Following the Gong, a Podcast of the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State

"When I was six, I saw my first Broadway show, Mary Poppins, and at intermission, I pointed at the stage and said, 'That's what I'm going to do with my life.'” In this episode, Melody Munitz ’22 A&A, Liberal Arts shares her extraordinary journey from performing in Broadway plays and musicals to conducting groundbreaking research in neuroscience, all while maintaining her passion for musical theater. Discover how her diverse experiences intertwine, offering unique insights into the power of arts and sciences working together – a must watch/listen for Schreyer Scholars with broad ranges of interests.  Melanie’s early inspiration and first steps in theater at age six Transition from local performances to Off-Broadway and regional theaters Balancing a double major in musical theater and neuroscience at Penn State The impact of COVID-19 on her performance and research pursuits Her innovative honors thesis linking empathy, theater, and psychology Navigating the challenges of auditioning and building a career post-graduation Insights into the tour life: differences between stage performances in various venues The significance of networking within Penn State’s alumni and arts communities Leveraging stage experience in production roles including writing and directing The role of social media and public facing roles in a performer’s career Practical advice on managing finances and taxes for traveling artists The importance of volunteerism, philanthropy, and community building in the arts   Melody Munitz ’22 is a New York-born, raised, and based theatre artist, social scientist, and digital designer. She graduated from Penn State in 2022 with dual honors degrees in Musical Theatre (College of Arts and Architecture) and Psychology (College of the Liberal Arts), serving as the Student Marshal of both departments. At the time of recording, Melody was traveling the country playing Wednesday Addams in the Broadway National Tour of “The Addams Family.” Previously, Melody led the National Tour of “American Girl Live!" where she originated the role of Madison, a new American Girl Doll character inspired by her. Beyond touring, Melody's work onstage spans 15 shows Off-Broadway, concerts at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and musicals at regional theaters across the country. In 2023, Melody premiered her interdisciplinary solo show, "The Science of Love: A Night of Songs & Psychology," which won the 2023 BroadwayWorld Award for Best Solo Show. Continuing to combine science and art, Melody has worked as a commissioned playwright and researcher for the University of Chicago's STAGE (Scientists, Technologists, and Artists Generating Exploration) Lab; as an artist with the science-theatre company Transforma Theatre, debuting a project about the role of AI in society; and as an Artist in Health bringing interactive theater to children in hospitals and care facilities with the non-profit Only Make Believe. As a digital designer and marketing specialist, Melody has worked on the social media marketing teams for 14 Broadway shows, and this spring is working with Broadway writers Paul Gordon and David Goldsmith to launch a new company, Virtual Stage Lab, at the crossroads of theater and film that aims to democratize the process of creation and increase access to the arts. Website: melodymunitz.com Instagram: @melody_munitz ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube Upcoming Events 

"Four years at Penn State will fly by—embrace every moment, seek help when needed, and never underestimate the power of curiosity and giving back." Explore how Dr. Ryan Henrici ’15 Science transitioned from a student with a passion for science and sports to a pioneering physician, scientist, and entrepreneur driving groundbreaking biotech innovations. In this episode, Ryan shares his inspiring path, lessons on work-life balance, mentorship, and the transformative power of philanthropy. Key Topics Ryan’s early ambitions: swimming, architecture, and medicine. The pivotal moments in medical research and clinical impact. Navigating lab opportunities and research at Penn State. The influence of mentorship and cultural lessons in science. The unique structure and advantages of UK and US doctoral programs. How AI and machine learning are shaping drug development. Integrating medical training with entrepreneurial ventures. The importance of storytelling and organizational skills in science. Strategies for maintaining balance and fulfillment outside of work. The value of philanthropy and giving back to the community.  Ryan Henrici ’15 Science is Vice President of Discovery Medicine at BigHat Biosciences where he is using machine learning and AI approaches to design safer and more effective antibody medicines for patients with cancers, infections, and rare diseases. Ryan was one of the earliest team members and helped grow the team to more than 100 employees today and raise more than $110 million dollars to support developing the BigHat therapeutic portfolio. He oversees the immunology research team and the creation of new drug programs through the initiation of Phase 1 studies in humans. Ryan is also an Adjunct Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine where he teaches foundational biology and medicine to first year medical students and supports clinical research activities at the intersection of inherited, benign blood disorders and infectious diseases. He earned a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with Honors from Penn State’s Eberly College of Science in 2015, a PhD in Infectious and Tropical Diseases from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine as a Marshall Scholar in 2018, and an MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 2021. ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Join the Penn State Alumni Association  ----- Credits & Notes: This show is hosted and produced by Sean Goheen '11 Lib (Schreyer), '23g Bus. It was edited by Sarah Taylor '27. The artwork was created by Isabella Gasparraj '28. The sound effect is “Chinese Gong,” accessed via SoundBible used under Creative Commons License.

Overview: Dive into the inspiring story of Brandon Follick ’15 Sci, who seamlessly navigates careers in biochemistry and comedy. Discover how his scientific background fuels his humor, the challenges of balancing these worlds, and his advice for scholars pursuing creative paths. In this episode, you’ll here about Brandon's journey to Penn State and his early interests in science and comedy How biochemistry has shaped his understanding of human health and storytelling The parallels between scientific research and comedic creation, including writing and improvisation His experience working in biotech startups and the lessons learned about enterprise and innovation The evolution of comedy as a tool for social critique and the importance of punching up How platforms like YouTube and social media democratize content creation and talent discovery The role of mentorship in STEM and arts, and the importance of paying it forward Brandon’s creative process, balancing authenticity with ethical boundaries in comedy Practical advice for scholars considering unconventional careers in arts and startups How his childhood experience with Judge Judy influences his comedic perspective This episode is great for any Scholar interested in career paths in either STEM or the arts, and especially for Scholars looking to navigate and balance multiple interests. Guest Bio: Brandon Follick ’15 Science is an entrepreneurial scientist comedian and writer in New York City. He has written for humor websites such as The Onion, The New Yorker, McSweeney’s, and Reductress, including Reductress’s recent book How To Stay Productive When the World is Ending, named one of Vulture’s Best Comedy Books of 2023. He is a writer and actor on Going Down with Ella Yurman, a trans-led public access late night show from the team that produced Late Stage Live, which is about to return from hiatus. He has performed standup and sketch in national and international comedy festivals, including New York Comedy Fest, Edinburgh Fringe, and Philly SketchFest. He produces a writing workshop series alongside The Onion to help create career opportunities for emerging comedy writers from backgrounds historically-excluded in comedy. He currently teaches Humor & Satire Writing at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective. During the day, he works as a Senior Administrative Business Partner for Legal and Therapeutics at Schrödinger, a drug discovery and research enterprise. He was previously a Project Manager and Research Associate at Kallyope in New York City, an early-stage biotech startup exploring the gut-brain axis, where he assisted with the Research & Development of small-molecule therapeutics. Before joining Kallyope in 2016, he was a research assistant in Marcia Haigis’s lab at Harvard Medical School. He earned his B.S. in Biology with Honors in Biochemistry from Penn State in 2015. ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Join the Penn State Alumni Association  ----- Credits & Notes: This show is hosted and produced by S...

Overview: Brian Rogowski ’97 Science shares his journey from a winding academic path to a successful career in technology. He discusses the importance of practical experience, the value of social sciences in tech, and the lessons learned from his honors thesis and research. Brian emphasizes the significance of teamwork, mentorship, and work-life balance while navigating the challenges of transitioning from academia to industry. He also provides insights into breaking into big tech and the evolving landscape of technology careers. This episode is useful for any Scholar, and especially those who are undecided about majors as well as those looking to work in the tech industry, especially “big tech.” Guest Bio: Brian Rogosky ’97 Science is Senior Software Engineering Manager at Apple, working on building large-scale data services for Apple Music. He previously was Director of Big Data Engineering for Beats Music, where he founded a software team for one of the early music streaming applications, which launched in 2013 and was acquired by Apple later in 2014, along with Beats Electronics, for $3 Billion, the largest monetary acquisition by Apple.   Brian graduated with a dual degree BS in Psychology and Science, with Honors and a Minor in Science, Technology and Society, in 1997. He earned a Masters in Psychology from Indiana University, Bloomington in 2004, where he researched human learning and artificial intelligence. He originally intended to pursue a Ph.D. with a view to become a professor of Cognitive Psychology like his mentors, Dr. David Rosenbaum (Penn State) and Dr. Robert Goldstone (Indiana), but the pull of technology and human-centered AI drew him to a career in the technology industry.  He has worked for or advised numerous startups in AI, internet geolocation, online publishing and online learning. He continues his interest in applied AI, big data, human learning and knowledge representation, as well as creative writing. ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Join the Penn State Alumni Association  ----- Credits & Notes: This show is hosted and produced by Sean Goheen '11 Lib (Schreyer), '23g Bus. It was edited by Riya Agarwal '28. The artwork was created by Isabella Gasparraj '28. The sound effect is “Chinese Gong,” accessed via SoundBible used under Creative Commons License. View Full Transcript

Overview: Katie Florio ’15 HHD, a Schreyer Scholar alumna and former D1 student-athlete at Penn State, joins FTG to share her journey from being a kinesiology major with aspirations of attending medical school to pivoting into the financial sector, where she now works at Goldman Sachs. The conversation delves into her experiences as a cross-country and track athlete, the challenges of balancing academics and athletics, and her transition into the business world. Katie also discusses her passion for running, her achievements in marathons, and how the skills she developed as an athlete have translated into her professional life. The episode concludes with Katie offering advice to current students on networking, attention to detail, and the importance of maintaining a balance between work and personal interests. This episode, featuring a cameo from running enthusiast Dean Patrick T. Mather ’89, is great for any Scholar interested in a career in business, especially those not in the Smeal College of Business, and all Scholars for exploring and maintaining hobbies and passions beyond their time at Penn State as they transition to alumni. Guest Bio: Katie Florio ’15 HHD earned her B.S. in Kinesiology with Honors from Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development in 2015. Katie was a D1 athlete on the Penn State Track and Field and Cross Country teams where she served as a team captain. Katie, originally aiming to work in healthcare, now works as a Vice President and Wealth Advisor at Goldman Sachs in Philadelphia. She won her division of the 2024 Philadelphia Marathon and is a proud working mother. ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Join the Penn State Alumni Association  ----- Credits & Notes: This show is hosted and produced by Sean Goheen '11 Lib (Schreyer), '23g Bus. It was edited by Riya Agarwal '28. The artwork was created by Isabella Gasparraj '28. The sound effect is “Chinese Gong,” accessed via SoundBible used under Creative Commons License.

Overview: Joe Kernan ’86 and Victor Ficarra ’21 share their unique journeys through college and into their respective legal careers in and out of “big law.” They discuss the importance of mentorship, the value of extracurricular involvement, and the impact of their honors thesis experiences on their professional paths. The conversation also covers practical advice for current students, including networking strategies, time management, and the evolving role of AI in law and accounting. Both guests emphasize the significance of giving back to the Penn State community and the transformative power of education. This episode is a must listen for any Scholar looking to a career in law and/or looking to get the most out of their relationships with mentors. Guest Bios: Joe Kernen ’86 Liberal Arts earned his BA in pre-law and went on to earn his JD from the NYU School of Law in 1989. He practiced law in Philadelphia for 35 years, the last 32 at DLA Piper, a global business law firm with over 4,500 lawyers. He had a complex commercial litigation practice, with an emphasis on class action and employment matters, and served as Managing Partner of DLA's Philadelphia Office, Chair of the Philadelphia Litigation Group and was the Hiring Partner for 14 years, and also served three terms on the firm's US Policy Committee. He retired as a practicing lawyer in March 2024  and now serves in a variety of charitable roles, including on the advisory boards of Penn State's Brandywine Campus and Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties. Victor Ficarra ’21 University College is an International Tax Consultant at Deloitte in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he and his team support multinational companies to help them best align their tax strategies with their businesses through a wide variety of compliance and advisory services. Before joining Deloitte in October 2024, Victor interned at a handful of companies including J.P. Morgan Chase and Comcast Corporation. He earned his B.S. in Accounting with Honors from Penn State in 2021 as well as minors in International Studies and Civic & Community Engagement. He also earned his J.D. from Temple University's Beasley School of Law in 2024 and is enrolled at Georgetown University Law Center's LL.M. in Taxation program. Victor is also happy to speak further on tax, business and sports whether it relates to the law or otherwise, as well as mentorship and education as those were areas he continues to be passionate about post graduation. Please feel free to connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorbficarra/. ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Join the Penn State Alumni Association  ----- Credits & Notes: This show is hosted and produced by Sean Goheen '11 Lib (Schreyer), '23g Bus. It was edited by Riya Agarwal '28. The artwork was created by Isabella Gasparraj '28. The sound effect is “Chinese Gong,” accessed via SoundBible used under Creative Commons License.

