Scholars’ future success

In any college student population, some firstyear students will inev itably face more signif icant challenges than others in transitioning from high school to a university or college set ting. For such Schreyer Scholars, a bridge is in place to help ease that passage; the Summer Bridge program.

Dr. Lynette Yarger, the Honors College’s assis tant dean for equity and inclusion and professor of information sciences and technology, has led Summer Bridge since its inception in 2021. She sees the pro gram as providing Scholars with a sense of groundedness essential for navigating the University.

“First and foremost, it helps students see that there are a wide variety of resources, be they human beings, units on campus, or staff here at the Honors College, that are all invested in their success,” Yarger said. “With that established, we can kind of chart a pathway thinking about their end goal, their ‘why,’ and what success looks like. Then they understand how to tap into those resources along the way to help them have the experience they want that ultimately gets them where they want to go.”

Summer Bridge is a part of Penn State’s broader Learning Edge Academic Program (LEAP) that takes place over six weeks each summer. While LEAP is available to any Penn State student at University Park, Summer Bridge is an invitationonly program. Its design aims to help Scholars who, according to Yarger, may come from families with below-median income and attend school districts with fewer resources, students who have been historically underrepresented based on race or ethnicity, and first-generation college students.

“[Summer Bridge] is fully paid, so it’s an investment in students who add to the diversity of our College,” Yarger said. “The idea is doing everything we can to make these Scholars feel a stronger sense of belonging to Schreyer and Penn State in general, and give them confidence that they can do the work.”

The program includes two paired courses, one on living, learn ing, and leading as a Scholar and one on diversity in STEM, that allow participants to enter their first fall semester with six credits to their name. Participants’ days also include mentorship from fellow Scholars, social events and outings, and mandatory study times. Two participants from the inau gural Summer Bridge in 2021, Giselle Concepcion and Cris Kocian, had such a positive experience that they decided to serve as mentors in summer 2022.

“I genuinely feel the program adds tremendous value to the Penn State experience,” said Concepcion. “For me as a mentor, working to cultivate a welcoming experience for Scholars has allowed me to realize the benefits that sharing my story can have for others and the importance of a built-in support system in a new environment.”

“Schreyer’s Summer Bridge program and all it has to offer has definitely contributed to my success so far and is too good of an opportunity to pass up,” Kocian added. “I really enjoyed my role as a mentor and realized that it was just as rewarding of an experience as being a Scholar in Summer Bridge.”

With two Summer Bridges completed, Yarger is beginning to think about opportunities for growth and expansion.

“Perhaps thinking about how to take this curriculum that we offer over six weeks in the summer and spread it out as a first-year experience,” she said. “I think it would be helpful to continuously touch base with Summer Bridge Scholars while they’re going through their first semester.”

Support the Summer Bridge program at raise.psu.edu/ SchreyerSummerBridge

The Schreyer Honors College at 25

from her daily experience, to literally sit in the courtyard and have tea with me and my roommate,” Newman said. “It was just a sign of just how fast things were moving at that time, but also how much everyone was taking time to really embrace the moment as well.”

Community: Changing the definition of an honors student Sam Bonsall (’04 Lib, ’04g Bus) grew up in State College and graduated near the top of his class at State College Area High School in 2000. After living in the shadow of Penn State, he was eager to get away from Happy Valley and attend an Ivy League school.

Guay continued to expand the College’s community during her time as a Scholar. She studied abroad in Senegal in the spring of 2019 and returned with a desire to connect with other Scholars who had studied abroad.

Knowing that a global perspective is an integral part of the College’s mission, she began having conversations with Dr. Richard Stoller, assistant dean for academic affairs, about creating a one-credit class or other opportunities for students returning from study abroad experiences.

By Jenna Spinelle

Penn State and the world around it have changed a lot since 1997. But the values that led to the founding of the Schreyer Honors College 25 years ago remain very much in place today.

The principles of innovation, community, integration, and agility allowed the College’s administration, faculty, staff, and students to create transformative educational experiences that bring the mission of excellence in the classroom and around the globe to life across Penn State’s campuses and colleges.

Several of the people involved in the journey recently reflected on the College’s evolution and its impact on shaping a new generation of leaders and changemakers.

Innovation: Writing new rules for honors education

Cheryl Achterberg helped create the pro posal for what would become the Schreyer Honors College and served as its inaugu ral dean from 19982005. She worked closely with William A. Schreyer to bring his vision for honors education to life and created the “ABCs” that remain part of the college’s mission today—academic excellence, building a global perspective, and creating opportunities for leadership and civic engagement.

To that end, Achterberg focused on creating opportunities for research and travel that would attract students who were inter ested in more than simply a rigorous academic experience.

“We were trying to recruit the best students we could and provide freedom in their studies and support them through travel grants, research grants, opening doors, and negoti ating internships at new places for Penn State students,” Achterberg said.

The leadership was not necessarily focused on racking up accolades like Rhodes or Goldwater scholarships. Achterberg said that those distinctions came as a result of creating a more engaged student body.

“As a dean, I didn’t spend any time on prizes at all except to report the winners at the end,” Achterberg said. “We kept our focus on providing the very best education we could and

enabling students to pursue their educational goals, what ever those might be. We knew that if we kept our focus on that, the prizes would follow.”

During her tenure as dean, Achterberg led students on study abroad trips to London and created a course in partnership with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a prominent foreign policy think tank in Washington, D.C. Part of the course involved traveling to Washington over spring break to write position papers that were evaluated by CSIS experts.

This partnership marked the first time CSIS had accepted students from a public university. Penn State continues to place multiple students there each year.

Scholar alumnus Ryan Newman (‘01 Bus) was among the first students to graduate from the College. He recalls thinking that the College’s creation was going to be transformative for him and so many other Penn Staters.

“There’s this tipping point where everything changes, and the Schreyer Honors College was that tipping point for me and others,” Newman said. “It went from all of these pieces and things kind of working together to when I was accepted, a totally upward trajectory.”

He entered the College during his second year and lived in Atherton Hall—an experience he refers to as his “second freshman year” at Penn State.

“That living-learning environment allowed me to see the lens of the University dramatically differently, where I still felt like I had access to all these great global resources, but it was delivered through this intimate lens of the Honors College,” Newman said.

Newman also appreciated the fact that Achterberg and other College administrators were working in such close proximity to the students. While living in Atherton Hall, he suggested to her that the College should have tea for students—and she made it happen in the building’s courtyard.

“And so this idea that the dean of the Honors College was sitting in the same building as I was doing all this monumen tal work, but yet she was also willing to kind of cut away

“There’s a lot of pressure for people who did well to aim for Ivy League institutions,” Bonsall said. “The problem with those is that they’re very expensive, and even if I was able to get in, I was not eligible for a lot of aid.”

Bonsall was persuaded to reconsider Penn State by Matt Brezina, a fellow Scholar alumnus who graduated from high school a year before him and enrolled in the Schreyer Honors College. At that time, Bonsall said the College was known as the “best-kept secret at Penn State” and a place he ultimately felt excited to be part of.

