Updates from around Schreyer Honors College, including new staff, staff promotions, recent gifts and new programming.
New Director of Development Q&A
Q: What excites you about taking on the role of Schreyer’s director of development and alumni relations?
A: One of the biggest things that I’m excited about is the fact that I’m coming back home to the college where I started my development career. In my first tenure here, I had the privilege of working closely with many of the External Advisory Board members. Their passion, dedication, and commitment to the college’s mission left a lasting impression on me. These relationships were not just professional but also deeply personal, as I witnessed firsthand the positive impact they had on our Scholars and the broader community. This sense of camaraderie and shared vision made returning to Schreyer an enticing option.
I’m also looking forward to working with the leadership team on Dean Mather’s vision to continually elevate the College.
His commitment to increasing need-based scholarships, his leadership in establishing the New Scholar Experience and his supporting connections with Schreyer Scholars at Commonwealth Campuses align perfectly with my values of access, affordability, and equity of opportunity. This holistic approach to creating an inclusive environment where all students can thrive is inspiring.
Q: How did your work as director of major gifts in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and your previous role with the Honors College as assistant director of development (2019-2021) help prepare you for this step in your career?
A: When I first started in the Honors College, my role was to go, go, go and meet as many Scholar alumni as possible. The goal was to build those relationships and help figure out the best ways for them to get involved, whether that was through volunteering, giving, mentoring or other opportunities. It was a very fast pace, and then moving to Earth and Mineral Sciences made me slow down a lot.
In my role [with EMS] I was able to grow through leadership opportunities, mentoring, significant gift projects with various donors and conversations with faculty. I was mentoring younger members of our development staff and served as a chair on an employee resource group for development and alumni relations cross-cultural alliances. It gave me insight on how to be a better listener, colleague, mentor, friend and leader… things that will be really useful in my new role.
With that experience working for me, I can go into deeper, more meaningful conversations about how we can work with our alumni to benefit the College holistically. I’m thinking about how to help Scholars with access and affordability; how to support all the different student programming; and how we can help with career development and mentoring.
There are ideas we want to work on for increasing scholarships for second- and third-year entrants into Schreyer, financial support for Scholar Assistant team programming, funding a meditation room and establishing an award to recognize outstanding high school teachers and guidance counselors.
So, I think the relationships and experience I gained and maintained from my first stint with Schreyer combined with what I’ve learned with Earth and Mineral Sciences will be helpful with this transition.
Q: You graduated from Penn State with a degree in business management and you’ve worked at the University for just over 18 years. What is keeping the bond between you and Penn State so strong?
A: Well, this University has provided a lot for me and my family, as well. We’re originally from Queens, New York but State College has become our home. My sister and her family fell in love with this area after a few visits and they moved here from Brooklyn. A couple of years after that my parents retired, and they were actually thinking about going down south. They didn’t want to go too far away from their kids and grandkids, though, so they retired to State College and they’re happy here.
My involvement with Leadership Centre County has significantly expanded my community engagement. Through the program, I’ve worked on various community projects and initiatives, fostering deeper connections with local leaders and organizations. Those experiences enhanced my understanding of the community’s needs and provided avenues for meaningful involvement and contribution.
The welcoming nature of the Boalsburg and State College communities has reinforced our love for the area. The combination of arts, sports, and outdoor activities creates a dynamic and fulfilling environment, making it a place we are proud to call home.
I think about the fact that I did my undergraduate studies here, I’ve worked for three different units at Penn State, my wife is also an alum and my family is here, and I just feel blessed. It just feels right to be here and give back as much as I can to my alma mater.
Q: From conversations and interactions that you’ve had with Scholar alumni, what are some of the main factors that help them maintain a strong connection to the College?
A: I think there are several factors in play there. They often reminisce about the unique experiences and challenges they faced as Scholars and that creates a strong bond among peers. Many Scholar alumni still talk about the tight-knit community, including faculty and College staff, they experienced within the vastness of Penn State and how it supported their success. Ultimately, those experiences help them continue to identify with the College’s mission and drive their desire to give back and help our current Scholars. What I really want to do is facilitate those opportunities so that the College can continue to grow and thrive.
Q: What thoughts or feelings come to the surface when you reflect on how your work supports Schreyer Scholars’ success?
A: I’m committed to access, affordability and creating pathways to success. To me, there’s no other college at Penn State that does it better than Schreyer. The New Scholar Experience is absolutely on point with all the ways it sets students up to succeed by helping them build a sense of belonging within the College. There are so many other programs and opportunities where they can explore their interests and grow as Scholars. I’m grateful and excited for the chance to take on my new role because I feel like I can support what Schreyer offers the Scholars in a more meaningful way.
Q: Travel, events and your day-to-day responsibilities force you to dedicate a lot of time to your work. When you’re away from it, how do you like to spend your time and recharge?
A: Oh, man. That question makes me think, ‘When do I find the time to?’ It’s challenging, but one thing I really love is that I’m learning to fly as an aspiring pilot. That’s one of my releases. I exercise regularly and spend time outside hiking. I ride my motorcycle. If I’m in the air or on my bike, it’s a feeling of freedom because I’m so present and focused on what I’m doing. I don’t think, I don’t hear the outside noise, I kind of disappear and focus on the task at hand. That’s what I do to help find balance.
To start a conversation about giving to Schreyer Honors College, contact Jason Godinez, director of development and alumni relations, at jcg146@psu.edu or 814-865-4258.