Overview: In this episode, Matt Gartland ’05 IST shares his journey from Penn State to becoming a leader in the tech and startup world. Matt discusses his unexpected path to Penn State, his experiences in the College of IST, and his involvement with the Schreyer Honors College. He offers insights into his career, including his time at Lockheed Martin and Johnson & Johnson, and his transition into entrepreneurship. Matt emphasizes the importance of mentorship, leadership, making connections, and taking action, providing valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and students. Guest Bio: Matthew Gartland ’05 IST graduated as the Student Marshall of the 3rd ever class of IST students. He added an honors degree in IST from Schreyer. His academic and honors career at Penn State led him into an exclusive leadership development program with a Fortune 50 company. He left that successful corporate career to get into startups. His startup experience has spanned the DTC e-commerce, Creator Economy, and SaaS industries as a founder, operator, and c-suite executive. 10+ years and a few exits later, he leads SPI Media as CEO and is an advisor/investor to early stage tech companies operating at the intersection of commerce and content. His greatest joys are spending time with his wife and two little girls and traveling the world.  ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Join the Penn State Alumni Association  ----- Credits & Notes: This show is hosted and produced by Sean Goheen '11 Lib (Schreyer), '23g Bus. It was edited by Riya Agarwal '28. The artwork was created by Isabella Gasparraj '28. The sound effect is “Chinese Gong,” accessed via SoundBible used under Creative Commons License. View Full Transcript  

Overview: Personal finance expert and multimedia sensation Farnoosh Torabi ’02 Business shares her journey from a Schreyer Scholar to a renowned financial journalist. She discusses the importance of taking leaps of faith, staying curious, and leveraging unique opportunities at Penn State to forge a successful career. Scholars should listen to this episode to gain insights into navigating academic and career paths, understanding the value of diverse experiences, and learning how to position themselves as experts in their fields. Farnoosh's story is a testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and the pursuit of passion. It is particularly useful for any Scholar in the Smeal College of Business, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, or any looking to start their own media presence. Guest Bio: Farnoosh Toabi ’02 Business is a leading personal finance authority, bestselling author, and creator of the Webby award-winning podcast So Money. As one of America's favorite go-to money experts, she has been a strategic advisor to millions on financial matters.  Torabi's critically acclaimed podcast, So Money, has surpassed 35 million downloads, featuring interviews with notable figures like Arianna Huffington, Margaret Cho, Queen Latifah, and Barbara Corcoran. Her work has been widely recognized, with her most recent book, A Healthy State of Panic, named a Best Book of the Year by Newsweek in 2023. Her financial expertise has been highlighted in major publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes, Time, Marie Claire, Glamour, Redbook, and USA Today. She frequently appears on prominent news and talk shows, including NBC Today, Good Morning America, and Live! With Kelly. She’s earned several Penn State honors, including the Alumni Fellow Award in 2024, Smeal Distinguished Achievement Award in 2023, the Schreyer Honors College Outstanding Alumni Award in 2013, and the Penn State Alumni Achievement Award in 2010. In 2017, she was the commencement speaker for the Smeal College of Business, and in 2019 she served as the Homecoming Grand Marshal. ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Join the Penn State Alumni Association  ----- Credits & Notes: This show is hosted and produced by Sean Goheen '11 Lib (Schreyer), '23g Bus. It was edited by Riya Agarwal '28. The artwork was created by Isabella Gasparraj '28. The sound effect is “Chinese Gong,” accessed via SoundBible used under Creative Commons License.

Overview: Jennifer Baaklini ’11 Com joins Following the Gong to share her journey from print journalism student to global digital engagement strategist and leader. Jennifer walks through her time at Penn State Abington, University Park, and around the globe studying abroad, participating in THON, working jobs on campus, and her diligent search for a role after graduation. She shares great advice for current Scholars and early career alumni on the search for jobs one and two. Jennifer also dives into industry specific advice for those in communications, journalism, and public relations, especially for those seeking leadership opportunities beyond technical expertise work. As a new mom, she also shares value time and energy management insights that can be helpful for any Scholar. While particularly beneficial to Scholars in storytelling spaces, any Scholar can gain value advice from this must listen discussion. Jennifer’s bio is available below. Guest Bio: Jennifer Baaklini ’11 Communications is Director of Digital Strategy at FGS Global, where she specializes in advising clients on digital strategy with a focus on foreign policy and international affairs. Before joining FGS in 2019, she worked at the U.S. Department of State and the Institute of International Education advancing U.S. government exchange programs and people-to-people understanding. This followed a short stint as a local journalist in her hometown. She earned her bachelor of art in Journalism with Honors from Penn State’s Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications in 2011. She also earned her MBA from George Washington University. ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Join the Penn State Alumni Association  ----- Credits & Notes: This show is hosted and produced by Sean Goheen '11 Lib (Schreyer), '23g Bus. It was edited by Riya Agarwal '28. The artwork was created by Isabella Gasparraj '28. The sound effect is “Chinese Gong,” accessed via SoundBible used under Creative Commons License.

Overview:  Greg Lucier ’86 Eng joined Following the Gong while at University Park to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor bestowed by Penn State upon an alum, to record live in the new Engineering Design and Innovation Building. Greg shared his experiences as a University Scholar studying industrial engineering and how he used his IE experiences, coupled with an MBA from Harvard University, to take on progressively higher levels of responsibility, from the factory floor at International Paper, to the executive and even CEO office at major firms, including GE and NuVasive, the latter of which was acquired by ThermoFisher Scientific. Greg, as a long-time manager, shares advice for Scholars and new grads seeking internships and entry level roles, including finding what you do and do not want to pursue for a career path. He also shares insight on stepping out to pursue an MBA, especially for non-Smeal grads, and translating experiences at legacy industries to high-tech companies and working internationally and serving on corporate boards. Greg also shares use-now advice for Scholars leading teams and people including their clubs and organizations and managing multiple commitments. This episode is great for any Scholar, especially those interested in careers in engineering, healthcare, management, and entrepreneurship. Greg’s full bio is available below. Guest Bio: Greg Lucier ’86 Engineering is the CEO and founder of Corza Health, Inc., a company focused on acquiring companies and assets to build market-leading healthcare businesses. Greg most recently served as Chairman and CEO at NuVasive, a global technology leader in minimally invasive spine and orthopedic surgery. Prior to that, he was Chair- man and CEO at Life Technologies which he grew into a global life sciences powerhouse that was acquired by ThermoFisher Scientific for more than $15 billion. He spent the first part of his career with General Electric— including GE Healthcare—in a variety of corporate officer and executive roles.  Greg serves on several public and private company boards, including Antylia Scientific, Catalent, Corza Medical, Maravai Life Sciences, and chairs Dentsply Sirona, the largest dental technology company globally. He has been actively involved in a variety of community and civic engagements, including serving as the Chairperson for Sanford Burnham Research Institute in La Jolla, California, and the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. Greg earned his B.S. in industrial engineering from Penn State’s College of Engineering with Honors and an MBA from Harvard Business School. ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Join the Penn State Alumni Association  ----- Credits & Notes: This show is hosted and produced by Sean Goheen '11 Lib (Schreyer), '23g Bus. It was edited by Riya Agarwal '28. The artwork was created by Isabella Gasparraj '28. The sound effect is “Chinese Gong,” accessed via SoundBible used under Creative Commons License.

Overview: CW: includes discussion of sexual assault, alcohol and DUI, and other trauma-inducing topics Social worker Dr. Sherry Burnette ’83 Lib joins Following the Gong to talk all things 1980s Penn State & University Scholars Program and her career in the social work sphere. Sherry provides insight on using a degree in psychology, working between undergraduate and graduate school, and counseling and social work roles. Sherry earned her bachelors of art in psychology with honors from Penn State in 1983, as well as MSW, MPH, and PhD degrees. This episode is great for any Scholar interested in the helping professions! Sherry’s full bio is available below. Guest Bio:  Dr. Sherry Burnette ’83 Liberal Arts is currently a Professor at PennWest University (formerly Edinboro University of Pennsylvania) and teaches in the Masters of Social Work Program. Before joining PennWest in 2010, Sherry served as the Vermont Agency of Human Services Trauma Coordinator, Director of Crime Victim Services for the Vermont Department of Corrections and as a medical Social Work Clinician on the Trauma Unit at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She graduated from Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts with a bachelor of arts in psychology with honors in 1983. She earned her master of social work from the School of Social Work at Simmons University (MA), and her master of public health and doctor of philosophy in social work from the University of Pittsburgh. ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Join the Penn State Alumni Association  ----- Credits & Notes: This show is hosted and produced by Sean Goheen '11 Lib (Schreyer), '23g Bus. It was edited by Riya Agarwal '28. The artwork was created by Isabella Gasparraj '28. The sound effect is “Chinese Gong,” accessed via SoundBible used under Creative Commons License.

Overview: Jennifer “JPags” Paganelli ‘02 is the President of Earned Media Relations at Real Chemistry. She joins Following the Gong to share her experiences in science and healthcare media, communications, and storytelling, including transitioning to working in a STEM field with a Liberal Arts background. This episode is great for any Scholar, and especially those interested in storytelling in any format, especially translating expertise to mass communication and earned media. JPags’ full bio and a chapter breakdown are available below. Guest Bio: Jennifer “JPags” Paganelli ‘02 Liberal Arts is the President of Earned Media Relations at Real Chemistry, an integrated healthcare communications agency that supports organizations and companies in the life science and medical space. She leads a team of 60 dedicated storytellers who work with reporters all day every day to help shape news on behalf of clients working feverishly to develop medicines and provide services across the healthcare spectrum. JPags has spent her entire career in the healthcare realm but ironically, didn't have a super-strong interest in science or medicine growing up! She was more interested in writing and pop culture, thinking she'd be a magazine editor or reporter. Little did she know the wild ride she'd take in her career! JPags graduated PSU in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication (now CAS) with Honors from Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts. She loves the healthcare communications field, had no clue it was even a career option - she's thrilled to speak further about the role of media relations and communications in today's fast-changing landscape. Please feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn where you can find her as Jennifer Paganelli Schwartz. ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Join the Penn State Alumni Association  ----- Credits & Notes: This show is hosted and produced by Sean Goheen '11 Lib (Schreyer), '23g Bus. It was edited by Riya Agarwal '28. The artwork was created by Isabella Gasparraj '28. The sound effect is “Chinese Gong,” accessed via SoundBible used under Creative Commons License.

Overview: Penn State Field Hockey Associate Head Coach Laura Gebhart ’15 Agr visits the Following the Gong studio to discuss all things field hockey, coaching, and community & economic development. Laura grew up in Lancaster County and came to Penn State and the Schreyer Honors College as a Scholar Athlete. She shares how she worked to find the right major for her, got involved in THON, and won a Big Ten Title in Field Hockey. Laura gives her advice for Scholars and student athletes on navigating perfection and demanding schedules, and provides insight on life after athletics, which looks different for everyone. She also pulls back the curtain on coaching an Olympic sport and talks about NIl and gender equity in sports. This is a must watch/listen for any Scholar – especially those unsure of what comes after College, is heavily involved on campus, dealing with rejections (like hers from the US national team,) and those who are interested in coaching or community & economic development careers. It’s also great for any student athlete, whether a Scholar or not. Laura’s full bio and chapter markers detailing the topics discussed are below.   Guest Bio: Laura Gebhart ’15 Agricultural Sciences is the Associate Head Field Hockey Coach at Penn State, where she engages in all areas of the program – from player development and on-field coaching, to recruiting and operations. Before coming back to Penn State, Laura coached at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island – first as the assistant coach, and then as the head coach. Prior to that, Gebhart led a career in economic development, working with two separate non-profits: EDC of Lancaster County (Lancaster, PA) and the Montpelier Development Corporation (Montpelier, VT). Along the way, Gebhart trained with the U.S. Women's National Team, coached a high school program, and volunteer coached at the University of Vermont. Gebhart earned a B.S. in Community, Environment, and Development (Community & Economic Development Option) with Honors from Penn State in 2015. Gebhart is also happy to speak further about ice cream, birding, and crocheting. Please feel free to connect with them at @coach_gebhart on Instagram or LinkedIn. Episode Topic & Chapters 00:04       Introductions and how Laura discovered field hockey 02:38       Pursuing playing D1 college sports 03:44       Collegiate sports recruitment 05:36       Selecting the CED major in Ag Sciences from being undecided 07:18       Planning for life beyond being a Scholar Athlete 08:33       Balancing life as a Scholar and as an Athlete 09:27       Roles of different advisors 10:20       Additional campus opportunities 12:01       THON as an athlete 15:31       Reflecting on athletic accomplishments 16:53       The Honors Thesis 18:37       Transitioning to life as an alum 22:59       Overcoming setbacks 24:08       Full time roles in economic development 25:58       Getting into coaching 28:42       Volunteer coaching 31:52       Taking a step back to take two forward by returning to Penn State 34:25       The roles of the coaching staff 37:19       Year in the life of a Division I coach 40:42       Day-in-the-life of a coach in-season 42:33       Challenges of coaching and supporting high-achieving students 46:01       The impact of NIL on athletics 53:07       Jump here for post NIL discussion to the Olympics 55:25       Coaching against former teammates - personal vs professional in the workplace 57:32       Fundraising and facilities 59:55       Things not asked 01:04:02                   Biggest successes and failures 01:09:27                   Laura's thoughts on mentorship 01:11:12                   Shoutouts

Overview: Architectural engineer turned consultant turned technology solutions engineer Brad Zanette joins the show from New York City to share his perspectives and advice for current Scholars and young alumni. Brad came to Penn State and made the most of his opportunities during his five years at University Park, earning his bachelors and masters in architectural engineering while completing several internships, including work on the earlier stages of the East Halls renovation project. One of those internships led to a full-time role at Deloitte and subsequent work at Oracle. While certainly useful for engineering Scholars, this episode is great for any Scholars who have multiple interests and want to hear unique strategies for setting themselves apart in the job search. Brad’s bio is available below along with chapter markers detailing the topics discussed. Guest Bio: Brad Zanette ’18 Engineering is a lead principal solution engineer at Oracle in New York, New York (remote/occasional travel) where he helps business within the Architecture, Engineering, & Construction ("AEC") industry undergo large scale digital business transformations. Before joining Oracle in 2021, he previously worked in consulting with Deloitte and construction management with several general contractors and a subcontractor. He earned both a bachelors and masters of architectural engineering with honors from Penn State’s College of Engineering in 2018. He's happy to discuss growing up in northeast PA, working construction, studying in China, and living in New York. Please feel free to connect with him on LinkedIn. Episode Topic & Chapters: 00:05       Introductions and how Brad came to Penn State 01:11       Choosing and defining architectural engineering 05:17       Deloitte Leadership Development Center 06:38       Other leadership opportunities 08:41       Carefully selecting the best fitting study abroad program 11:55       The Honors Thesis 16:18       Early career and internship success 20:29       East Halls renovation project 23:05       AEC - the construction acronym at work 27:22       Consulting 34:38       Deciding to leave consulting 36:22       Construction tech 39:40       Transitioning from on-site to desk work 42:08       Continuing education and lifelong learning 44:21       Outside community and industry involvement 46:35       Resume and LinkedIn tips 50:53       Questions that should have been asked 54:17       Biggest successes and failures 57:42       Thoughts on mentorship 01:01:48   Shoutouts 01:03:31   Brad's final piece of advice 01:04:50   How to connect with Brad 01:05:05   Which Creamery Ice Cream flavor Brad would be and why + wrap up  ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Join the Penn State Alumni Association  ----- Credits & Notes: This show is hosted, produced,...