“I didn’t feel like I was missing that Ivy League experience because I was getting that through the enrichment of the honors courses and having a terrific academic adviser,” Bonsall said. “I had the opportunity to really learn from topnotch faculty in your first year at Penn State, which is not, I think, the standard Penn State experience.”

Bonsall and Newman both credit David Shapiro, professor emeritus of economics and the department’s former honors coordinator, with creating an academic experience that reframed how they viewed finance.

“In those honors seminars, I gained so much more insight and learned a new way of thinking about the philosophy of economics,” Bonsall said. “Reading papers and thought pieces was a different style than my other ECON courses, and it was the start of planting the seed to becoming an academic down the line.”

Scholar alumna Laura Guay (‘21 HHD) said the College’s small size and its strong focus on community were leading factors in her decision to attend Penn State.

“That was the part that was holding me back from Penn State … I was so worried about how large it was going to be,” Guay said. “And knowing that I would have sort of a community to guide me to be able to go back to a smaller side of things, but also be pushed in ways that I knew I wouldn’t and otherwise be pushed.”

“When I first arrived back, I had this sense that I’ve changed and I wondered how to work myself back into campus life,” Guay said. “I wanted to be able to connect with others who had gone through this experience and found that they changed or their friends changed a bit.” It was really great having those conversations with Dr. Stoller and thinking about how to strengthen that part of the honors community.”

Integration: Honors across Penn State

After nine years at Tulane, both on the faculty and as an administrator, Christian M.M. Brady succeeded Achterberg as dean in 2006. As a relatively young professional at the time, Brady could draw on his own undergraduate experience at Cornell to help guide Scholars through their Honors College journey.

“I was asked to take a year off from school at Cornell and told to consider vocational school because maybe higher ed wasn’t for me,” Brady said. “I took that year, figured it out, and went back to Cornell and ended up getting my doctorate from the University of Oxford.”

Brady often shared his personal journey with students as a way of reminding them that there are many paths to becoming an honors student, particularly at a large university like Penn State.

“Not everybody likes the idea that the dean of the honors college nearly failed out of college, but I think it’s important to be open and honest and transparent about these things because it helps give people room to fail.”

Brady oversaw a $80 million fundraising campaign during his tenure as dean, an effort designed to build upon the original gift from the Schreyers and ensure that the College could provide even more opportunities and support for students.

Part of this support involved bringing the honors experience to Penn State’s 12 academic colleges and 19 campuses. This work involved innovation again as Brady and the College’s leadership navigated complex relationships with stakehold ers across the University.

The goal was always to find ways that honors education could elevate the work of campuses and colleges, rather than adding barriers or burdens for students.

“Every honors student is a graduate of one of the other col leges or campuses, and this was the way that we brought everybody on board,” Brady said. “I was very intentional in bringing all the honors coordinators from the other campuses to University Park and visiting the honors programs at the campuses.”

years of innovation, agility, community, and integration

Between those meetings and campus visits, Brady encouraged open communication between honors coordinators across the university and tried to open as many doors as possible for students outside of University Park.

“I wanted to make sure that Schreyer scholarships or grants were open to everybody, regardless of which campus or college they were part of,” Brady said.

Brady now serves as dean of the Lewis Honors College at the University of Kentucky. He brought with him many of the traditions that he started at Schreyer, along with the mindset about creating a more expansive and integrated view of honors education.

“I still maintain that honors is much broader than GPA,” Brady said. “It’s not just about the smartest person in the room … it’s about the smartest people in the room who care about the people who couldn’t get into the room. And the people who may not even know that the room exists.”

Integrating honors education across Penn State also applies to pushing students to explore opportunities outside of their home college. Bonsall now serves as the Director of Honors in the Smeal College of Business; in that role, he often en courages business students to branch out and explore the disciplines that underlie modern finance.

“Business disciplines are all built on social sciences at their core … half of the Smeal majors are built on psychology, and the other half are built on economics,” Bonsall said. “It’s important for any business major, and particularly a Schreyer Scholar, to understand those underpinnings. I encourage my students to go back and find that parent discipline and understand how that relates to the coursework that they’ve done and the research question they want to answer in their thesis.”

agility: Creating change at scale

Peggy Johnson became dean in 2017 after serving as head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In that role, she worked to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in the department— what she describes as “giving everyone a voice.”

Johnson brought that philos ophy to the Honors College and pushed to put equity at the forefront of the entire Scholar lifecycle from admis sions through graduation and beyond. Johnson hired Dr.

Lynette Yarger, the College’s first Assistant Dean for Equity and Inclusion. [Dr. Yarger was recently promoted to Associ ate Dean for Equity and Inclusion in the College.]

“We wanted to make sure that we were being equitable in our offers and treating the students equitably and in an inclusive way once they got into the College,” Johnson said.

“I worked with a group of students on this who were just fantastic … and it seems to be well received by the staff and students,”

The framework already in place for being agile and making change quickly helped move these initiatives forward and pivot the Honors experience to a virtual environment during the pandemic. The pandemic also brought to light the need to focus on mental health—another area where Johnson pushed for an agile response to meet both student and staff needs.

“Along with the high energy and global outlook of an honors student can come a lot of anxiety and stress,” Johnson said.

“It was just unbelievable how much they wanted to accom plish, and I wanted to help students be mentally healthy and be in a good place, whatever that place is.”

Patrick Mather joined the Col lege as dean in August 2021.

Like Johnson, Mather is an engineer by training and always on the lookout for ways to improve processes and make the best use of resources across the College.

“I’m an introvert, but I’m also a catalyst. I definitely like to live at the front end of things, and I see the potential for things that don’t exist yet,” Mather said. “We as a lead ership team are excited by implementation and seeing things come to life. And that’s where I hope our legacy as a team will be.”

Another opportunity for innovation is in the College’s phys ical spaces in Simmons and Atherton Halls—some of which have remained largely unchanged since 1997. Coming out of the pandemic, Mather hopes to create spaces that facilitate small group collaboration and, building on Johnson’s mental health initiatives, places to relax and recharge.

Mather described this approach as “belonging by design,” or an interior design philosophy intended to instill a sense of be longing and create a welcoming atmosphere in shared spaces.

“If students opt to stay in a common area and have a conversation, as opposed to going back to their dorm room, then good things will happen,” Mather said. “One additional conversation can open a mind and develop a connection or identify a pathway.”

Mather also plans to bring an innovative approach to the thesis process and expand the opportunity for how students conduct and present their work.

“I want to help students find an equitable way to complete their research trajectory,” Mather said. “Whether it’s research or creative work, we can’t count on luck when it comes to finding opportunities and collaborators. We are very interested in designing multiple ways and channels to find that professor, that lab, or that studio that will feed the fire in the belly and help them succeed.”

The next 25 years: looking to the future

The College was founded in 1997 to create the next generation of leaders to tackle the world’s most pressing problems. Twenty-five years later, the need for those leaders is perhaps even more urgent.

Today’s Scholars recognize the gravity of the challenges they’ll face as they leave Penn State and enter the world at large—and they’re more than ready to apply their academic excellence, global perspective, and civic leadership skills to do their part in creating a safer, more sustainable world.

Scholar Michael Mitole (’22 Bus) sees the process of writing a thesis as one step along a broader intellectual journey that will prepare him to push for positive change.