Schreyer finalizes year-long project to update brand messaging and visual identity
In fall 2023, Schreyer Honors College contracted with Ologie, a marketing and branding agency specifically focused on education, to refresh the college’s visual identity and messaging. The goal of the project was to define an updated creative expression of the Schreyer Honors College aligned with the newly defined vision and values, while honoring the tradition and history of the College and building on core University brand strengths.
After a kickoff meeting in November 2023, Ologie dove into a 3-month discovery process, which included a communications audit, peer audit, focus groups, surveys, and creative workshops.
Throughout the project, the college engaged Penn state students, both Scholars and non-Scholars as well as faculty and staff and leadership at University Park and the Commonwealth Campuses. In addition, Ologie gathered feedback from Scholar alumni, prospective students, parents of current students, and employers. The core working group for the project included Schreyer staff, students, and a Scholar alumnus.
“The branding work is important to clarify messaging which highlights differentiating elements and distinctive features of Schreyer to the college’s stakeholders, including applicants, students, faculty, and alumni,” said Brian Schmanske, member of the Schreyer Honors College External Advisory Board and core working group for the project.
This project followed closely on the heels of the recent work to revitalize the College’s vision and values. The resulting Strategic Framework, published in August 2023, was the foundation for defining the new creative elements.
“It was fascinating to take part in this initiative, watch the parts come together over time, and see how the creative staff captured the essence of Schreyer. I believe the outcome will provide more compelling communications that will strengthen the extended Schreyer community and better position us among our peers and competitors,” Schmanske said.
Alumni and other friends of the college can expect to start to see the new messaging and visual elements in communications starting early next year.
Meet Schreyer’s inaugural faculty fellows cohort
In spring 2024, the Honors College welcomed three Penn State instructors as its first-ever group of faculty fellows. Derek Aggleton, Marcy Milhomme and Craig Pearce were brought on board to collaborate with the College’s staff and leadership on projects designed to enhance various aspects of honors coursework.
“These exceptionally high-quality faculty members will be important additions to our Schreyer team during their year-long projects,” said Patrick Mather, dean of Schreyer Honors College. “Their work will help us connect more deeply with faculty all across Penn State and, ultimately, allow us to better serve our Schreyer Scholars.”
The faculty members and their projects are:
Derek Aggleton: An associate teaching professor of philosophy, Aggleton has been teaching for more than 20 years, including the last 12 at Penn State. He specializes in teaching ethics and European philosophy, and he has also taught communications, literature and political science. His faculty fellows project focuses on helping honors instructors across the University incorporate the concept of moral literacy in their coursework.
Marcy Milhomme: An associate teaching professor and assistant director for undergraduate studies in communication arts and sciences, Milhomme also serves as the course supervisor for “Effective Speech for Engineers.” Her faculty fellows project aims to develop a “21st Century toolbox” of communication and presentation skills for Schreyer Scholars.
Craig Pearce: The Brova Family Endowed Professor of Leadership and Human Resources, Pearce is a renowned scholar and author in the areas of leadership and teams research. His book, “Shared Leadership,” is an influential and well-regarded work in those fields. His faculty fellows project will explore ways to enhance offerings on leadership, collaboration and teamwork through honors courses and other programming.
Three new faculty fellows have joined Schreyer Honors College for 2024-2025.
Connect Networking and Career Day participation reaches new heights
Ten years ago, Schreyer Honors College debuted Connect Networking and Career Day to help Scholars as they made plans for post-undergraduate life. The inaugural event in 2014 featured roughly a dozen Scholar Alumni Society Board (SASB) members lending their expertise to Scholars at breakout sessions and networking talks. Following its successful launch, Connect grew the very next year to include Scholar alumni invitees beyond the SASB, increased Scholar attendees and expanded programming.
Lisa Kerchinski, Schreyer’s former career development director and current assistant director of student leadership and involvement with Penn State Student Affairs, played an instrumental role in getting one of the College’s signature events up and running. Over the years she helmed Connect, Kerchinski felt inspired by the Scholar alumni’s enthusiasm for the event.
“We’ve had a large group of regular participants who travel back to University Park,” she noted. “There have also been Scholar attendees who have come back to participate after they graduated.
“In 2019, Ellie Manca was an undergraduate intern with Schreyer’s career development team, and she played a big role in planning and hosting Connect. We were thrilled to have her back in 2022 in a mentor role,” Kerchinski said. “It’s inspiring to see Scholar alumni so dedicated to giving back to current students.”
That dedication combined with Scholars’ enthusiasm for building their networks has allowed Connect to enjoy sustained growth. Nearly 100 Scholars have attended the event in each of the last three years. Additionally, in 2024, the team of Matt Ishler, Schreyer’s new director of career development, Sean Goheen, the College’s coordinator of alumni relations and annual giving, and Scholar and career development intern Lauren Clymer welcomed Connect’s largest-ever contingent of Scholar alumni with over 50 in attendance.
The mentors not only spent a day helping students prepare for where life will take them after Penn State, they were also able to reconnect with campus and State College. For the first time in the event’s history, the group behind Connect organized a series of weekend events that included a tour and tasting at Antifragile Brewing Company, a donut breakfast with Dean Mather, a guided tour of the Old Main frescoes and Penn State’s meteorology department and a mixer at Doggie’s Pub.
“The team behind Connect is incredible and works hard to make sure all our attendees, Scholars and alumni, come away from the weekend feeling fulfilled,” said Ishler. “We’re grateful that so many Scholar alumni want to stay engaged with the College and lend their expertise to our students.”
As it enters its second decade, Connect is poised to continue growing in service of the Schreyer community that makes it possible.