Overview: Industrial engineer Apoorva Mathur ’18 joins FTG from Oregon to discuss her career at the intersection of manufacturing and the transition to zero emissions vehicles. She shares how she came to Penn State, and leveraged internships in a variety of fields and clubs on campus to find her academic and career interests. Apoorva details her participation in a career rotation program at Daimler and approaches her work – from Germany to Detroit to Portland – in transitioning primarily commercial and industrial vehicles to alternative forms of zero emissions power train systems. She leads efforts in this space while also championing sustainability and women in STEM at her company and earning her masters in data analytics from Georgia Tech. This episode is great for any Scholar, and especially those figuring out what major they want to pursue and also those interested in manufacturing, automative, or sustainability programs. Apoorva’s bio is available below along with chapter markers detailing the topics discussed. Guest Bio: Apoorva Mathur ’18 Engineering is the ESG Program Manager at Daimler Truck North America in Portland, OR where she manages the company's ESG initiatives and communication. Before joining DTNA in 2018, she previously interned at General Motors and Boeing where they grew their passion for the manufacturing industry. She earned a BS in Industrial Engineering with Honors from Penn State’s College of Engineering in 2018. She also earned a Masters in Data Analytics from Georgia Tech. She is also happy to speak further about emerging technologies in the automotive field and living and working globally. Please feel free to connect with her on Linkedin. https://www.linkedin.com/in/apoorvamathur1/ Episode Topic & Chapters: 00:05       Introductions and why Apoorva chose Penn State 02:16       Internships galore as a Scholar 08:31       Finding your academic and career passions 12:14       Research opportunities 17:11       Campus opportunities to pursue other passions - like dance programs and SHO Time! 19:53       Why the automotive sector most resonated with Apoorva 22:18       Career entry programs like Daimler's CAReer program 27:46       Breaking down the terminology 31:09       Graduating out of the training programs 33:23       Connecting with diverse and long-tenured employees as a new employee 36:06       Transitioning to EVs, from the vehicles to the assembly 44:49       EV mythbusting 48:26       Skills for working in the EV space 52:57       Advice for Scholars whose careers will take them far beyond home 56:10       Apoorva's thoughts on mentorship 59:42       Continuing education as an alum and working professional 01:06:04                   Seeking balance as a young professional 01:10:23                  Unasked questions 01:13:57                  Advice for women in STEM 01:22:28                  Shoutouts 01:24:34                  Apoorva's final piece of advice 01:27:30                  Which Creamery flavor Apoorva would be and why ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to B...

Overview: Scholar Alumna and seasoned supply chain management executive Kristyn Harkins ’02 Bus joins FTG to discuss her career. Kristyn shares how her time at Penn State, from classes to clubs to her Honors Thesis, influenced her career and helped her rise through the ranks as a woman in supply chain at Johnson & Johnson. Kristyn now leads teams of thousands with responsibility for J&J’s entire supply chain in their North American med tech operations. This episode is great for any Scholar to enjoy, and especially those in business or STEM disciplines. Kristyn’s bio is available below along with chapter markers detailing the topics discussed. Guest Bio: Kristyn Harkins ’02 Bus is currently the Vice President, MedTech Deliver Americas at Johnson & Johnson (J&J), leading an organization that is responsible for operations that include Distribution, Transportation, Last Mile Logistics, Customer Services & Capabilities, and several Business Excellence functions. Her team drives the Customer Experience, ensuring that Commercial go-to-market strategies & MedTech franchise requirements can be flawlessly executed. Across her more than 20 year at J&J, Kristyn has worked across the Supply Chain pillars of Plan, Source, Make & Deliver and in multiple business sectors, including Consumer Products and MedTech. She has held leadership roles in Customer Logistics, Transportation, Analytics, Planning, Sourcing, External Manufacturing, Strategy Deployment & Supply Chain Customer Solutions. Kristyn holds a BS with Honors in Business Logistics (now Supply Chain Management) from the Penn State College of Business and a University and an MBA from Rutgers University. She is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and was recognized in 2019 with a TWIN (Tribute to Women in Industry) Award. Throughout her career, Kristyn has fostered a passion for developing future talent and increasing representation of women in the Supply Chain field.  She served as the liaison for J&J with the Penn State Center for Supply Chain Research for three years, and she is currently on the Advisory Board for the University of Tennessee Global Supply Chain Institute.  Kristyn also serves as the Youth Pillar Sponsor for the J&J WiSTEM2D initiative. Kristyn lives in Flemington, NJ with her husband Tim, two sons (Aidan & Ryan), and dog (Miles). She is an avid Peloton rider and spends much of her free time cheering from the sidelines for her kids’ sporting events. Episode Topics & Chapters: 00:05       Introduction and why Kristyn chose Penn State 01:36       Selecting supply chain as a major 03:06       Current state of supply chain jobs for grads 04:13       Using teaching experience in the workplace 06:11       The value of being involved on campus 08:13       Planning events is like small business ownership 10:52       THON 12:51       The Honors Thesis! 15:29       Co-ops and first jobs after college 17:27       Advice for current Scholars and new grads 20:24       Entry-level supply chain roles 23:18       Continuing curiosity and education while working full time 26:22       Moving up while staying at one firm 29:44       Transitioning from leading one team to the next 32:10       Building relationships with outside partners, vendors, etc. 35:25       Rising to overseeing continental level division 37:45       Kristyn explains her job title and responsibilities 39:42       Addressing "last mile" challenges 42:19       Thinking like an executive 44:53       Navigating the pandemic 48:15       Dealing with sales and divestitures 50:47       Balancing work and family 57:50       Getting involved in your industry 00:17       One company careers 01:03:34          ...

Overview: Engineer Consultant Manufacturer Entrepreneur Reed Taylor ’14 Engineering joins Following the Gong from Connecticut to discuss his career story of pivoting from one role to the next, all while using his skills and experiences from being a Schreyer Scholar in Chemical Engineering. Learn how Reed went from making lifelong friends at SHO Time, participated in THON, and hit the slopes with the Penn State Ski Club before embarking on the first stages of a career in pharma, consulting, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship, with a stop at Harvard Business School mixed in. Reed shares great advice for any Scholar, but especially those with an itch to constantly learn and lead new things regardless of major. Reed’s bio is available below along with chapter markers detailing the topics discussed. Guest Bio: Reed Taylor ’14 is the Senior Vice President, M&A, Transformation and Strategy at Summit Wash Holdings in Norwalk, CT where he sources, researches, negotiates, and closes acquisitions of new car wash locations. He joined Summit when they acquired Soapy's Car Wash, which Reed owned with his investment partners at Saddler Capital. He also served at Vice President of Manufacturing at Spot & Tango, a human-grade pet food company, while running Soapy's Car Wash. Prior to that, he worked as Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group and Process Development Engineer at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. Reed earned a BS in Chemical Engineering with Honors from Penn State’s College of Engineering in 2014. He also earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. He is happy to speak more about mergers & acquisitions, entrepreneurship through acquisition, finance, consulting, or biotech. Please feel free to connect with him on LinkedIn. Episode Topic & Chapters: 00:00  Introduction 00:44  Coming to Schreyer from a STEM high school in VA 01:37  Experiences at SHO Time 03:10  Deciding on an engineering discipline 05:47  Penn State THON 09:00  Using club experience in your career 10:37  Penn State Ski Club 12:55  The Honors Thesis! 19:32   Job searching as an Engineering student 22:03   Insights on entry level engineering roles 26:52   Deciding to go for an MBA 30:20   Advice for b-school for non-business majors 33:43   Consulting 38:10   Pivoting to manufacturing 46:12   Reed's career in car wash ownership 51:18   Lifelong learning 55:13   External trends in the car wash sector 01:00:58   Work life balance 01:03:22   Unasked questions 01:05:52   Biggest successes and failures 01:08:26   Thoughts on mentorship 01:09:44   Shoutouts 01:10:51   Reed's final piece of advice 01:11:51   How to connect with Reed 01:12:03    Which Creamery flavor Reed would be and why / Wrap up ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholar...

Overview: FTG goes to the animals as Jessica Greensmith ’13 Agricultural Sciences joins to talk all things zoos, conservations centers, and more! Jessica earned her BS in Animal Science with Honors in Wildlife and Fisheries with the original intention of becoming a veterinarian. Study abroad and research opportunities led her to find her path elsewhere – including ballroom dancing along the way – to working as a professional heritage interpreter at a variety of zoos and centers across the US, including Disney’s Animal Kingdom and New England. Jessica shares incredible perspectives on finding your career fit, overcoming failures and setbacks, research, and the role of volunteers in organizations like zoos. She also explains the role of zoos in the 21st century, working in a niche industry, completing fellowships and internships after college, and the power of maintaining relationships from Penn State and beyond. This episode is great for any Scholar, and especially those re-thinking what they wanted to be in their career, dancers, animal lovers, and those pursuing careers related to animals, non-profits and community organizations, or in smaller industries. Jessica’s bio is available below along with chapter markers detailing the topics discussed. Guest Bio: Jessica Greensmith ’13 Agr is a professional heritage interpreter in Boston, MA. Over the last 10 years, she has worked for Zoos, Forest Preserve Districts and conservation organizations creatively facilitating connections between people and conservation in order to deepen understanding and encourage action on behalf of wildlife and natural places. Most recently, she was Interpretation Manager at Zoo New England in Boston, MA. She earned a BS in Animal Science with Honors in Wildlife and Fisheries from Penn State in 2013. She would love to speak further with anyone interested in Conservation Psychology, Heritage Interpretation, Environmental Education or careers in Zoos, Aquariums and Museums! Connect with Jessica at [email protected]. Episode Topic & Chapters:  00:00       Introduction 00:33       Defining professional interpretation 02:12       Deciding on Penn State and Schreyer 03:45       The PA Farm Show 05:02       Undergrad research to save the bees and studying abroad as an Ag major 09:34       Shifting off the pre-veterinarian path 11:11       Dealing with rejections from graduate programs 12:33       Finding balance outside the classroom with ballroom dance 15:02       The Honors Thesis! 21:31       Working at Disney's Animal Kingdom 25:20       Finding a next step after a professional internship 28:16       Developing people and presentations skills as an animal focused grad 31:45       Completing multiple fellowships and internships in a small field 36:21       Jess's experiences at different zoos 45:51       Working across teams in an organization & non-traditional events at the Zoo 48:45       Managing volunteers - like those in a student group 52:34       The role of the zoo in the 21st century 55:49       Getting a job at a zoo or a similarly niche industry 59:28       Managing breaks in your resume 01:04:00  Work life balance 01:09:20  Biggest successes and failures 01:12:35  Approaching mentorship 01:14:30  Shoutouts! 01:17:14  Final pieces of advice 01:18:02  How to connect with Jessica 01:19:28  Which Creamery flavor Jessica would be and why 01:21:46  Wrap up and final thoughts ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram 