“The life of a Scholar really is how we take part in the process by which ideas are made that move the world forward and solve our problems,” Mitole said. “And I was very interested in having the chance to do that because, over the course of my two years before joining Schreyer, I identified the things that kept me up at night, the problems that I wanted to solve, and the impacts that I wanted to make on the world.”

Newman has been back to University Park nearly every semester since he graduated in 2001. He’s seen a lot of positive change in that time and feels hopeful about what the future holds will bring for the College.

Newman, along with the College’s broader network of alumni and friends, are dedicated to doing what he can to support that work over the next 25 years and beyond.

“The Schreyer Honors College has emerged as, in many ways, the crown jewel of honors education, both nationally, as well as at Penn State,” Newman said. “My hope is that the im pression and impact that the College is able to make on the student body, on the University at large, and quite frankly, on the U.S. and the world only grows and deepens as we have additional classes of alumni graduating and having an impact on the world.”

Scholars

Park

How Graduating Scholars Perform

Five- and Ten-Year Outcomes

Schreyer community steps up in support of record Penn State fundraising campaign

A six-year, University-wide fundraising campaign titled A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence reached an em phatic conclusion this June by surpassing its $2.1 billion goal. The generous support of Honors College alumni, partners, and friends allowed Schreyer to contribute a robust $19.9 million that helped push the campaign beyond its target.

According to Sean Miller, the College’s senior director of development and alumni relations, “the focus on our Scholars” was the driving force that delivered such a significant amount of money.

“The vast majority of [our] total raised [will benefit] the campaign’s Open Doors imperative, which directly supports our Schreyer Scholars with financial need,” Miller said. “Our Scholars are exception ally talented, and sometimes they need extra financial assistance to help them across the finish line towards their degree. This campaign is helping them earn their Penn State degree and Schol ars medal on time with less debt.”

Along with increased scholarship funding, the money raised through this campaign will expand resources for travel abroad, research, and internship support.

Miller is quick to point out that many people played crucial roles in making those resources a reality for current and future Scholars.

“[Scholar alumnus] Ryan Newman (Bus ’01) deserves a ton of thanks for his leadership as volunteer chair for the Honors College in the campaign. Dean Patrick Mather helped bring us home in the last year of the campaign, former Dean Peggy Johnson really provided needed leadership during her tenure, and former Dean Chris Brady helped to plan the campaign.

“Thousands of people stepped up to give in support of Schreyer Scholars. There are too many to list, but each person who gave, whether it was $5 or $500,000 deserves a huge thank you. Lastly, the College’s development and alumni relations team worked really hard day-in and day-out in support of the Scholars,” he said.

While the Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence campaign and its total of $2,204,949,028 raised is cause for great celebration, fundraising and development work must continue with diligent purpose.

“We still have some lofty goals when it comes to supporting Scholars and their academic success,” Miller said. “Support from alumni, parents, and friends is an investment in the future so Scholars can go out and make a positive impact on the world. Philanthropy in support of the Schreyer Honors College is truly helping to shape those who will shape the world.”

For details on fundraising and development opportunities, please contact Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Sean Miller at smm401@psu.edu. Also, you can make a gift to Schreyer Honors College at raise.psu.edu/Schreyer

It’s all Dutch to them: Two Scholars’ journey to a summer studying linguistics in the Netherlands

Amira El-Dinary and Amanda Gryskevicz like to call themselves the “A-Team.” While they borrow their name from a television show from nearly 40 years ago, they are forward-thinking with their research and studies in linguistics and psychology.

The pair of rising fourth-year Scholars spent eight weeks together this past summer at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. While there, El-Dinary and Gryskevicz began working on a proect for which they would collect and analyze speech recognition data from English monolingual and Dutch-English bilingual speakers to gain a deeper understanding of speech perception. Ultimately, their findings could help im prove word learning and conversation.

El-Dinary summarized the project saying that “participants will be listening to single words in background speech. For example, we will play the word ‘lawn mower’ in the presence of two speakers talking in the background and the goal is to identify and type the word ‘lawnmower’ and tune out the background sentences.”

The seeds for their research and international studies were planted in the fall of 2020, when life at Penn State functioned a bit differently than it does today.

“I was a teaching assistant for a Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) class, which is my major, and at the time, Amanda was also in that major and a student in the class,” said El-Dinary. “Everything was on Zoom, and she popped into my Zoom office hours.”

“It was right after the first exam, and I hadn’t done as well as I wanted,” added Gryskevicz. “I went to Amira to get some help, and I remember having a great conversation with her.

“She was so open to me, and we were able to bounce ideas off each other. I thought, ‘This is going to be a great academic colleague,’ and it turned out to be so much more than that,” Gryskevicz continued.

In the summer of 2021, Gryskevicz’s enthusiasm for psychology prompted her to change her major. However, her interests in the science around commu nication and its associated disorders

helped maintain the burgeoning con nection between her and El-Dinary.

That same summer, the pair connected in person for the first time. The women got along just as well face-to-face as they did online and soon after began pursuing their opportunity to travel internationally and study linguistics.

With help from advisors who understood the synergy between their disciplines, El-Dinary and Gryskevicz applied for and were accepted into Partnerships for International Research and Educa tion (PIRE). Funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, PIRE has established an “international research network that has enabled new discover ies about the consequences of bilingual and multilingual experience for learning and the brain.”

In reflecting on what made PIRE the ideal international study program for them, the women highlighted how it incorporated three critical factors; traveling to a different country, doing research, and writing their theses. For Gryskevicz in particular, the travel element was especially exciting.

“I never previously had the time or re sources to travel outside the country,”

she said. “A lot of our education abroad training modules mentioned some of the culture shock you can get. I remem ber thinking while we were preparing for the program, ‘I want to be culturally shocked.’”

Beyond experiencing a new country, El-Dinary and Gryskevicz spent many hours immersed in their research. They attended a linguistics conference at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguis tics, then a few weeks later, presented to colleagues at the Institute on their project’s progress. The presentation was especially valuable because they shared their work with researchers and scholars who “make it their lives work to investigate what we had only spent a few months on.”

Navin Viswanathan, associate profes sor in CSD, is an advisor on the project and sees the potential for impactful real-world applications for El-Dinary’s and Gryskevicz’s findings.

“Work including the type that Amanda and Amira are engaged in is critical to understanding both foundational aspects of speech-in-noise processing as well as developing solutions to the problems such as listening in noisy conditions,” he said.

Amanda Gryskevicz (L) and Amira El-Dinary (R) during their summer studying at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands

Scholar alumni and students come together for Alumni Awards Ceremony and Connect

After two years defined mainly by virtual events and programming, March of 2022 brought a refreshing change for Schreyer Honors College. The Alumni Awards Ceremony and annual Connect Networking and Career Day were hosted in person at University Park and allowed current Scholars and alumni to interact with each other face-to-face.

Held on back-to-back days, the awards ceremony and Connect showcased, in unique ways, the powerful benefits of networking and relationships that are built within the Honors College community.

