Let's give a 'We Are!' to these Penn Staters — July 17

As part of our regular “We Are!” feature, we recognize 21 Penn Staters who have gone above and beyond what’s asked of them in their work at the University.   

This week, on behalf of the entire Penn State community, we’d like to say thank you to: 

• Sarah Armentrout, academic adviser at Penn State Abington, whose nominator wrote: “Sarah updated all our relevant academic advising materials for New Student Orientation dates at Abington. In addition to updating the professional advising staff on any pertinent changes, she coordinated and conducted training for the faculty advisers helping us this summer!” 
• Stewart Combs, assistant director of international student and scholar advising for Penn State Global, whose nominator wrote: “Always putting advisers and students first, Stewart is an outstanding member of the Penn State community. His calm demeanor has been instrumental in guiding our team through the current challenges. Stewart blends wisdom with a great sense of humor, creating a positive and supportive atmosphere at work.” 
• James Ellis, facility manager at the Palmer Museum of Art, whose nominator wrote: “James always steps up and comes in whenever needed, even on his day off! His dedication and flexibility don’t go unnoticed, and I truly value his support. He is such a dependable part of the team!” 
• Jordan Ford, director of marketing and communications in the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), whose nominator wrote: “Jordan is our visionary, hardworking and humble director of marketing and communications! He is a true leader who championed our year-long website revamp, while always lifting his team first. His dedication and grace set the standard for excellence in the College of IST.” 
• Dominic Geleskie, stage lighting supervisor at the Center for the Performing Arts, whose nominator wrote: “Dominic was instrumental in the success of the Center for the Performing Arts 50 Forward: Beethoven's Ninth Revisited, a 50th anniversary concert and celebration of Eisenhower Auditorium. Dominic's lighting design made the event sparkle.” 
• Caley Glasgow, Salesforce business analyst and administrator in the Enterprise Constituent Relationship Management (ECRM) Program Office, whose nominator wrote: “Caley has volunteered 50% of her time to one of the IT OST projects and has been an instrumental team member, contributing immensely to the success of the project. She has added a positive and logical approach to the work as well as a ‘GSD’ attitude! And she absolutely ‘gets stuff done!’” 
• Beth Hewitt, financial specialist at Penn State Beaver, whose nominator wrote: “Beth is such an amazing resource and support.  She always knows the answer to questions related to budget, policy and anything else. We are so lucky to have her!” 
• Jennifer Keyzer-Andre, administrative senior manager in the Departments of Communication Arts and Sciences, Philosophy, and Applied Linguistics in the College of the Liberal Arts, whose nominator wrote: “Jennifer is a first-class colleague and person. She's very knowledgeable in many things, quick to help, responsive and a very kind person. Everyone knows that if Jennifer is taking care of something, it will be done correctly, in a timely manner and with a sincere smile. She's an asset to our team!”   
• Drew Kovacs, organizational development consultant in Human Resources, whose nominator wrote: “Drew brings unwavering support and thoughtfulness to his work. With calm and composure — and a keen intellect — Drew is able to navigate whatever challenge the day brings, while maintaining a sincere focus on the vast team his role supports. He epitomizes thoughtful, selfless leadership.” 
• Jill Lehman, business analyst at Penn State World Campus, whose nominator wrote: “Jill is an unsung hero of the ECRM-Phase 2 project. At every opportunity, she steps up to new challenges and anticipates the needs of the project and her team members. Her documentation, communication and problem-solving skills are matched by her enthusiasm and positive attitude.” 
• Jeremy Lingle, area facilities maintenance mechanic in the Office of Physical Plant, whose nominator wrote: “Jeremy goes above and beyond in every task. From repairs to replacements, he shows care, precision and professionalism. He follows up after jobs, ensuring everything runs smoothly. His attention to detail and reliability make him essential to our facility.” 
• Kristy Loper, administrative assistant for the Fruit Research and Extension Center in the College of Agricultural Sciences, whose nominator wrote: “Kristy goes above and beyond to help everyone at FREC. She is not only a great coworker, but also a fantastic trainer.  Her hard work goes beyond her job title to make sure everything runs smoothly at FREC. She works tirelessly to ensure that nothing gets missed. She is a great asset to Penn State!” 
• Rob Malinich, director of IT in Undergraduate Education, whose nominator wrote: “Rob has been instrumental volunteering his time as a co-lead for one of the IT OST projects. He is not only adding value to the IT OST project, but is also involved in his own unit/resource transitions. Through these busy times, Rob maintains a positive and deliberate focus.” 
• Karen Michel, administrative assistant in the Division of Development and Alumni Relations, whose nominator wrote: “Karen never misses an opportunity to go the extra mile for our office or her colleagues. Reliable, cheerful, and — most importantly — very conscientious, Karen sets the standard for being a great colleague and team member. She's a true pleasure to work with!” 
• Jessica Mosley, assistant director of the Lambert Undergraduate Advising Center at Penn State Harrisburg, whose nominator wrote: “With unwavering dedication, Jessica not only delivers exceptional service but has created a welcoming, unified space where all feel at home. "We got this" aren’t just words — they represent the spirit she brings to everything she does. Jessica leads with warmth, authenticity and unwavering character.” 
• Megan O’Polka, assistant director of Student Affairs at Penn State Behrend, whose nominator wrote: “Megan excels in a role that demands poise and empathy — student conduct. She stands out for her kindness, compassion and unwavering fairness. Whether working with individual students or entire groups, Megan treats everyone with dignity and respect, fostering a culture of accountability and care.” 
• Rose Petrunyak, military enrollment initiatives coordinator at Penn State World Campus, whose nominator wrote: “Rose goes above and beyond in her role as the advisor to the Military Service Organization. She serves as daily motivation for students and provides valuable information to staff members who support military-affiliated students. Rose wants the best for everyone around her and encourages students to strive for excellence.” 
• Steve Scanlon, senior supervisor for compensation in Human Resources, whose nominator wrote: “Steve has been working tirelessly on a project that would not get off the ground much less keep moving along without his dedication, grit, and above and beyond efforts. We are so grateful for you, Steve!” 
• Wendy Shaffer, financial associate in the College of the Liberal Arts, whose nominator wrote: “Wendy has a wealth of knowledge and is the person we go to for all the answers. She explains processes and procedures in clear and concise terms, and she is always available to answer our questions. She is always chipper and brings cheer to often frustrating situations. We are extremely lucky to have Wendy!” 
• Jeanette Tressler, administrator support manager in the College of Education, whose nominator wrote: “Jeanette has been an exemplary coworker, always there to help with her invaluable knowledge of the college and University. She never fails to lead people in the right direction, and she does so always with a smile and wonderful attitude. I am very grateful and proud to call Jeanette a colleague.” 
• Kathy Vaughn, financial associate at Penn State University Libraries, whose nominator wrote: “Kathy is an accounts receivable queen. She works tirelessly to build relationships with Penn State University Press customers, making her payment collection process that much easier. Her dedication and her team-player attitude make her a pleasure to work with. She goes above and beyond for our unit.” 

Thank you Sarah, Steward, James, Jordan, Dominic, Caley, Beth, Jennifer, Drew, Jill, Jeremy, Kristy, Rob, Karen, Jessica, Megan, Rose, Steve, Wendy, Jeanette and Kathy — and to everyone who helps make Penn State such an incredible community! 

Do you know someone who deserves a shout out? If you do, consider nominating that person by filling out a short online form.