Overview: Adeolu Adewumi-Zer ’00 Business and Science, a global advisor, change leader, and passionate advocate for a thriving Africa joins FTG to discuss her journey from State College to Penn State to Germany, Turkey, and now Nigeria. She shares her perspectives on majoring in math and actuarial science with an international lens. Adelou provides insight into careers in consulting and in-house corporate work both in the US and abroad and transitioning from detailed STEM work to managing and leading people in complex organizations. She also shares her experiences taking the plunge to leave corporate life and start her own firm after opening a regional office for one of the largest financial firms in the world and serving on corporate and non-profit board. This episode can be helpful for any Scholar, and is a can’t miss one for any Scholar planning to major or work in a business, consulting, and/or international setting. Adelou’s bio is available below along with chapter markers detailing the topics discussed.  Guest Bio: Adeolu Adewumi-Zer ’00 Bus, Sci is a global advisor, change leader, and passionate advocate for a thriving Africa. Adeolu earned her Bachelor of Science degrees in Actuarial Science and Mathematics with Honors, along with a Minor in Japanese, from Penn State in 2000 after growing up in State College. Adeolu built a stellar global financial services career spanning four continents. She most recently oversaw ca. EUR 500M investments across Africa as Regional Head of Mergers, Acquisitions and Transformation Africa for the Allianz Group, led Allianz Nigeria as CEO, and has now launched ZER Consulting Africa from Lagos, Nigeria, where she collaborates with development agencies, investment funds, startups, and social entrepreneurs, providing strategic guidance in executive leadership, business strategy, corporate governance, and value creation. Adeolu's passion for Africa extends beyond her professional pursuits, as she actively champions critical causes such as financial inclusion, gender equality, and quality education. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Adeolu frequently graces international conferences, sharing her dynamic insights on corporate governance, executive leadership, and gender empowerment. Connect with Adeolu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adeoluadewumi/ Episode Topic & Chapters: 00:00       Introduction 00:47       How Adeolu came to Penn State and the Honors College 02:31       Selecting math-based majors in science and business 03:56       Using hard STEM skills in leadership roles 06:02       Being a Bunton Waller Scholar too 08:20       The Honors Thesis 10:01       Choosing industry over academia 11:54       Becoming a certified actuary 13:53       The B and C - study abroad and campus involvement 15:40       Using campus and family experiences as a manager and leader in industry 16:57       Coaches, sponsors, and mentors 19:57       Working in consulting 21:28       Going from consultant to corporate 23:22       Working in Europe and Africa 26:46       Opening a new office/branch for a company and resources for working moms internationally 30:19       What is Allianz 32:01       Going out on your own & starting your own firm 38:38       Facing challenging situations as a leader 40:39       Leadership skills to develop as a Scholar 42:09       Serving on corporate and non-profit boards 43:07       Time management strategies - saying yes and saying no 46:00       What the host didn't know to ask 47:38       Biggest success and failures 48:58       The responsibility of being sponsored 50:54       Shoutouts! 52:28       Final pieces of advice 53:52       How to get in touch with Ade...

Overview: Alumnae Yuri Unno ’95 Behrend and Amanda Blunt ’09 Lib join Following the Gong to discuss working for major automotive companies Toyota and GM, respectively, in Washington D.C. They both share their stories of finding Penn State – Yuri as an international student, Amanda as someone from “outside Philly” – and how they found interests working in trade policy, lobbying, legal affairs, and more. Both share their insights on graduate and professional school, careers in these fields, educating government administrators and legislators, and navigating the complexities of the nation’s capital. This episode is great for any Scholar, and especially those interested in these topics, international students, and those who live or plan to live and work in and around DC. Both Amanda and Yuri’s bios are available below along with chapter markers detailing the topics discussed. Guest Bios: Yuri Unno ’95 Behrend is a federal lobbyist for Toyota Motor North America's Government Office in Washington, D.C., serving as the Director for Trade and Supply Chain. She is responsible for representing Toyota in front of the Administration and Congress on these issues. She earned her BA in Political Science with Honors and BA in Economics from the Penn State Behrend College. She also earned her MA from the Elliott School of International Studies at Gorge Washington University. Prior to her extensive career at Toyota, Yuri worked at a small consulting firm called G7 Group. Amanda Blunt ’09 Liberal Arts is Counsel for Legal Affairs and Trade at Detroit-based car company General Motors's Washington, D.C. office. She is an international trade attorney for the company and, sitting in DC, works closely with the company's lobbyists in the Global Public Policy office. She also teaches international negotiations at Georgetown Law, where she earned her JD. Before joining GM in 2021 she worked at the White House for 5 years under 3 Presidential administrations at the Office of the US Trade Representative. USTR is responsible for US trade policy, including negotiating trade deals with other countries and litigating disputes at the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. While at USTR she won a case against China at the WTO, and negotiated agreements with China, the EU, Japan, and other countries as well as in international bodies like the United Nations. Prior to government service she began her career at a large law firm. She earned her BA in Political Science with Honors from Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts. She likes speaking with students about law school, politics and careers in Washington, as well as international affairs and of course, trade. Her LinkedIn is: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-blunt-b933317/ Episode Topic & Chapters  0:00         Introductions 00:44       Choosing Penn State and the Schreyer Honors College 03:07       Advice for Scholars finishing at a campus other than University Park 03:59       Advice for international students 04:56       Amanda's Penn State origin story 06:01       Being in a sorority as a Scholar 07:29       The Honors Thesis 09:18       Transitioning from college to industry 10:29       Deciding on law school 12:43       Staying at one company for the bulk of your career 16:09       Lobbying at various levels of government 19:29       Amanda's early career in big law and the White House 20:57       Advice for Scholars looking to work in the public sector 21:46       Working in business with a liberal arts degree 24:30       Working for a "car company" but not being a "car guy" 26:15       Being the "utility infielder" for the gov relations staff 27:17       Effectively lobbying legislators and other offi...

Overview: Dr. Victoria Heasley ’14 Engineering, ‘18g Medicine joins Following the Gong to discuss her story and career. Victoria is a physician, professor, and engineer at the University of Cincinnati, where she supports community members and UC athletes in need of adaptive sports medicine to leave fuller, happier, and healthier lives. She explains what this field is, how she got into it, and how her experiences at Penn State – both in the College of Engineering and at the College of Medicine through the Early Assurance Program – laid the foundation for her career so far. This includes out of the classroom involvement that influences community non-profit work that leverages her talents and her experience as a Disney World Cast Member. This episode is great for any Scholar, and especially those interested in athletics, engineering, and/or medicine. Victoria’s bio is available below along with chapter markers detailing the topics discussed.  Guest Bio: Dr. Victoria Heasley ’14 Eng, ‘18g Medicine is a physician at The University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati OH where she is an assistant professor in the departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, and Biomedical Engineering. She earned a BS in Biomedical Engineering with Honors from Penn State in 2014. She also earned her medical degree at Penn State Hershey Medical School. She is happy to speak further about her experiences in the fields of PM&R, Sports Medicine, Biomedical engineering, and her subspecialty of Adaptive Sports Medicine & Equipment. Please feel free to connect with her at her professional Instagram: @adaptivesportsdoc or via LinkedIn. Episode Topic & Chapters: 0:00         Introductions 0:21         Choosing Penn State and the SHC 1:33         Choosing the biomedical engineering major 3:05         Out of the classroom involvement 5:10         Medical volunteerism before med school 7:44         The Honors Thesis 9:52         Working at Disney World before med school 14:35       Applying to the early assurance program at the College of Medicine 18:09       Advice for aspiring physicians for succeeding in med school 20:13       Making lifelong friendships at SHC 21:43       Third year rotations and finding a specialty for residency 23:52       Defining adaptive medicine and other terms 26:44       An "average" day as an adaptive medicine physician 29:27       Working with patients 31:17       Adding teaching into your skillset as a physician 33:54       Working with athletes and community members 37:25       Adaptive medical devices and sports equipment 40:10       Skills needed for working in adaptive medicine and devices 42:37       Volunteering in the community as an alumna and starting a non-profit 46:29       The future of adaptive sports medicine 48:28       Questions the host should have asked but did not 50:25       Reflecting on successes and mistakes 54:17       Thoughts on mentorship 56:05       Shoutouts 56:51       Victoria’s final advice 58:52       How to connect with Victoria 59:30       Which Creamery flavor Victoria would be 01:00:33   Wrap up and final thoughts ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube

Overview:   Cybersecurity executive Atif Ghauri ’00 Business joins Following the Gong to discuss his career and advice for Scholars interested in both technical and relational leadership roles. Atif currently serves as the President of Ultraviolet Cyber after a career of increasingly senior roles in cyber security. Atif discusses his experience reluctantly coming to Penn State and then having an incredible experience in the Smeal College of Business and the Schreyer Honors College. Atif also shares insights from his career at companies like Comcast and the Herjeavec Group – led by Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec and taking control of your life and career. An overarching theme is making the shift from technical roles to the executive leadership in a business. Any Scholar can gain wisdom from this episode, and especially any interested in roles in technology and/or business. Atif’s bio is available below along with chapter markers detailing the topics discussed.   Guest Bio:   Atif Ghauri ’00 Bus is currently the President of UltraViolet Cyber. He is an established C-Level Executive with 20+ years of experience in Cybersecurity, serving roles as CTO, CPO, COO, and Managing Partner. He is an energetic leader, skilled team builder, strategic thinker, and adept negotiator possessing a rare combination of both high business acumen with deep technological expertise.  He is an industry recognized expert in cybersecurity, sought after for speaking engagements and regularly quoted in media. He is an adjunct professor teaching at the University of Michigan, Drexel, Yeshiva, Rutgers, and Wharton School. Atif holds a patent for security analytics algorithms on embedded consumer devices monitoring user anomalies.   Prior to UltraViolet Cyber, Atif led Cyderes (formerly known as Herjavec Group) as COO. Atif was responsible for all go-to-market activities related to sales and product management. Reporting directly to CEO Robert Herjavec, he served multiple leadership roles in his tenure as CTO, CPO as well running revenue operations, marketing, human resources, M&A, legal, and product management. Prior to Cyderes, Atif was a Managing Partner at Mazars. He was the Global Cybersecurity Practice Leader, responsible for all aspects of the business from sales to service delivery.   Atif has held leadership roles for both business and technology organizations at Comcast. He was head of Business Operations for Xfinity Home. He also served as Chief Product Security Officer for the technology engineering group, where he directed all security work streams to launch next generation X1 Platform, including invention and deployment of his patented fraud detection technology operational on millions of subscriber devices. Prior to Comcast, Atif was Director of Security at Unisys, where he launched a global security practice focused in Application Security. He started his career as a Managing Consultant at IBM Global Services advising and implementing security to Fortune 100 companies. Atif received a Masters in Technology Management from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems with Honors from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business and Schreyer Honors College.   Episode Topics & Chapters:   00:00       Introductions 00:13       Choosing Penn State and the SHC 02:50       Starting a Business as a Student 05:09       Using Campus Leadership Roles in Your Career 06:55       The Honors Thesis 08:56       Job Searching as a Scholar and Being the "Strongest Athlete" 12:26       Communicating technical "jargon" to different audiences and deciding on technical vs business paths 16:22       Developing the skills...

Overview: Attorney Jack Yoskowitz ’89 Lib and soon-to-be-attorney Henry Deteskey ’21 HHD join Following the Gong’s first ever vide episode to discuss legal careers and the power of leveraging resources, connections, and networks. Jack is a partner and attorney at Seward and Kissel in New York where he works on complex litigation primarily in the financial services sector. Jack is also a longtime volunteer with the Schreyer Honors College where he began to mentor Henry, who is, at the time of publishing, nearing the end of his law school experience at Fordham. Jack and Henry discuss their respective paths to Penn State as New Yorkers and first-generation students, their experiences in the College including their thesis experiences working with psychological testing and incarcerated individuals, respectively, and life in law school and in “big law.” Any Scholar can gain wisdom from this episode, and especially any interested in legal careers. Jack and Henry’s bios are available below along with chapter markers detailing the topics discussed. Guest Bios: Jack Yoskowitz ’89 Lib is a partner in Seward & Kissel’s Litigation Group where he specializes in complex commercial and corporate litigation and regulatory matters predominantly for financial services institutions and individuals. He graduated with a BS in Psychology with Honors from Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts in 1989 and a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1992. Henry Deteskey ’21 HHD is a third-year law student at Fordham University School of Law in New York City. Upon graduation in May 2023, Henry will be starting as a first-year associate at Seward & Kissel LLP. Henry graduated with a BS in Biobehavioral Health and obtained Honors in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development in 2021. During law school, Henry has worked as an intern at the Queens District Attorney's Office, a paralegal at Schilling Law LLC, and a summer associate at Seward & Kissel. Henry is happy to speak further about going to law school straight through undergrad and being a first-generation law student. Henry's interests include blockchain, artificial intelligence, and investment management. Please feel free to connect with him on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-deteskey-8b654b19b/. Episode Topics & Chapters: 00:00       Introduction 00:20       What brought Jack and Henry to Penn State 04:31       Jack's experiences as a Scholar in the 1980s 07:22       Henry's experiences as a recent Scholar - like working with incarcerated individuals 10:14       The Honors Thesis! 18:37       Henry's experience as a Scholar in a fraternity 20:23       All things law school - from deciding to go to succeeding through graduation 23:22       The power of connections and utilizing resources, aka, how Jack and Henry met and what it's meant to both 28:16       Advice for law students in their summer internships 32:17       The differences between trial and non-trial work 36:12       Working pro bono 37:37       What a first-year associate can expect in their job after law school 40:21       What law school is like in the 2020s 41:56       Working in business law - without majoring in a business discipline 45:30       Continuing education for attorneys 49:18       Life outside of work for lawyers & company culture at work 55:06       Thing the host didn't think to ask about law school and legal careers 59:19       Success and mistakes for Jack and Henry 01:05:03   Thoughts on mentorship 01:10:25   Shoutouts 01:12:58   Final pieces of advice for Scholars and aspiring attorneys 01:14:37   How to get in touch with Jack and Henry 01:15:13   Which Creamery flavors Jack and Henry would b...