The Alumni Awards Ceremony brought back to campus Scholar graduates from as far away as Los Angeles and as nearby as Philadelphia. They were recognized for exemplary leadership skills and high achievement in their fields, and excellence in mentoring current Scholars. Connect, sponsored by the David S. Rocchino Family Foundation, meanwhile, gave current Scholars an entire afternoon to meet, learn from, and gain perspective on their careers from Scholar alumni who excel in their respective fields.

“Returning to campus sparked so many strong emotions that I genuinely did not anticipate,” noted McKenny. “I will never forget when Donna Meyer (Schreyer Honors College director of student programs) recognized me from behind, hugged me, and told me how good it was to see me again. I felt like family.”

They were joined at Connect by Ellie Manca ’21 HHD, associate scientific communications manager with AlphaGroup Medical Communications. Her attendance was noteworthy because she was the lead student volunteer working on Connect in 2019, its most recent in-person offering prior to 2022.

“Sitting in on panels to impart my advice upon current students really felt surreal to me,” Manca said. “I was impressed and humbled by the Scholars in attendance. It reminded me of what Schreyer is all about, and it reminded me how driven my peers were and are. Their drive ended up motivating me, too.”

This year, rising second-year Scholar Lauren Clymer held the role formerly occupied by Manca. She worked alongside College staff in creating Connect’s schedule, gathering input for the event’s programming from alumni and fellow Scholars, assisting with marketing, and helping to run the event.

“After months of planning, it was amazing to see the hall ways of the Forest Resources Building filled with Scholars and alumni interacting and making connections,” Clymer said. “While there are benefits to virtual networking oppor tunities, many students gave us feedback that networking feels more natural in-person.”

As the day wound down, Clymer noticed many attendees taking extra advantage of their time together.

“I loved seeing Scholars and alumni interacting after the last panel session of the day. That, to me, was Connect achieving its goal,” she said.

For Harkless and McKenny, their participation in the events and collaboration with the College are a testament to the overall commitment to Scholars’ successes as students and professionals.

Brian Harkless, command property officer division director with NAVAIR (U.S. Navy), and Stephanie McKenny, police psychol ogist with the Los Angeles Police Department, were two Scholar alumni who traveled to University Park to participate in the events. Harkless ‘95 Eng received the 2021 Outstanding Scholar Alumni Award, and the 2022 Outstanding Scholar Alumni award went to McKenny ‘87 Lib, ‘90g, ‘96g Edu. They were both profoundly appreciative of the chance to be pres ent at the events, and to be honored for their achievements.

“It was wonderful being in the more intimate settings of the awards ceremony and Connect,” said Harkless. “[They] highlighted the strong desire for, and tangible benefit of, building and maintaining relationships built on handshakes rather than Zoom backgrounds.”

aWaRD RECIPIENTS

Dr. alyssa Todaro brooks ’10 HHD

2021 outstanding Scholar alumni Mentor award

laurie burgess ’85 lib

2022 outstanding Scholar alumni Mentor award

Dr. Christopher X. Hong ’12 Eng

2022 outstanding GolD (Graduate of the last Decade) Scholar alumni award

laura Shupp ’14 lib

2022 outstanding GolD (Graduate of the last Decade) Scholar alumni award

brian J. Harkless ’95 Eng

2021 outstanding Scholar alumni award

Dr. Iris V. Rivero ’96, ’98g, ’02g Eng 2021 outstanding Scholar alumni award

Trevor Kress ’07 Comm

2022 outstanding Scholar alumni award

“I believe that a Penn State education in general, and an Honors experience in particular, build an inherent desire to give back to the community that invested so much time and effort into my own education and growth that there’s nothing I wouldn’t be on board to help out with,” said Harkless. “I’ve never said no to helping a Penn Stater, and I can’t foresee a situation where that would change.”

“It’s important for me to be a resource to Scholars because it creates a sense of belonging for them as they move in overdrive towards their professional goals and aspirations,” added McKenny. “Schreyer Scholars are, individually, truly among the best and brightest in the world and, collectively, can be the fulcrum that moves the world.”

Dr. Stephanie barone McKenny ’87 lib, ’90g, ’96g Edu 2022 outstanding Scholar alumni award

Ending the year with a

Near the conclusion of their first year at Penn State, a pair of Schreyer Scholars took the opportunity to use a class project to spread gratitude among University staff.

In ENGL 138T: Rhetoric and Civic Life, students Leah Monty and Bailey McLaughlin were charged with leading an advocacy campaign on an important topic. The assignment’s timing played a significant role in choosing their topic.

“At the end of the semester, it made sense that it was the time for ‘Thank You’s,” explained Monty. “People often forget that the housing and dining staff are just as integral to our success in college as our professors, classmates, and others.”

“We chose to make expressing gratitude to the housing and dining staff the focus of our project because they may go unnoticed and not get thanked enough,” said McLaughlin.

Because the housing and dining staff’s work impacts so many Penn Staters, Monty and McLaughlin wanted to get contri butions of appreciation from as many of their peers as possible.

During the week of April 18, they brought large cards to commons areas outside of each dining hall and spent hours asking students passing by to sign the cards.

“We were very pleased with students’ reactions when we explained that the cards would be distributed to the staff members in their buildings,” McLaughlin said. “Many indi viduals expressed how glad they were to have the opportunity to sign and thank the staff members.”

“There was one moment on the phone when we were asking permission to set up in the commons that was pretty memo rable,” Monty noted. “I was talking with one of the resident life coordinators, and when I explained what we were doing, her whole voice lit up, and she seemed so excited and appre ciative of our project.”

All told, over 100 students signed the cards that Monty and McLaughlin hand-delivered to the housing and dining staff.

Additionally, they worked on social media graphics and digital posters that showcased small and simple ways the University community could show gratitude daily. According to Monty,

on

they collaborated with the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) to get the content shared on UPUA’s social media channels.

Beyond their coursework, both Monty and McLaughlin work to incorporate gratitude and kindness into their daily lives because they realize the power those acts hold in raising up people within their communities.

As they continue their journeys at Penn State, they plan to take with them the lesson that students are empowered to make positive impacts, large or small, on the University community.

Staff Spotlight: Q&A with Tom Weber

Q: What are the key responsibilities of your role as Director of Information Technology for Schreyer Honors College?

A: I lead the College’s IT team in providing computer support for the College’s staff. Our team provides IT systems for the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the college: Student Records System (SRS), First Year Admissions management system including the Alumni Interview system, and our Scholarship Acknowledgement system to name a few.

Q: What drives your interest in information technology, and what parts of your job are the most rewarding?

A: For me, it’s about solving problems and helping people to do their work easier, faster, or better. I like to see the “A-ha” moment when I help someone figure out a new way of doing something or helping them solve a frustrating problem.

Q: You’re a Penn State alumnus with a degree in agricultural engineering and you grew up on a dairy farm in eastern Pa. How would you describe the journey that led you to where you are now?

A: I was active in 4-H clubs growing up and that gave me lifelong connections in Cooperative Extension and the College of Agricultural Sciences. My high school guidance counselor said one day, “You are strong in math and science, and you’ve grown up on a farm, have you ever considered Ag Engineering?” That was the first I had heard about the major. It piqued my interest, so I applied to Penn State and graduated with a BS degree.