Overview: Katie Legenski ’16 Eng welcomed Following the Gong to Antifragile Brewing in downtown State College where she serves as the head kombucha brewer for Moody Culture. Katie shares her experiences at Penn State Berks and in the College of Engineering, where she earned her bachelor of science in chemical engineering with honors after study abroad opportunities and a major setback on her thesis. Katie also shares her experiences deciding to pursue work in the pharmaceutical industry rather than a PhD, and her decision to uproot everything and hike the Appalachian Trail. She then explains all things kombucha, fermentation, and brewing, providing insights on this career path and the value of understanding various components of engineering and science in a field that marries her work experience and passion. Finally, Katie shares opportunities for community in State College as an alumna and powerful perspectives on finding the joy in your self-defined success. This episode is great for any Scholar, and especially those in STEM majors, those interested in brewing beverages like kombucha, those staying in State College after graduation, and any Scholar interested in hiking, rock climbing, or dancing. Katie’s full bio and a detailed breakdown of topics can be found in the show notes below. Guest Bio: Katie Legenski ’16 Eng is head kombucha brewer for Moody Culture in downtown State College, PA. The Moody Culture brewery is housed in the Antifragile Brewing Company taproom and brewery at 324 E Calder Way, State College. Brewing kombucha consists of choosing a brewing tea, inoculating with starter culture, maintaining the appropriate temperature for fermentation, flavoring with fruits or herbs, and carbonating the resulting beverage. Katie has been head brewer since March 2023 and has since introduced new flavors to Moody's line up including passionfruit, black currant, and the first decaf flavor: orange blossom tulsi. She's also quite proud of developing hard kombucha featuring alcohol fermented with the kombucha instead of spiking non-alcoholic kombucha with seltzer or grain ethanol which is industry standard. She earned a BS in chemical engineering in 2016 from Penn State. Prior to brewing for Moody Culture, she completed a southbound thru hike of the Appalachian Trail and worked in early drug discovery at both Glaxo Smith Kline and Johnson and Johnson. She's been fostering a love for fermentation for over a decade and is always happy to discuss all things fermentable. Other interests include social dance, rock climbing, fiber arts, and piano. She can be reached on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @kitkatlegenski. Episode Topics: What exactly kombucha is The benefits of starting at a smaller Penn State campus, and overcoming challenges of adjusting to University Park Studying abroad as an engineering student Overcoming thesis research areas deep in the process because of technical limitations How brewing is microbiology is brewing Shifting from an academia track to a workforce track in your final year of undergrad, and the importance of knowing your “why” Perspectives on working in pharmaceutical research and production Deciding to “carpe the diem” by making the decision to hike the Appalachian Trail Thoughts on walking the entire Appalachian Trail – and then adjusting back afterward Getting into homebrewing and judging The roles and responsibilities of a kombucha brewer at a small craft brewery The kombucha brewing process, including flavor development, suppliers, and marketing Developing alcoholic kombucha The evolution of the brewing community A crash course for those interested in home brewing n how to get start Getting involved in the Happy Valley community through activities dance and rock climbing

Overview: Bob Perna ’85 Bus serves as the senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary at Knowles Corporation in Itasca, Illinois. Bob joined Following the Gong to share his experiences as an early University Scholar at both Penn State Shenango and University Park. Bob provided insights on success in law school as a business student and the work of in-house attorneys in a business setting. He also shared perspectives on working for a primarily business to business, or b2b, company as a major supplier for household name products. This episode will be helpful for any Scholar, and particularly those starting at a smaller Commonwealth Campus, majoring in business disciplines, and those looking into legal or business careers, particularly in supply focused or leadership roles. Bob’s full bio and a detailed breakdown of the topics discussed are available in the show notes below. Guest Bio: Robert (Bob) Perna ’85 Bus is senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary at Knowles Corporation in Itasca, Illinois, where he manages the company’s global legal affairs, as well as all corporate governance and compliance functions at Knowles. He advises and counsels the Board of Directors and the leadership team on a broad range of legal, business, governance, compliance, policy and strategic matters, including key operational initiatives, risk assessment and mitigation, major transactions, litigation and corporate citizenship. Before joining Knowles, Bob served as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary at Rockwell Collins from 2014 to 2018, where he oversaw global legal support, import/export compliance, and the office of ethics and business conduct for the $8 billion aerospace and defense company. As a member of the senior leadership team, he also provided counsel to the Board of Directors on securities law, corporate governance and other legal matters. Previously, Bob was vice president, general counsel and secretary at A.M. Castle & Co., a specialty metals and plastics distributor and value-added processor. He also held various in-house counsel positions of increasing responsibility at CNH Global, Navistar International and GE Capital Rail Services. Bob started his law practice as an associate at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson in Washington, D.C., providing legal advice to private and publicly held corporations and financial institutions. A Pennsylvania native, Bob earned his bachelor of science in finance with High Distinction and with Honors from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business and his JD degree with High Honors from George Washington University. Episode Topics: Choosing to start the Penn State experience close to home at Penn State Shenango The value of the honors thesis for a career in law no matter the topic Deciding on a career in law as a business student Adjusting to a major metro area coming from small town PA Strategies for succeeding in law school including study habits and preprofessional opportunities Law firm work vs. in-house work How chief legal officers fit into the c-suite and business decisions and business ethics The importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace and world of business Working for a major B2B – business to business – company Living in the Chicago area General tips for career success in law, business, and any other discipline or industry ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram 

Overview: Leadership consultant Ken Graham ’67 joined Following the Gong and Schreyer Student Council for a special live session to discuss leadership development success for Scholars in their leadership roles and early careers. Ken retired from Royal Dutch Shell after a lengthy career in academia and industry focused on the study of leadership and developing leaders. This episode is a must-listen for any Scholar to set themselves up for success while on campus and as they transition to the world of work. Ken’s bio and a more detailed breakdown of the topics discussed and insights shared are available below. Guest Bio: Ken Graham ’67, ’68g, ’69g Bus is a consultant in strategy, leadership, and change to large and mid-sized employers, primarily in software, energy, manufacturing, and aviation. Ken serves Penn State students, staff, and faculty through 7-10 day visits to campus and on Zoom, meeting with the Schreyer Honors College, the Presidential Leadership Academy, Nittany Lion Consulting Group (Smeal), Global Engineering Fellows classes, and Labor and Human Resources classes. He also serves as a board member for Penn State’s Presidential Leadership Academy, a board member on the Penn State Global Advisory Board, and as a board member for The Graduate School Alumni Society. He retired as Global Head of Leader Development for Royal Dutch Shell, where he worked to enhance leader performance for both expatriate leaders and national staff in leadership positions. Ken worked on the payroll of three large corporations—Shell, Allstate, and Beatrice – and three large universities—Penn State, University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He serves on corporate and not-for-profit boards of directors. He led or leads five “bottom line” businesses, most of which are/were profitable! Ken taught in what is now Smeal College of Business and led Penn State Executive Programs before moving to industry. Ken earned his bachelor of science in management with honors from the College of Business (1967, prior to the establishment of the University Scholars Program), master of science in business logistics (1968), and doctor of philosophy in business administration (1979) from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business. He is married to a fellow Penn Stater and resides in Illinois, where he is a licensed pilot.  Episode Topics: Emergency briefings and safety prep as leaders Ken’s backstory as an honors student at Penn Stater before the University Scholars Program Taking an academic route as a business major The shift from management to leadership over the past century Highlighting student leadership experiences in the job search and interviews Five dimensions of finding coaches and mentors Insights on consulting Addressing ethical challenges and toxic cultures Developing horizontal influence The three key skills for leadership Steps for early career/internship success Disciplining your passions ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Join the Penn State Alumni Association  ----- Credits & Notes:...

Overview: Jason Olcese ’06 Lib is the band leader of My Hero Zero in State College, PA, where he performs as a musician, writes and records in the studio, and manages equipment and practice space to keep everything running smoothly. Before joining the band in 2010, Jason performed as a solo musician under the artist name "Jason O". He earned his BS in Psychology with Honors in Music from Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts in 2006. Jason joined the show – with a live studio audience in the Grandfather Clock Lounge – to share his story. Jason is a lifelong musician and learner, providing insights on crafting your skills in college, including through a gap semester and studying abroad. He also shares his perspectives on being a solo entertainer, band member, songwriter, producer, and coach through his other project, Happy Valley Song Lab. The episode includes two live performances, including one song from this thesis project. Any current Scholar or Scholar Alum can get something out of this episode, and especially if they are not sure of what path take or major to choose, are interested in a career in entertainment, writing their own music, or simply hearing about playing at THON or which is Jason’s favorite Taylor Swift era. Jason’s links and a more detailed breakdown of the topics discussed are available below. Guest Bio:  Jason Olcese ’06 Lib is the band leader of My Hero Zero in State College, Pennsylvania where he performs as a musician, writes and records in the studio, and manages equipment and practice space to keep everything running smoothly. Before joining the band in 2010, Jason performed as a solo musician under the artist name "Jason O". He earned a BS in Psychology with Honors in Music from Penn State in 2006. Please feel free to connect with them via Instagram @myherozerolive or through the bands website: www.myherozero.com. If interested in connecting in a studio setting please reach out to them via www.happyvalleysonglab.com  Episode Topics: Playing music from a young age and choosing Penn State for the large student body size but the small school feel and opportunities of the Honors College Trying out several majors – and even taking time off – before settling on the right one Choosing psychology over music to fulfil a goal of being a musician and songwriter Leveraging courses like American History and Math 140/141 to influence songwriting and music Finding unique ways to practice and hone your skills as a musician Producing a research informed album as part of the honors thesis Musical interlude #1 Starting full time work during your last year of college and breaking into the music industry Life on the road as a touring musical act Learning the business side of being a band Approaching different audiences like a downtown State College bar or THON Realities and myths of being a touring band member, including the high points and sacrifices to achieve artistic and commercial success The importance of balance and knowing your why/having a purpose Balancing a dual career between being in a band and being a solo performer Diversifying through producing and coaching at the Happy Valley Song Lab Seeking out sponsorships in an NIL world Time and self-management for non 8-5 j...

CW: This episode includes discussions of child abuse, substance abuse including drugs, alcohol, and overdose, and terminal illnesses. Overview: Dr. Elizabeth Zona ’02 Sci (“Dr. Z.”) s a double board-certified physician, specializing in both Anesthesiology and Addiction Medicine. She is a medical director for Anesthesiology at Three Rivers Endoscopy Center and Medical Director for Addiction Medicine Services at Laurel Care Treatment Center. Dr. Z. joined the show to talk about her experiences at Penn State Beaver and in the Eberly College of Science and dancing at THON in Rec Hall. She provides great insight into choosing the right medical school and share her perspectives on osteopathic medicine as a 2006 graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She also highlights her work in anesthesiology, including how she found that as her specialty, and subsequent work in both addition medicine and as a medical administrator. This episode is great for any Scholar, and especially those interested in medicine or healthcare, those in STEM majors, those interested in one day starting a family, and those who either experience(d) personal struggles, or had friends or family struggle with, drugs and alcohol. Dr. Z’s bio and a complete breakdown of topics discussed are available below. Guest Bio: Dr. Elizabeth Zona ’02 Sci is a double board-certified physician, specializing in both Anesthesiology and Addiction Medicine. She is a medical director for Anesthesiology at Three Rivers Endoscopy Center and Medical Director for Addiction Medicine Services at Laurel Care Treatment Center, both in the Coraopolis, PA area. She earned a BS in Pre-Medicine with Honors in Chemistry from Penn State’s Eberly College of Science in 2002. She earned her medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2006. After completing an additional 4 years of residency training at UPMC-Mercy she became board certified in Anesthesiology in 2011 and has been a practicing anesthesiologist for over 13 years. In 2016, after losing a friend to opioid overdose, Dr. Zona decided to take on the additional education and training in Addiction Medicine and became board certified in 2019. She has been active with addiction prevention efforts and treatment, while advocating for those in recovery, for over 6 years now. She is happy to speak further about medical school, osteopathy, the fentanyl epidemic, the dangers of counterfeit pills, alcoholism, nicotine dependence and more. Please feel free to connect with her on INSTAGRAM or TikTok, @addictiontokdok.  Episode Topics: Taking inspiration from an older sibling’s path to Penn State and starting at the Beaver campus Making connections with faculty early to get into the Honors College as a current student Reflecting on the professional benefits of dancing in THON (for 48 hours at Rec Hall) Developing new scientific methods in the thesis process and taking skills learned into medical school and a career Things to consider in selecting a medical, law, or graduate school The difference between an MD (allopathic) and a DO (osteopathic) Breaking down the four years of med school Medical residencies and finding the right specialty A basic understanding of anesthesiology Being a service provider in medicine for multiple practices and the difference between health networks and private practice Z’s path to supporting those with substance abuse and addiction challenges Making smart choices regarding alcohol, drugs, and medications Developing public speaking and presentation skills as a physician – including TikTok The role of the Medical Director and learning those skills Finding balance and joy Thoughts on being both a doctor and a mother

Overview: Paul Suhey ’14 Eng is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Revel a firm with the mission to enable EV adoption in US cities. Specifically, the company is focused on building fast charging infrastructure and operating an all-electric, all-employee rideshare service. Before starting Revel in 2018, Paul worked for ExxonMobil and Gerson Lehrman Group. He earned a BS in Chemical Engineering with Honors from Penn State’s College of Engineering in 2014. Paul joins FTG to discuss his time at Penn State as a “townie,” founding Apollo benefitting THON, and conducting undergraduate research. He shares insights on his early career as a Chem E grad and ultimately how he decided to co-found Revel, a firm at the intersection of EV adoption and a new experience for ride-hailing services. This episode is great for any Scholar, and especially those in STEM, who have an interest in EVs, or are interested in transforming an idea into a business. Paul’s bio and a complete breakdown of topics discussed are available below. Guest Bio:  Paul Suhey ’14 Eng is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Revel a firm with the mission to enable EV adoption in US cities. Specifically, the company is focused on building fast charging infrastructure and operating an all-electric, all-employee rideshare service. Before starting Revel in 2018, Paul worked for ExxonMobil and Gerson Lehrman Group. He earned a BS in Chemical Engineering with Honors from Penn State’s College of Engineering in 2014. Please feel free to connect with him on LinkedIn.   Episode Topics:   Re-applying to the College as a current Penn State student after an initial rejection and as a “townie” Choosing Chemical Engineering for its versatility and academic challenge Founding and leading Apollo benefitting THON Using those organizational leadership lessons post-Penn State and the importance of organizational culture Finding undergraduate research opportunities on campus Serving as an Engineering Ambassador Strategies for time management and balancing work, school, and other commitments Prioritizing a thesis advisor over a thesis topic Using your thesis as a startup founder Suggestions for success in internships and early career discovery Shifting industries from pharmaceuticals to oil & gas to investments to EVs Taking the plunge from corporate life to going all-in on your start-up Navigating and maintaining relationships with your co-founder(s) Perspectives on the first year of a start-up Setting your company and product apart from competitors and solving unanticipated problems Promoting EV adoption through designing a new model for ride-hail services Approaching private and public investors Successes and mistakes that founders can learn from The differences between fast growth start-ups and slow growth family/side businesses Making the most of your time as a student and the unique opportunities that time presents ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Jo...

Overview: This is a special crossover episode of Following the Gong and Dare to Disrupt, a podcast from Invent Penn State that features conversations with Penn State alumni who are innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders, and the stories behind their successes. FTG host Sean Goheen interviews Goldman Sachs Managing Director and volunteer Dare to Disrupt host Ryan Newman ’01 and Associate Vice President for Research and Director of the Office of Entrepreneurship & Commercialization James Delattre ’97, both Scholar Alumni, about the entrepreneurial scene at Penn State. Ryan and James briefly share their background and time at Penn State. The conversation then explains the origin of Invent Penn State and the incredible resources available for not only students but alumni and community members looking to start, build, or scale a business. Ryan and Katie DeFiore, producer of Dare to Disrupt, share how that podcast came to be, favorite stories, and lessons learned from both the guests and the production process. This episode is a must for any Scholar and any Penn Stater – student, alumni, faculty, fan, or community member – to learn about the impact of the Honors College and Invent Penn State on the Commonwealth. Ryan and James’ bios and a full breakdown of topics discussed are available below. Guest Bios: Dr. James L. Delattre ’97 Sci serves as Associate Vice President for Research and Director of the Office for Entrepreneurship and Commercialization at Penn State where he leads entrepreneurship program development for the Invent Penn State initiative and leads commercialization strategy, resources and support for Penn State’s startup pipeline and LaunchBox & Innovation Network. He is an alumnus of the Professional Fellows Program of the American Councils for International Education. James is the principal investigator for Penn State’s National Science Foundation I-Corps Program, a member of the advisory board of the Center for Medical Innovation at the Penn State Hershey College of Medicine and serves as secretary of the Penn State Research Foundation. Prior to joining Penn State, Dr. Delattre worked in nanomaterials and semiconductor startups in central Pennsylvania and Silicon Valley. Dr. Delattre earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and completed postdoctoral work at the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche at the University of Bari, Italy. Dr. Delattre received his BS with Honors in Chemistry from Penn State’s Eberly College of Science in 1997, where he studied inorganic chemistry and the Russian language. Ryan Newman ’01 Bus is a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, where he co-founded and co-leads a private wealth management team, managing in excess of $13 billion on behalf of Fortune 500 executives, Forbes 400 families, entrepreneurs, family offices and foundations and endowments. Ryan is a member of the PWM Top Advisors and PWM Advisors Council, representing the top 10% of advisors globally at Goldman Sachs. He joined Goldman Sachs as a financial analyst in 2001 and was named a Managing Director in 2019. Ryan earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics with Honors 2001, and served as Student Marshal for Economics during graduation. Ryan is the host of the Invent Penn State podcast, Dare to Disrupt, which he helped launch, and has achieved over 50,000 downloads (as of September 2023). He also serves on the External Advisory Board of the Schreyer Honors College and the Principal Gifts Committee in Development at Penn State. Ryan is also a volunteer with the Smeal College of Business. He was awarded the Alumni Achievement Award in 2011 and the Alumni Fellow Award in 2023.  Episode Topics: Getting to know Ryan and James as they share their Penn State origin stories and t...

Overview: Patrick Lucas ’13 Eng is an Analytics Success Manager at Nike in Boston, MA where he works in product management to design and roll out inventory analytics products for internal Nike users. Before being acquired by Nike in 2019, Patrick was working at a small Boston startup called Celect that developed inventory analytics tools for retailers. Prior to Celect Patrick worked for Accenture in Management Consulting for several years. He earned his BS in Industrial Engineering with Honors from Penn State’s College of Engineering in 2013. Patrick joins Following the Gong to talk about his experiences as a second-generation Penn Stater entering the College as a third-year student, playing championship level club sports, and leveraging on-campus recruitment opportunities for internships and co-ops. He then explains how he took his IE background to first consulting and then data analytics management, and how he used corporate charitable giving matching to become a major gift donor to the College as a young alum. While certainly useful for Scholars interested in these areas, from business to baseball, this episode is helpful for any Scholar looking at internships, co-ops, or jobs in any field, as well as alumni looking to make a difference for Scholars or in their communities. His full bio and a detailed breakdown of topics discussed are available in the show notes below. Guest Bio: Patrick Lucas ’13 Eng is an Analytics Success Manager at Nike in Boston, MA where he works in product management to design and roll out inventory analytics products for internal Nike users. Before being acquired by Nike in 2019, Patrick was working at a small Boston startup called Celect that developed inventory analytics tools for retailers. Prior to Celect Patrick worked for Accenture in Management Consulting for several years. He earned a BS in Industrial Engineering with Honors from Penn State’s College of Engineering in 2013. He is happy to speak further about his time at Penn State including his time playing National Championship winning club baseball, his career journey, and his philanthropic efforts with the Schreyer Honors College. Please feel free to connect with him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricktlucas/. Episode Topics: Becoming a Scholar as a current Penn State student after not getting admitted as an incoming first-year student The value of making the most of the College’s opportunities and benefits Explaining industrial engineering as a major Keeping a skill and passion – like baseball – alive but not the focus of your college career through Club Sports Making the most of internships and co-ops that stems from on-campus recruiting Leveraging class learning and internships/co-ops in your thesis – and then using your thesis in your career Advice for aspiring consultants Jumping from a large consulting company to a start-up and the benefits of both types of firms A crash course on what data analytics is, how it’s useful, and how to get into that career trajectory in a multitude of skills and majors Supporting Scholars through endowed philanthropy as a young alum and the power of leveraging corporate charitable giving matches Developing your personal narrative to highlight your skills and successes clearly Thoughts on mentorship Standing out versus fitting in ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment...

Overview: Anna Han ’10 Eng is the Director of Judicial Clerkships in the Career Development Office at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law and previously worked as an attorney for Covington & Burling after earning her Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering with Honors in 2010 and her JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Anna joins Following the Gong as a past Board Member for the Scholar Alumni Society to discuss her time as a Scholar in bioengineering, pivoting from STEM to law, and her time as a teacher. She shares insights on her time on campus an as RA to off campus in a paid co-op and competing on Jeopardy! before her early career as a teacher. Anna then dives into all things law, from approaching law school with an engineering background, the benefit of clerkships, working as a patent attorney, and now working at a law school. This episode is valuable for any Scholar, and especially for those who are in STEM but are considering other paths, those pursing teaching, and those interested in legal careers. Her full bio and a detailed breakdown of topics discussed are available in the show notes below. Guest Bio: Anna Han ’10 Eng is the Director of Judicial Clerkships in the Career Development Office at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. She supports law students and alumni interested in working for judges and courts of all levels. Before joining Berkeley Law in 2021, Anna was a litigation associate in the Washington, D.C., and San Francisco offices of the law firm Covington & Burling and a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Jon P. McCalla of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee in Memphis. Between college and law school, Anna taught high school math, also in Memphis, through the Teach For America program. Anna earned her BS in Bioengineering with Honors from Penn State’s College of Engineering in 2010, a master's in Education Policy from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Episode Topics: Choosing Penn State and Schreyer over other top options Learning whether engineering and science are or are not right for you even if you excel at them How a co-op can provide valuable experience – and is different from an internship Serving as a resident assistant (RA) and Scholar assistant (SA) – and using those experiences in your career Representing Penn State on a nationally televised game show Starting a club – and finding a spouse in the process How a STEM thesis was beneficial in skill-building for legal work Deciding on a path outside your major Advice for teachers who were not education majors Choosing law school, including deferring your start, and advice for being successful there Bringing in diverse backgrounds and experiences and pursuing concurrent degrees The role and value of clerkships and considering different career paths with a law degree The work of a patent lawyer and litigator Insight on and an example of pro bono legal work The importance of letters of recommendation and the network to call upon for them Lessons learned from teaching The importance of maintaining relationships with mentors and friends  ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  Upcoming Events <...

Overview: Darren Gibula ’93 Bus is a seasoned supply chain and operations management professional. He most recently served as the VP of Inventory at Owens & Minor servicing the healthcare industry. He previously worked in successively senior roles at LG, United Technologies, and prior to receiving his MBA from MIT Sloan, at Accenture as a consultant. He earned his BS in Quantitative Business Analysis with Honors, a forerunner to the modern Supply Chain Management degree, from the Smeal College of Business in 1993. Darren joined Following the Gong to share his experiences coming to University Park from out-of-state, writing for the Collegian as a business major, and finding his path in business from STEM. Darren also shared how his thesis was beneficial to his career and what it was like as a consultant. He then shares a crash course in supply chain – from what it is, to working as a generalist or specialist, to leading teams and working with others domestically and abroad. This episode is great for any Scholar, and particularly for those interested in supply chains, consulting, pursing an MBA, or pursing activities at Penn State outside of their major. His full bio and a detailed breakdown of topics discussed are available in the show notes below.   Guest Bio: Darren Gibula ’93 Bus was most recently the VP of Inventory at Owens & Minor in Richmond, Virginia where he was responsible for the oversight and planning of $1.5B of both manufactured and purchased medical supplies to support about 1/3 of the hospitals in the US with the daily supplies they need to serve patients. Before joining Owens & Minor in 2016, he previously worked at LG for 7 years, United Technologies for 11 years before that, and started his career at Accenture and Computer Sciences Corp in Systems Consulting. He earned his BS in Quantitative Business Analysis with Honors from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business in 1993. He also earned an MBA in Manufacturing and Operations from MIT Sloan. He is also happy to speak further about Supply Chain, Distribution, Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement or anything that involves solving tough problems.  Please feel free to connect with him on LinkedIn. Episode Topics: Coming to Penn State after a youth spent cheering on the Maryland Terrapins Finding the right major that fits both your skills and passions Jumping at opportunities – like writing for The Daily Collegian and the honors thesis – and using those in your career no matter your major Starting your career in consulting Tips for making the most of internships, co-ops, or first jobs Making the decision to stop out of work to pursue a graduate degree like an MBA A crash course in supply chain management Generalist roles vs. functional specialists in supply chain management and advancing your career in either Problem solving as a supply chain leader in healthcare during a global pandemic Working internationally or with organizations doing international business Working with people, from class projects to multinational corporations Planning ahead for an early retirement the value of lifelong learning Remaining involved with Penn State and Schreyer no matter where life takes you Skillsets for any role or function in business, not just supply chains ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book a...