My computer interest started in 1982-83 during my last year of college. I worked a part-time job in the state 4-H office programming an Apple IIe computer. That led to full-time work in IT for Cooperative Extension. I was a team member on a $2 million grant to computerize Cooperative Extension. We set up computers, trained staff, and established a statewide network to share research information with the public. Cre ating solutions to help people has always been interesting and challenging for me through 25 years with the College of Ag Sciences and now 13 years with Schreyer Honors College.

Q: You’ve been on the Honors College staff since 2008. Do you have a favorite memory from your time with Schreyer?

A: Generally, the best memories have been the student inter actions and creating technology-enabled solutions for faculty, staff, and students. A proud moment for me came when our team (IT and Admissions) was recognized with an IT Collaboration Award for the admissions system that was first created in 2009 to manage the 4,000+ Honors College applica tions we receive annually.

Q: Readers might be surprised to learn that even though they never met you, they have likely heard your voice. You serve as the nomenclator, the one who reads the medal recipients’ names, at the Honors College Medals Ceremony. What’s it like for you, participating in such a memorable day for Scholars and their families?

A: I enjoy being part of such a memorable day and take pride in announcing the names. Some of these students are first generation, as I was, and that has extra significance for me. I also think it’s important that the families and guests hear

their student’s name pronounced correctly as they cross the stage. Students help with phonetics, and I take extra time to study the names ahead of the ceremony.

Q: Your daughter got married back in May. What was the day, what was the experience like? Also, what song did the two of you dance to?

A: May 14 was a beautiful day all around! The ceremony was at the Arboretum at Penn State—such an excellent venue. My wife, Rosemary, and I are so happy for them.

Carly and I danced to Alan Jackson’s “Always Be My Baby” then Carly surprised me. Near the end of the song the DJ switched to the Pennsylvania Polka so we could dance to that. Polka was a dance that I taught Carly when she was young, and it was something we had fun with over the years.

That was a nice surprise!

For those that know me there is often a story or small world connection…in this case a story. My daughter Carly and Jonathan met at a mutual friend’s wedding in August 2018, she caught the bouquet, and he caught the garter and they’ve been together since then. Well, that continues the family tradition, since my wife and I met at my brother’s wedding, we were paired up as bridesmaid and groomsman and have been together for 31 years in June.

Scholar builds global connections through agriculture education

Record number of College staff attend HERU

In 2013, Schreyer Honors College and Penn State hosted the inaugural, bi-annual Honors Education at Research Univer sities (HERU) conference. Designed to share best practices and develop relationships that meet the needs of honors programs and colleges at Research 1 universities, HERU features a unique structure.

Every two years that the conference takes place, it is due to the work of a new planning committee with the host institution serving as chair. That decision, along with creating a committee structure that passes decision-making from one to another, allows the conference to operate with minimal overhead and possess the agility to respond to the changing needs of honors students.

This past summer, after a pandemic-related pause, the Honors College at the University of Houston hosted the fifth HERU Conference, and Schreyer Honors College sent 10 staff mem bers – more than any year prior — to the event. Representatives from the dean’s office, admissions, career development, development and alumni relations, and information technology all made the trip to Texas.

pandemic has changed people and the way we think about the work we do to give access to and support students.”

Mather noted that attending the conference was an energizing experience for the Honors College staff, and that plans are being made to incorporate ideas that they brought home.

“Many ideas emerged, and our hallways have been abuzz with discussion since the conference – with perfect timing relative to strategic planning activities,” he noted. “I am particularly excited about best practices and creative ideas in the areas of first-year experience (for incoming Scholars) and mental well-being for the whole community.”

Brandon Bixler did not grow up on a farm. However, he hails from Lancaster County, which, according to county officials, is comprised of 65% agricultural land. He had a “transforma tive” experience there, and now, the rising third-year Scholar is charting his path as an agriculture educator.

“In the United States, less than 2% of the population is involved in production agriculture. In some ways, that represents a lot of development, and on the other hand, the 98% of us who don’t work in that every day can easily become disconnected from the industry,” Bixler said.

“In high school, I was very blessed to have teachers who showed me those connections and showed me the importance of the industry and how it provides for the food needs of people all around the world,” he added. “So, that’s where the passion came from.”

A student who values augmenting classroom lessons with real-world learning opportunities, Bixler joined his high school’s chapter of FFA, which provided him with ample “hands-on, experiential learning opportunities.” The organization was formerly known as Future Farmers of America and changed its name to reflect the broad scope of careers within the agriculture industry. Within that scope, Bixler learned about agriculture education and how it aligns with his goal of positively impacting the world.

“It’s an industry where there’s potential to do a lot of good. There are so many places around the world where people don’t have access to three meals a day,” Bixler said. “These chal lenges are complex, and there are so many components to them. That excites me because it allows me to connect all of these different aspects to hopefully make a positive change.”

Since enrolling at Penn State, Bixler has taken on an intern ship with the Global Teach Ag Network (GTAN). Founded by the husband-and-wife team of Penn State faculty members Dr. Daniel Foster and Dr. Melanie Miller Foster, GTAN works to “empower educators to address global food systems trans-

formation.” Bixler highlights advising the Global Learning in Agriculture (GLAG) Reads program and assisting with execut ing the year-long, virtual GLAG Conference as significant projects on which he’s worked.

“[The conference] is our biggest event of the year, and this year, for the first time, we shifted to a year-long model of virtual content delivery,” he noted. “We have over 1,000 educators from 45 countries participating, so it truly is a global conference.”

While Bixler spent many hours during the past academic year helping to facilitate international connections among agriculture educators, he got firsthand experience with global agri culture this past May.

Along with a group of three other Penn Staters, Bixler traveled with the Rebuild Nepal Education Foundation to “experience STEM education in remote areas” of the country. While there, they used a method called photovoice, which allowed Nepal ese educators to provide a first-person perspective of their learning environments and resources through photographs. By analyzing that data, they sought to understand areas where help could be offered, such as ensuring that skills are taught and learned in the classroom could be applied in real life.

“The experience was stretching in many ways and a blessing in so many more,” said Bixler. “Throughout the trip, I met people who work hard to provide students with a quality education with the resources available.

“I met people who strive to inspire every student who walks in their classroom door, no matter the challenges they face.

Above all, I met people who show up and do the hard work to help others whenever and wherever they can. I count myself as fortunate to have been a part of something so meaningful.”

Support international study through the William Schreyer International Study Scholarship at raise.psu.edu/SHCTravel

While there, Honors College staff presented on topics such as elevating diversity, equity, and inclusion in honors education, the effective use of an honors advisory board, and more. They also attended various lectures and panel discussions and networked with colleagues from peer institutions like Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan State, Louisiana State, and Arizona State.

Upon returning to University Park, the attendees were eager to share their takeaways from the conference:

Patrick Mather, Dean: “This conference was such a time of friendship, pride, and fun for Team Schreyer. And as the Col lege’s dean, I was incredibly proud of our palpable reputation among attendees and the high quality of presentations at the various sessions by our staff members.”

Melanie Frantz Finocchio, Coordinator of Stewardship: “It was important for me to attend this year’s HERU in Houston so that I could break out of my comfort zone, learn in a new space, and network. My presentation went well! The audience was engaged. Afterwards, in the company of my Schreyer colleagues, I felt a sense of belonging and pride. Although our roles in the Honors College are vastly different, we share at least one commonality—a commitment to our Scholars’ success.”

Sean Miller, Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations: “Attending HERU allowed for my colleagues and me to connect with development and alumni professionals at other institutions. The conversations were enlightening, allowing us to benchmark against other programs. It reaf firmed that the Honors College is on the right path forward and our alumni and supporters are second to none.”

Deyo Olorunnisola, Director of Admissions: “Conversations about how people coped with their personal and professional stressors during the pandemic were valuable. Though few came through without stress and major adjustments, people I spoke with had mostly positive outcomes and found new ways to energize themselves. This conference represented a return to ‘normal’ and it was also valuable to see how the

Deyo Olorunnisola (center, blue sweater) and fellow Big Ten honors college staff members

Melanie Frantz Finocchio presents at HERU 2022

Sean Miller presents at HERU 2022

(L, front to back) Deyo Olorunnisola, Ben Carr, Lynette Yarger (R, front to back) Sean Miller, Melanie Frantz Finocchio, Patrick Mather, Zaryab Iqbal

Zaryab Iqbal assumes role as Schreyer Honors College associate dean

as an administrator, she plans to take an engaged approach to grasp how those complexities impact Schreyer.

“I want to ramp up efforts for faculty outreach, both at University Park and the Commonwealth Campuses, because each college is unique, and there are even additional differences among departments within colleges,” Iqbal said. “So, I am planning a listening tour of colleges and campuses to understand their particular needs.”

Iqbal’s work will focus heavily on academic affairs, student programming, and admissions. She explained that she has crafted her goals and strategies for the position around what she calls the “Schreyer Promise.”

building a global perspective, and creating opportunities for leadership and civic engagement

In particular, Iqbal draws on her experi ence at the National Science Foundation to help impart leadership lessons, she said.

“My work at the NSF showcased to me the importance of communicating the value of science to a diverse range of stakeholders,” she said. “The true contribution of science lies in its soci etal impact and support for scientific endeavors at all levels necessitates scientists’ ability to communicate their work to broad audiences clearly.

SCHREYER HoNoRS CollEGE EXTERNal aDVISoRY boaRD

Mr. William bogdan, attorney at law, Hinshaw and Culbertson, LLP

Mr. Mark bowser, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Cox Automotive

Mr. William Donato Jr., president and chief operating officer, Safegard Group, Inc.

Mr. Robert Edwards, retired executive vice president, PNC Bank; vice-chairman, External Advisory Board

Mr. Charlie frazier, treasurer, BDR Properties, Inc.

Ms. linda Gall

Mr. arthur Glenn, retired vice president, General Electric Company

Ms. lisa Hart, senior vice president, Commercial Real Estate, M&T Bank

Mr. Edward Marx, executive director, Enterprise Analytics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Mr. Nathan Nair, neurosurgery residency director and associate professor, Georgetown University Hospital

Mr. Ryan Newman, managing director, Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Ms. Carol Packard, associate vice president, colleges and units— alumni affairs and development, Cornell University

Mr. Robert Poole, president and CEO, S&A Homes, Inc.; CEO, Poole Anderson Construction; chairman, External Advisory Board

Mr. Mark Prybutok, managing director, GI Partners

Mr. Rick Riegel, chairman, Actigraph & Deerfield Agency

Ms. Kristin Smith, senior vice president and chief counsel, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Mr. Stephen Snyder, retired managing partner, Accenture (Comms/High Tech/Energy)

Mr. brian Stern, president, Fairpointe Wealth Partners, LLC

Ms. Kathryn Sutton, retired partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius

Mr. Tony Talbert, partner, The Shidler Group,

Mr. Joseph Versaggi, senior vice president— real estate, Washington Capital Management

Mr. David Wagner, president and chief executive officer, Everbridge

Mr. Edward Weber, senior vice president and CFO, MLB Advanced Media, LP

Schreyer Honors College named Dr. Zaryab Iqbal as its new associate dean on January 3, 2022. An international relations expert and a veteran educator and administrator, Iqbal brings a global approach and a fresh perspective to the College’s leadership.

Iqbal holds a doctorate in political science and has been on the College of the Liberal Arts faculty at Penn State for 14 years. With administrative roles both at Penn State and at the National Science Foundation also on her resume, Iqbal will help lead Schreyer Scholars from across the University who come from a wide range of disciplines and have varying co-curricular interests.

“I’m most excited about this opportunity [as associate dean] because of my longstanding interest in interdisciplinary approaches to academic outcomes,” said Iqbal. “Schreyer Honors College is a space within Penn State in which we are trying to harness the strengths of all colleges, all disciplines, and all campuses. That effort, by necessity, calls for an interdisciplinary approach.”

During her time at Penn State, Iqbal has developed an understanding of the resources and complexities that come with the University’s size, she said. Now,

“My purpose is to help the College deliver exceptional academic outcomes for all of our Scholars,” Iqbal noted. “When we talk about exceptional outcomes, the focus is on student success.

“Going forward, I will seek opportunities to be directly involved in Schreyer’s processes for enhancing student success and access,” she continued. “By removing barriers to goal achievement through addressing financial needs, incorporating inclusive practices, and helping students engage with the University community, both socially and academically, Schreyer can deliver on its promise.”

Iqbal is not alone in bringing fresh ideas, goals and strategies to the col lege’s leadership team. Patrick Mather was appointed dean in June 2021, and began his role on Aug.16 following the retirement of former dean Peggy A. Johnson. Iqbal said that the dynamic between her and Mather has been very collaborative.

“Pat and I talk frequently and think about strategies to combine our re spective strengths to enhance various aspects of the Scholars’ experiences,” she said. “We enjoy talking about the new directions in which we could take Schreyer.”

No matter where those new directions lead, said Iqbal, she and Mather will work to continue to deliver on the Honors College’s mission of promoting academic excellence with integrity,

“To that end, I am committed to efforts that will help Schreyer Scholars build the skills needed to speak across disciplines and professions,” Iqbal continued.

“Whatever venue our Scholars pursue in their careers, effective communication will be critical to their success.”

As a researcher, Iqbal’s time has been dedicated to international relations, focusing on the consequences of milita rized conflict, issues related to political violence, and state failure. She credited her interest in that field of study to an experience from her teenage years; in high school she took a course in world history that had a section on World War II and the Holocaust, and that intro duced her to the concept of genocide.

“I decided that I wanted to pursue higher education in a field that would help me understand how violent conflict impacts ordinary people and civilians,” she said.

For Scholars, and students at large, who are discovering and pursuing their pro fessional interests at Penn State, Iqbal said that if something speaks to them at an emotional level, they should not disregard that feeling.

“They should always be open to pursuing what they feel passionately about,” she added. “When we feel passionately about something, we are in a much better po sition to make a long-term commitment to that.”