Overview: Jessica Paholsky ’14 A&A, Com is a digital communications specialist at TE Connectivity in Central Pennsylvania. She has previously worked in external communications roles in several industries including magazines, travel, and education – both K12 and higher ed. Jessica graduated from Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture and Bellisario College of Communications with degrees in photography and visual communications, respectively, and completed her honors work in photojournalism and Italian. She is also the founder and creator of Once Upon a Pesto, a global cultural exploration of pesto-based recipes, including an upcoming cookbook. Jessica joins Following the Gong to talk about her experience in the arts and communications at a large public university like Penn State, the value of studying abroad and combining majors, and making connections on campus. She then provides insight into working in communications roles as both an individual contributor and team leader, as well as living and working in smaller markets like Hershey or Lewisburg. This episode is great for any Scholar – especially any foodies – and particularly for Scholars in the arts or communications fields. Her full bio and a detailed breakdown of topics discussed are available in the show notes below. Guest Bio: Jessica Paholsky ’14 A&A, Com is a digital communications specialist at TE Connectivity in Central Pennsylvania where she oversees various internal communications projects and plans, focusing on video production and other digital platforms. Before working at TE, Jessica worked at Milton Hershey School, Bucknell University, Men's Health magazine and a teen travel company called Travel for Teens - all where she produced marketing and informational video content from start to finish. Outside of her full-time job, she is the founder and creator of Once Upon a Pesto, a global cultural exploration of ingredients and recipes, which she is publishing as a cookbook. Jessica earned her BA in visual communications from the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications and her BA in photography from the College of Arts & Architecture with dual minors in international arts and international studies and with honors in photojournalism and Italian from Penn State in 2014. She is happy to speak further about digital marketing and social media. Please feel free to connect with Jessica on LinkedIn (Jessica Paholsky) and other social media channels (@onceuponapesto). Episode Topics: Choosing Penn State for its art program without being an art school Taking a passion for photography to the next level with a major and co-curricular opportunities The value of combining majors from different colleges at Penn State Making the most of study abroad opportunities What frescoes are – and where to find some right at University Park Creating a documentary for the thesis project, including a crash course on all things olive oil Making the most of alumni visits to campus in career development Different types of organizations that need videography work and non-traditional markets for creative work Universal skills for any career or industry Leading teams of creatives beyond being a technical individual contributor Taking the skills from the thesis to other projects, like writing an entire cookbook! Insights on pesto Finding community in smaller cities and towns as an alum The importance of living a life with purpose ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram...

Overview: Lou D’Ambrosio ’86, is a Partner at Goldman Sachs, having previously served as a Strategic Senior Advisor to the company. Lou has also been the CEO of Fortune 500 companies and a senior executive across multiple industries. Lou served as Executive Chairman of Sensus, a clean technology company, CEO of Sears Holdings – comprised of Sears, Kmart, and Lands’ End – and CEO of Avaya, Inc., a global telecommunications company after 16 years at IBM. He earned his bachelor of science in management with honors from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business in 1986 and his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1992. Lou joined Following the Gong while he was on campus to receive the Penn State Distinguished Alumni Award. Lou shares his story coming to Penn State as a first generation student from South Philadelphia to the C-suite and his advice for students to succeed regardless of major. He further shares his insights from a robust career as a senior executive leading massive organizations through events like sales and acquisitions, changes in technology, and personal & health challenges. Lou’s business insights and perspectives on what really matters in life make this episode helpful for any Scholar or Scholar Alum at any stage in their journey and career. Lou’s sought after opinions are typically found in national publications and at venues like the World Economic Forum – and here they are focused specifically on helping Schreyer Scholars to make the most of their Scholar experience. His full bio and a detailed breakdown of topics discussed are available in the show notes below. Guest Bio:  Lou D’Ambrosio ’86 Business is a Partner at Goldman Sachs, having previously served as a Strategic Senior Advisor to the company where he leads the firm’s Value Accelerator – a platform of distinguished operating executives that partner with CEO's in value creation. Lou has also been the CEO of Fortune 500 companies and a senior executive across multiple industries. Lou served as Executive Chairman of Sensus, a clean-technology leader in conserving water and energy through smart meters. He was also the CEO of Sears Holdings – comprised of Sears, Kmart, and Lands’ End. Additionally, Lou served as CEO of Avaya, Inc., a global telecommunications company. Earlier in his career, D’Ambrosio spent 16 years at IBM in leadership roles across Software, Services, and Asia Pacific and was a member of IBM’s Worldwide Management Council. Lou is active in non-profit organizations and served as a trustee of the Jackson Laboratory, a leading biomedical organization. Lou has been a speaker at major conferences, including the World Economic Forum and Interop and has been quoted in leading media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and USAToday. At Penn State, D’Ambrosio was an Evan Pugh Scholar and University Scholar, graduated summa cum laude, and was the Smeal College of Business’ valedictorian earning his bachelor of science in management with honors in 1986. He earned his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1992 during which time he also received the National Business Honor Society Scholarship, the Junior Achievement Foundation Fellowship, and the Distinguished Service Award from Junior Achievement for mentoring inner-city children through Project Hope. He received the Emerging Professional Award in 1998 from the Smeal College of Business. Lou was named a Penn State Alumni Fellow in 2008 and received the Penn State Distinguished Alumni Award, the University’s highest honor for alumni, 2003. Episode Topics:  Coming to Penn State and the University Scholars Program from South Philly as a first-generation student Writing a joint, cross college thesis – and utilizing it throughout your career Pointers on achieving your goals as a Scholar in any major Appro...

Overview: Tamara Hambrick ’05 Eng is the Boeing Enterprise Strategy and Operations Deputy Functional Chief Engineer for Systems Engineering implementing technical excellence for the workforce with focus on leading Model-Based Systems Engineering within the functions of engineering and across the functions of Boeing for Digital Thread enablement for their business. Her previous roles were at Boeing and Northrop Grumman Corporation in systems engineering, model-based engineering, and engineering leadership. Tamara earned her bachelors of science engineering science with honors from Penn State’s College of Engineering in 2005. She has also earned a master’s certificate in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and a graduate certificate in architecture and systems engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Tamara discusses how her time at Penn State influenced her career, including her experience as a Berks Cheerleader, to all things systems engineering and engineering leadership. While great for any Scholar, this episode will be particularly of interest for Scholars who started at a campus other than University Park, are in engineering, looking to engage their industry through professional associations, and women in STEM fields. Her full bio and a detailed breakdown of topics discussed are available below. Guest Bio:  Tamara Hambrick ’05 Eng is the Boeing Enterprise Strategy and Operations Deputy Functional Chief Engineer for Systems Engineering implementing technical excellence for the workforce with focus on leading Model-Based Systems Engineering within the functions of engineering and across the functions of Boeing for Digital Thread enablement for their business. Previously, she was the Boeing Defense, Space, and Security (BDS) Business Unit's Systems Engineering Director for the Systems Engineering, Integration, and Test (SEIT) Capability leader. She led the Wisk/Boeing/Aurora Model Based Engineering (MBE) strategy and support to BDS programs for Digital Engineering proposals. She instituted governance and standardization of tools, processes, and practices with accelerated adoption of Digital Engineering concepts. Prior to joining the company in 2021, Tamara was the leader in driving technical innovation, influencing change and developing the next generation of thought leaders, advocates and practitioners in model-based systems engineering. Over her 16 years with Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC), she served as integrated product team leader, functional director, manager, chief engineer, and chief architect across electronics, mission systems, aeronautics, space, strategic deterrent, and enterprise programs for model-based engineering. Tamara earned her bachelors of science engineering science with honors from Penn State’s College of Engineering in 2005. She has also earned a master’s certificate in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and a graduate certificate in architecture and systems engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Please feel free to connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-h-5370865/  Episode Topics: Getting into engineering from interests in mechanical systems and high school STEM classes Starting at a Commonwealth Campus and choosing the right engineering discipline – like engineering science and its holistic, cross disciplinary approach Life as a cheerleader, tutor, and teaching assistant Leveraging an engineering thesis – both the process and the topic – in your career and not just graduate school Growing into your engineering and engineering leadership career Systems engineering and architecture, digital transformation, and digital models and modeling Involvement in the broader engineering community for professionals Finding work lif...

Overview:   Sean Goheen '11 Liberal Arts is the Coordinator of Constituent Relations and Annual Giving for the Schreyer Honors College. Sean switches from the host’s chair to the interview chair for this episode. Guest host Jaz Azari ’06 (who appeared on episode 44) speaks with Sean about his career in student affairs and alumni relations. Sean shares his insights on Penn State Berks and leveraging relationships when the path forward is unclear, whether in your thesis or your career. He also provides the origin story for this very podcast and how he learned new skills – beyond the many already needed for working with students and alumni, including working with Hollywood talent like Nick Offerman – to develop and launch Following the Gong. This episode is great for any Scholar who is interested in how this show came about, or needs inspiration in finding their own direction, as well as for any interested in career spaces like Sean’s. His full bio and a detailed breakdown of topics discussed are available below.   Guest Bio:   Sean Goheen '11 Lib is the Coordinator of Constituent Relations and Annual Giving for the Schreyer Honors College. He manages the alumni relations portfolio for the College, including volunteer programs, events, broad-based fundraising, and marketing, including running the Scholar Alumni Society and hosting, editing, and producing the Following the Gong podcast. He earned is BA in Political Science with Honors and BA in History from Penn State's College of Liberal Arts in 2011. He also earned his M.Ed. in Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education from UNC Greensboro in 2014. He previously worked at the University of Kentucky in student activities and can speak on working in student affairs and alumni engagement. He is currently working on his MBA through the Penn State Smeal College of Business and World Campus, and lives in State College with his wife, kids, and dogs. His favorite season is college football season. You can connect with him on LinkedIn.   Episode Topics:   “Phoning in” the college search and still having a fulfilling collegiate experience and life Choosing to start at a Commonwealth Campus (Berks) and leveraging a campus honors program to join the Honors College What CCSG is – and using campus involvement to inspire a thesis topic Identifying a “doable” thesis and the right advisor for that topic The importance of mentorship as a form of lifelong learning Working in alumni relations and what Sean does outside of hosting FTG – and what he did before working in student activities Hiring and working with celebrity talent, like Nick Offerman from Parks and Rec Learning how to podcast from scratch and the inspiration for and origin of Following the Gong The importance of maintaining relationships and finding work life balance or integration Finding good teams at home and at work How to connect with the host to provide feedback on FTG ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn  Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars

Overview: Jared Edgar McKnight ’11 A&A, Lib is a Senior Associate and Designer at WRT (Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC), a landscape architecture, planning, urban design, and architecture firm based in Philadelphia and San Francisco. He joined WRT in 2012 after earning a Bachelor of Architecture with Honors, a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, and minors in Architectural History and French & Francophone Studies from Penn State’s Colleges of Arts & Architecture and College of the Liberal Arts, respectively, in 2011. Jared also serves on both the A&A and Schreyer Honors College Alumni Society Boards. Jared joins Following the Gong to talk all things landscape architecture, architecture, and design. He provides insight on life as an involved Scholar in Architecture including studying abroad and shines a light on the many elements of life as a designer and the power of empathy and community in design. He also shares about his graduate work in the field and his research on architecture and landscape architecture’s role in designing innovative solutions to address large scale issues like homelessness and resiliency. Jared’s insights are great for any Scholar to hear and are particularly helpful for any Scholar in Architecture or other studio-intensive and design oriented disciplines as well as those seeking to make a difference for others. His full bio and a detailed breakdown of topics discussed are available below. Guest Bio: Jared Edgar McKnight ’11 A&A, Lib is a Senior Associate and Designer at WRT (Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC), a landscape architecture, planning, urban design, and architecture firm based in Philadelphia and San Francisco. Jared joined WRT in 2012 after earning a Bachelor of Architecture with Honors, a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, and minors in Architectural History and French & Francophone Studies from Penn State’s Colleges of Arts & Architecture and College of the Liberal Arts, respectively, in 2011. Jared has also earned a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania in 2012 and Master of Landscape Architecture + Urbanism degree at the University of Southern California in 2021. Jared currently resides in Los Angeles, CA where he works remotely for WRT and is a frequent guest lecturer at USC. Jared’s work focuses primarily on the landscape's potential as a system to support environmental and social resilience and giving back to his academic and professional communities through his design work, research, advocacy, and community service. Through his highly crafted work, Jared’s designs invite others to see the landscapes around them anew, with an empathic lens that considers those least represented, and those whose voices, and identities, are not often heard, or designed for. His current interests focus on policy and design interventions that challenge the structures that isolate, exclude, and oppress communities and ecosystems. In addition to his job with WRT, Jared explores these topics through organizations in his local community like the Landscape Justice Initiative at USC. Jared is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, most notably he has received recognition as a Landscape Architecture Foundation 2021 National Olmsted Scholar Finalist, a 2021 American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Honor Award Recipient, the 2021 ASLA National Award of Excellence in Research recipient, a Pennsylvania State University 2018 Alumni Achievement Award recipient, a 2016 American Institute of Architects National Associate Award recipient, and a 2016 Schreyer Honors College Outstanding Scholar Alumni Award Recipient. Jared enthusiastically continues to serve on various volunteer boards and organizations to stay connected with his academic institutions and professional communities. He is currently the Emerging Professionals Chair on ASLA Southern California’s Board, an...