Mr. Reginald Hedgebeth, chief legal officer, Capital Group American Funds

Mr. Edward Hintz, president, Hintz Capital Management

Mr. Thomas lindquist, senior vice president /general manager for government programs, Medica

Mr. Todd H. lippincott, vice president, Global Rewards, Mars

Ms. Melissa Marshall, chief compliance officer, Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Ms. Tracy Riegel

Mr. brian Schmanske, president, Jupiter View Strategic Advisors, LLC

Ms. Drueanne Schreyer, president, BDR Properties, Inc.

Ms. Sarah Shaffer, rates manager, Equitrans Midstream Corporation

Mr. andrew Sieg, head of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Merrill Lynch

Mr. James Wiggins, retired managing director, Morgan Stanley & Co.

Mr. Christopher Wilson, senior associate, Baker Botts, LLP

Mr. Thomas Wilson, managing partner, Frederickson Partners

Ms. brenna Wist, retired partner, KPMG

Mr. Jack Yoskowitz, litigation partner, Seward & Kissel, LLP

SCHolaR alUMNI SoCIETY boaRD

Ms. alayna auerbach ’15 Bus, management consultant, MBO; chair, student engagement committee

Dr. Samuel b. bonsall IV ’04 Lib, ’04g Bus, ’12g Bus, Deloitte & Touche Teaching Excellence Professor in Accounting, Penn State Smeal College of Business

Mr. brian J. Ellis ’02 Lib, vice president, senior legal counsel, Fidelity Investments (Fidelity Institutional)

Ms. lori feathers ’90 Lib, co-owner and book buyer, Interabang Books

Mr. Nikolai foreman ’14 Bus, director, environmental markets research, Green Trading Capital

Ms. olivia francois ’14 Agr, test developer, Cambium Assessment

Ms. asia Grant ’17 Bus, founder, Redoux

Mr. brian J. Harkless ’95 Eng, command property officer, NAVAIR; chair, alumni engagement and membership committee

Mr. John Hemmer ’03 Eng, patent attorney and partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius

Mr. basel Kayyali ’96 Eng, senior partner, McKinsey & Company

Ms. Natalie Keller ’17 Agr, food scientist, La Colombe Coffee Roasters; president, Scholar Alumni Society

Ms. Eleni Kornblatt ’98 Bus, executive director, global marketing-HPV vaccines, Merck and Co.; co-chair, career development and mentorship committee

Dr. Kristin a lambert ’14 Agr, ’19g, ’21g Medicine, pediatric resident physician, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

Mr. Jared Edgar McKnight ’11 A&A, ’11 Lib, senior associate and designer, WRT Design

Mr. Michael o’Connor ’05 Eng, senior counsel, Kraken Cryptocurrency Exchange; co-chair, career development and mentorship committee

Dr. aleks Radovic-Moreno ’05 Eng, partner, Longwood Fund

Mr. aryath Narayanamangalam ’23 Eng, president, Schreyer Student Council

Ms. Emily Kowey Roth ’12 Lib, associate general counsel, Aramark

Mr. Nikhil Shekher ’16 Bus, technology investment banking associate, Jeffries

Ms. Kathryn Pruss Zeltwanger ’98 Lib, deputy general counsel, Armstrong Group; vice-president, Scholar Alumni Society

Scholar makes her mark in cybersecurity

In her formative years, Himani Vommi envisioned a future where she worked in medicine. Those plans shifted, however, when she attended her high school’s STEM outreach program. One workshop set Vommi on a path that led her to present her undergraduate research at a national cybersecurity conference.

“The workshop was called ‘Girls Exploring Tomorrow’s Technology’ where the speaker was a woman in computer science,” Vommi said. “She made me believe that I could do that, too.”

A spring 2022 Schreyer Honors College alumna who studied at Penn State Brandywine, Vommi earned her bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity analytics and operations. She credits Andy Landmesser, assistant teaching professor in information sciences and technology, for helping shape her desired career path.

“Dr. Landmesser told me about the cybersecurity program and how it had just been starting out,” Vommi said. “Because it’s such an emerging field I said, ‘Let me give it a try.’”

impact how information is processed and presented and, ulti mately, what decisions are made based on that information.

Landmesser, who advised Vommi through her thesis work, believes that her research will have valuable real-world applications.

“Her research is critical as society relies more on artificial intelligence to provide solutions using algorithms,” he said.

“Himani’s work can offer insight into what can be done if the overall system is corrupted then provides influenced responses to its users. She’s already making an impact on the cybersecurity industry as evidenced by her selection to speak at ExploitCon.”

Since graduating in May, Vommi has begun a full-time position as a software engineer with Lockheed Martin. According to Pew Research Center data, as a woman in a STEM profession, she helps make up a group that holds just 25% of today’s computer occupations in the United States. Like the woman she met at the high school workshop years ago, Vommi is working to open doors for future generations of girls and women who want to study and work in computer-related fields.

“Himani is absolutely a role model for other women in STEM,” said Landmesser. “She has taken part in STEM events at local high schools and spoken with accepted Penn State Brandy wine students, as well.”

From a chance meeting to exchanging vows: A Schreyer love story

On May 6, 2022, nearly 500 Scholars gathered at University Park for the medals ceremony that culminated their time at Schreyer. One day later, 162 miles to the east, two Scholar alumni who met because of a Schreyer Honors College t-shirt exchanged wedding vows and began their married life together.

Kylee Hansan’s and Sam Diacont’s story began way back in 2013 at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. She was there on a school trip. He, meanwhile, skipped school with his sister and future brother-in-law to go to the theme park. Little did Diacont know that the shirt he wore that day would play a large part in setting the course for his, and Hansan’s, future.

“There wasn’t a particular motivation to wear the [Honors College] shirt that day,” Diacont said. “I wore it a lot my senior year after deciding to go to Penn State but no specific reason that day.”

“During our freshman year, Sam would frequently venture up to my dorm on Atherton’s fourth floor with one of those three things,” Hansan said. “We would sit on my blue futon and either guess the jellybean flavor, eat Honey Nut Cheerios, or he would teach me the Rubik’s Cube.”

Diacont’s developed an interest in Rubik’s Cubes only when his next-door neighbor in Atherton Hall introduced him to a formulaic approach to solving the puzzle. He became “hooked on solving it faster and faster” and it turned into a hallmark of the early days of their relationship.

“I passed along to Kylee what he taught me, and it was a way we bonded during freshman year,” Diacont said. “I actually bought Kylee a Rubik’s Cube as a gift at one point.”

Today, the couple is a little over nine years past the day they first met and upon reflection, Diacont says that Schreyer’s role in their lives as a couple and individuals was “pivotal in every sense.”

Neither Hansan nor Diacont have been back to Six Flags Great Adventure, or any amusement park for that matter, since that fateful day. They have, however, held on to their Schreyer t-shirts and wore them in celebration on their first day as a married couple.

Vommi’s thesis, titled “Exploring Effectiveness of Host Based Intrusion Detection for Machine-Learning Data Defense,” has earned her national recognition and multiple opportunities to present her research at cybersecurity conferences. She gave a virtual ‘Firetalk’ at ExploitCon Spokane and then traveled to present in person at ExploitCon Reno in August.

Vommi built her thesis around the question: “We often use security monitoring tools to protect our [computer] systems, but how often do we monitor the security system itself?”

“Machine learning systems are only as good as the data and configurations used to train them, and the same rule applies to security tools powered by that type of technology,” she explained. “Splunk, the security monitoring tool my paper focuses on, has a machine learning plugin that can help with processing huge amounts of data.”

Her research investigates what happens to a security system’s machine learning toolkit, like Splunk, when its behavior is altered by a malicious actor. Even small changes to the way machine learning-powered security systems operate will

Vommi points to Mary Kotch, a lecturer in cybersecurity, as a source of inspiration to pursue a STEM career, and to sup port other women within the field.

“The advice and support Mary’s given me motivated me to pursue cybersecurity within my internship at Lockheed Martin,” she said. “Her advice and insight encouraged me to reach out and continue asking about opportunities on my team.”

In a similar way, Vommi helped a classmate overcome some obstacles in her own journey within the cybersecurity field.

“I said to her, ‘If you’re scared and excited to do something, then do it,’” Vommi said. “She was able to take that advice and make advances toward her career and reach out to an employer. It feels like passing a torch, the way I gained inspiration from a leader in cybersecurity and was then able to motivate another female student in the field. It is a won derful sequence that I hope to continue to be a part of.”

That shirt was the specific reason, though, that Hansan called out to him while they waited in line to ride a roller coaster.

“I didn’t hesitate at all. I remember seeing Sam in the Schreyer Honors College t-shirt and just being excited,” she said. “He was closer to the front of the line and going to board soon, so I just blurted out, ‘Do you go to Schreyer?’”

Diacont responded that he would begin in the fall, just moments before he took his ride on the coaster. Then amid the bustle of a busy amusement park, the pair missed on reconnecting that day. It wasn’t until months later, during their first weekend living in Atherton Hall, that Hansan and Diacont could get properly acquainted.

In Atherton’s TV lounge, Hansan and her roommate happened upon Diacont hanging out with some other first-year students. She recognized him right away and helped jog his memory about their brief encounter earlier that summer. Hansan said some “awkward” encounters followed during their first week of classes, including calling Diacont “Six Flags” because she couldn’t remember his first name. Before long though, they were spending hours together at a time and bonding over jel lybeans, Honey Nut Cheerios, and solving the Rubik’s Cube.

Schreyer graduate fights for equity in healthcare

Shravan Asthana envisions a medical career for himself in which he provides toptier care for patients. Beyond clincal work, he plans to delve into health systems design and research to improve the ‘how’ of delivering healthcare.

“The science of medicine, the systems of medicine and healthcare are really exciting to me,” he said. “Every expe rience I’ve had at Penn State has amplified those interests and turned them into a passion.”

Asthana says that he aspired to be a physician as far back as he can remember. While his time as a Scholar helped refine his interests within the field, recent developments impressed upon Asthana the importance of tackling larger, systemic issues in American healthcare.

“I think we have to start with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The inequalities, inequities, and inefficiencies in our system have always been visible, but during the pandemic they became obvious,” Asthana said. “As students and prehealth professionals, we are responsible and accountable for these issues because we will be a part of that system and have a role in shaping our patients’ lives.”

A spring 2022 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biologyneuroscience and economics, Asthana served as president of Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED), Penn State’s pre-health honors society. From that role, he helped lead a diversity in health

care task force that hosted a University-wide conference on April 3, 2022, that had a clear vision.

“We wanted to bring students into an interdisciplinary setting where we discussed, brainstormed, and ultimately delivered a change-making mindset where we became empowered to go out in our careers and make meaningful changes,” Asthana said.

The conference attendees used a design thinking methodology to brainstorm and continually iterate on potential solutions to equity and diversity problems within healthcare. Afterwards, teams presented their work to a panel of healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion experts. The intent, Asthana said, was to eventually test some of the proposed solutions in an effort to make a tangible difference in the real world.

The rationale behind gathering a group of students with medical and non-medical backgrounds was born of another lesson Asthana took from the pandemic. For him, it magnified the interconnectedness of the healthcare ecosystem from policy to communication to physician-patient relationships.

“In my career, I know I’m going to be working with folks from drug companies, insurance companies, members of the healthcare team, healthcare economists, and hospital admin istrators,” Asthana said. “Understanding how to bring us all together on a common mission of making healthcare more equitable is really pivotal to where I see my career going.”

With his time at Penn State complete, Asthana will take the next step toward his medical career by enrolling at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. While there, he intends to serve in an advisory role for future diver sity in healthcare conferences at Penn State.

Alumni Admissions Interview Program

The Schreyer Honors College Alumni Admissions Interview Program (AAIP) brings Scholar alumni together with first-year applicants for optional, 30-minute interviews that allow the students to gain a deeper understanding of what life is like as a Scholar at Penn State from the people who experienced it. At the same time, it is a great opportunity for Scholar alumni to stay connected and to act as valued resources for the admissions team.

During interviews each fall, Scholar alumni help move students toward the same kind of experiences they enjoyed as Scholars. Launched as a pilot program only eight years ago, AAIP received a 2019 Volunteer Group Award for Young Alumni Involvement from the Penn State Alumni Association.

Learn how you can be a part of the College’s largest and most flexible alumni program by visiting the link at this code:

1. Register.

2. Review the training video and manual.

3. Enter your availability.

4. Interview matching applicants.

97% of interviewers from Fall 2020 would likely/very likely participate again 97.3% of interviewers were satisfied or extremely satisfied with their experience

“Volunteering through our Alumni Admissions Interview Program has allowed me to stay connected to the Honors College and meet fellow alumni, sparking my current involvement in the Honors College Alumni Society. It’s incredibly rewarding to meet prospective students and share my pride for Penn State and the College with future generations of Scholars.”

— NATALIE KELLER ’17, SCHOLAR ALUMNI SOCIETY BOARD PRESIDENT

“It was easy and rewarding to interview Schreyer Honors College candidates, share my experience, and answer their questions. I wish I’d had the same opportunity years ago!”

REGISTRATION OPENS SEPTEMBER 20

CREaTE oR UPDaTE your LIONLink profile to connect with students in programs such as Mentoring with Honors or the Connect Database.

CHECK YoUR EMaIl for upcoming events, programs, and opportunities to get involved.

STaY CoNNECTED to the Schreyer Honors College by following our social media platforms.

— JOCI ’95

“This is a fantastic program—and truly a reason why I chose to attend the Honors College as an applicant and now feel strongly about giving back. Keep up the great work— thank you for organizing interviews each year.”

— BILLY ’20

“Volunteering as an interviewer is a great way to pay it forward, demonstrate your commitment to students and the University, help shape the future of the Honors College, and stay connected with Penn State.”

MICHAEL

SHC.PSU.EDU

Schreyer Honors College

The Pennsylvania State University

10 Schreyer Honors College

University Park, PA 16802-3905

Phone: 814-863-2635

Email: scholars@psu.edu

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The University is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information, or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University’s educational mission, and will not be tolerated. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to Dr. Kenneth Lehrman III, Vice Provost for Affirmative Action, Affirmative Action Office, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 168025901; Email: kfl2@psu.edu; Tel 814-863-0471. U.Ed. 22-90