Overview: Julie Florin ’87 Arts and Architecture teaches Theatre and Chorus at Greenville High School Academy in Greenville, South Carolina. She also works with local theatres and plays organ at churches in the Upstate. Julie is a trained pianist and organist and has a rich career teaching at the K-12 level and serving as musical director for countless shows at the K-12, collegiate, and community theater levels. Julie joins the show to talk about her experiences and share her advice as a music teacher and life-long learner. She also shares advice for involvement in theater after college from her roles as musical director, as well as from her perspectives as a piano teacher, church organist, touring performer in the “War Bonds” show, and Penn State donor. This episode will be of interest to any Scholar who enjoys music or theater, and will be especially valuable to Scholars intending to pursue a career or continued involvement for personal fulfillment in any of these disciplines. Her full bio and a detailed breakdown of topics discussed are available below. Guest Bio: Julie Florin ’87 A&A teaches Theatre and Chorus at Greenville High School Academy in Greenville, South Carolina. She also works with local theatres and plays organ at churches in the Upstate. Prior to moving to South Carolina in 2016, she held similar positions and taught private piano lessons for over 20 years in Raleigh, North Carolina. She tours nationally in "War Bonds: The Songs and Letters of WWII" with EbzB Productions. She graduated from Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture in 1987 with a BS in Music Education with Honors. She holds a Certificate in Church Music from Shenandoah University, a Masters in Music from East Carolina University, and a BA in Theatre Education from North Carolina Central University. You can contact her at https://fingertipsmusic.org or on LinkedIn. Episode Topics: Coming to Penn State and the Honors College as a State College High grad and overcoming sleeping through the SAT (from when it was part of the admissions criteria) Leveraging high school challenges and opportunities in finding your path from mentors along the way The difference between piano and organ – and how one helped Julie with physical therapy! Writing a practical thesis that fills a needs gap – in the form of a research informed choral workbook – and the importance of saving your work! Continuing education through graduate degrees and certificates – including taking matters into your own hands when your employer doesn’t offer something you need Advice for student teachers, new teachers, and teachers in areas like arts, music, and similar and the difference between academic and co-curricular opportunities Leveraging participation in the arts in internships and jobs across industries Maintaining involvement in the arts through community theatre Advice for church pianists and organists as a substitute performer Creating and touring a unique program telling authentic stories and music from WWII on the War Bonds tour Getting your motorcycle and commercial drivers licenses Supporting currents arts students as an alumna donor ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn  Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer 

*Editor’s Note – There was a technical issue with the microphone quality for the first half of the episode. Please bear with us for a great conversation!   Overview: Dr. Quinta Warren ’05 Engineering is the Associate Director of Sustainability Policy at Consumer Reports (CR), where she leads the legislative, regulatory, and corporate engagement strategies for sustainability on behalf of consumers. Quinta joins the show after both testifying before Congress and participating in the White House Summit on Electrification to discuss her journey. Quinta graduated with a PhD in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from Georgia Tech in 2009, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with Honors from Penn State’s College of Engineering in 2005. She is a 2019-2020 recipient of the Schreyer Honors College Outstanding Scholar Alumni Award. Quinta started at Penn State Greater Allegheny and entered the Honors College so she could pursue research. She shares her experiences and advice for students on making tough choices, enjoying the ride, and careers in both oil & gas and in policy, on top of insight on additional education including PhDs, PMP, and PE certifications. This episode will be great for any Scholar, and particularly for those who are international students, started at a campus other than UP, and are interested in careers in STEM or policy. Her full bio and a detailed breakdown of topics discussed are available in the show notes below.   Guest Bio:   Dr. Quinta Warren ’05 Eng is the Associate Director of Sustainability Policy at Consumer Reports (CR), where she leads the legislative, regulatory, and corporate engagement strategies for sustainability on behalf of consumers. She recently testified before Congress about the consumer benefits of the historic clean energy provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act. She also recently participated in the White House Summit on Electrification, providing the consumer perspective on transportation electrification. Previously, Dr. Warren worked on carbon capture with ConocoPhillips, power generation with the Department of Energy, and international development with the Millennium Challenge Corporation and her own firm, Energy Research Consulting. Dr. Warren graduated with a PhD in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from Georgia Tech in 2009, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with Honors from Penn State’s College of Engineering in 2005. She is a 2019-2020 recipient of the Schreyer Honors College Outstanding Scholar Alumni Award.   Episode Topics:   Coming to Penn State as an international student and transitioning to University Park from a campus like Greater Allegheny Leveraging your status as a Scholar to maintain academic progress Thinking creatively about career paths from majors, even in STEM Making the tough choice to give up activities for academics Choosing Schreyer for the undergraduate research opportunities and parlaying this into graduate education Navigating graduate school and then non-academic job searches Advice for job seekers in any discipline or industry Pivoting from corporate work to consulting and government work and from technical science to policy roles and even starting your own business A discussion on project management and professional engineer licenses Insights on Consumer Reports and what that household name does Providing subject matter expert testimony for the US House of Representatives Work life balance and learning how to supervise and manage as you go Defining success through impact ----- Schreyer Honors College Links: 

Overview: Jaz Azari, Class of 2006, is a multitalented professional with experiences in diplomacy, defense, and consulting roles with the U.S. government, military, and private sector firms, currently serving as a Senior Consultant at Guidehouse in Washington, D.C. Jaz has previously worked with the Department of State and Department of Defense and was a Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Politics with Honors and a Bachelor of Arts in German Studies from Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts in 2006, followed by an Masters of Art in War Studies from Kings College London. She joined Following the Gong to share her career path and insights with students. While helpful for students interested in her day job industries, this episode can be helpful for any Scholar trying to decide their thesis topic or exploring industries and majors. Jaz is also a published fantasy fiction author, and provides writing help, among other practical advice, for all Scholars. Her full bio and a detailed breakdown of topics discussed are available in the show notes on your podcast app. With that, let’s dive into the conversation, following the gong. Guest Bio: Jaz Azari ’06 Lib is a Senior Consultant at Guidehouse in Washington, D.C. where she has helped clients with designing, developing, and implementing programs and facilitated client offsites and conversations to improve collaboration, communication, and strategic planning. Before joining Guidehouse in 2019, Jaz worked for the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army, was a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State and was a Fellow as part of the Global Fellowship Initiative for the Geneva Centre for Security Policy in Switzerland. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a dual B.A. in International Politics with Honors and German Studies with Honors from Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts. Jaz also holds an M.A. in War Studies from Kings College London, graduating with distinction. Jaz has worked on wide-ranging topics and is happy to speak about them further, including foreign policy and diplomacy, defense, military psychology, media broadcasts, environment, science, technology, maritime and oceanic issues, and entrepreneurship, among others. She is also the author of two young adult fantasy fiction novels, The Noble Rogues and The Obsidian Staff, Book One of The Lost Legacy Series. Please feel free to connect with her by email at [email protected] and visit her website at www.thelostlegacyseries.com. Episode Topics: Navigating a winding path to finding the right major for your interests and strengths Learning from organizations, volunteer opportunities, and paid jobs The importance of finding a motivating thesis topic, even if it’s “late in the game” Writing tips for fiction, non-fiction, and business Several stories and lots of advice from working with the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and the State Department, as well as from think tanks, defense, diplomacy, and policy roles domestically and abroad Integrating your interests, even if you didn’t major in them, into your career A discussion of learning/training/development roles and techniques A broad view of the differences between government and private sector employment Helpful leadership advice for student leaders and organization What it’s like being a published fantasy fiction author Centering yourself as the hero of your own journey, setbacks and all The pride of the Penn State network ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Facebook  Instagram 

Overview: Connor Sattely ’11 Behrend is an entrepreneur and startup mentor based out of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He's spent the last eleven years alternating between starting startups and supporting other entrepreneurs. Connor joins Following the Gong to discuss his experiences as a Scholar at Penn State Behrend, as an entrepreneur and start-up coach, and life as an ex-pat living and working abroad. Connor earned his BAs in Communication and Political Science, the former with honors, from Penn State Behrend. This episode is great for any Scholar at a Commonwealth Campus, interested in starting a business, or interested in travelling abroad for any amount of time, and certainly for any looking to live or work abroad. You can read a more detailed breakdown and Connor’s bio further below in the show notes. Guest Bio: Connor Sattely ’11 Behrend is an entrepreneur and startup mentor based out of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He's spent the last eleven years alternating between starting startups and supporting other entrepreneurs. His businesses include GovFaces, a Switzerland-based civic tech company; SEMA (pronounced seh-muh), a Ugandan citizen feedback tool for public services; and his own consultancy in the Netherlands. In supporting startups, he's worked at the HiiL Justice Accelerator working with innovations in legal and justice issues around the world; and with the Social Enterprise Academy, working on transformative learning and development for social entrepreneurs. Connor earned a Bachelor of Art in communications with honors and a Bachelor of Art in political science from Penn State Behrend in 2011. He went on to earn a master’s degree in international affairs from l'Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement in Geneva, Switzerland. Episode Topics: Life at Penn State Behrend and the value of making connections with faculty regardless of campus Learning through experiences like writing at the Behrend Beacon Thesis and non-thesis undergraduate research Studying abroad in undergrad and going to grad school abroad Starting your journey in start-ups and advice for future founders from a start-up mentor First-hand advice about international travel and living abroad Even more advice on startups and traveling abroad Thoughts on making the most of cold connections on LinkedIn ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Join the Penn State Alumni Association  ----- Credits & Notes: This show is hosted, produced, and edited by Sean Goheen ‘11 Lib (Schreyer).  The artwork was created by Tom Harrington, the College’s Web Developer.  The sound effect is “Chinese Gong,” accessed via SoundBible used under Creative Commons License.  The theme music is “Conquest” by Geovane Bruno, accessed via Pixabay and used under Creative Commons License.

Overview: Caroline Fitzgerald ’12 Bus, Lib is the CEO & Founder of GOALS - the first sports marketing & sponsorship agency that is fully dedicated to women's sports. Caroline joins Following the Gong to discuss her story and inspire both entrepreneurs and interest in women’s sports. She leveraged the opportunities of the Honors College to combine majors that fit her interests, earning a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the Smeal College of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Women and Gender Studies with Honors from the College of the Liberal Arts after participating in Club Basketball and serving on the THON Executive Committee as the 2011 Merch Director. Caroline walks us through her career from retail to non-profits to ultimately turning her side-hustle into her own business. Caroline’s full bio and a detailed list of topics are available below. Guest Bio: Caroline Fitzgerald ’12 Business, Liberal Arts is the CEO & Founder of GOALS - the first women's sports marketing & sponsorship agency that is fully dedicated to women's sports. GOALS works to grow women's sports by helping professional women’s sports teams & organizations gain more revenue through the formation of brand sponsorships. Before starting GOALS, Caroline worked for 10+ years as a marketing and sales professional across a variety of industries and was most recently the SVP of Partnerships at the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon where she was responsible for selling and activating partnerships with brands that include DICK’S Sporting Goods, FedEx, Brooks Running, Dunkin’, PNC Bank, Barefoot, Panera, Nuun Hydration, Bank of America, and more. Caroline earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business and her Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Women and Gender Studies from Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts, both in 2012. She also earned a Masters in Global Sport from the Tisch Institute for Global Sport at New York University. Caroline served as the Merchandise Director for THON 2011, Together Without Limits, and currently resides in her hometown of Pittsburgh, PA.   Episode Topics:   Following siblings to Penn State and the Honors College as a current Penn State student Integrating interests like sports and feminism  into your college, major, and career Integrating dual majors through the thesis with the example of analyzing breast cancer awareness marketing Being heavily involved on campus and still succeeding academically including serving as a THON Director (Merch) and how this translates to life after college Continuing high school athletics at the D1 Club level as a student and Scholar Making the most of on-campus recruitment opportunities and internships to begin your career A pitstop discussing the Heinz History Center Working in retail, and the differences between the store and the corporate offices and between retail and non-profit entities Taking action to fill a space in the market, such as a for-profit, purpose driven sports marketing agency aimed at women’s sports Taking a side hustle to a full-time job and balancing growth vs. market niches Using a talent like sports to be an extra in film & TV Celebrating success and learning from failures Thoughts on mentorship ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn  Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assis...

Overview: Dr. Eric Gibney '94 Sci joins Following the Gong to discuss careers in medicine and organ transplant science and care. Dr. Gibney graduated from the Eberly College of Science in 1994 with a BS in Biology and with Honors in Nutrition and then earned his Doctor of Medicine from the Emory University School of Medicine in 1998. He now serves as the Director of the Piedmont Transplant Institute in Atlanta, where specializes in internal medicine with a focus on nephrology and transplant care with a special emphasis on kidney transplants. Eric shares his experiences at Penn State including Lion Ambassadors, life guarding, and the Disney College Program before turning his attention to giving insights on med school and mentorship. He also shares an overview of the transplant process – making this episode of interest to any Scholar and not just those interested in healthcare. Eric’s full bio and a detailed list of topics are available below.   Guest Bio: Dr. Eric M. Gibney ’94 Science is a Program Director for the Piedmont Transplant Institute in Atlanta GA. He is a transplant nephrologist who specializes in kidney diseases and transplantation. Dr. Gibney's special interests include living kidney donation, transplant outreach, kidney disease in patients with liver disease, transplantation in HIV and clinical immunosuppression. He has also served as President of the Piedmont Atlanta Medical Staff with interests in patient safety and physician engagement. Prior to joining Piedmont Transplant Institute, Dr. Gibney was a transplant nephrologist with the Division of Nephrology at the Hume-Lee Transplant Center at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Gibney earned a BS in Biology with Honors in Nutrition from Penn State in 1994 and received his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in 1998. He completed his residency at New York University School of Medicine where he was also chief medical resident. He then completed a fellowship in nephrology and transplant nephrology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. Dr. Gibney is board certified in internal medicine and nephrology and has been published in numerous medical journals.   Episode Topics: Inspiration to attend Penn State for the big school advantages and the Honors College for the small school community Choosing a career in medicine from high school experiences Being involved on campus from Lion Ambassadors to lifeguarding & IM sports and even the Disney College Program Completing a thesis outside your major Perspectives on med school applications, finding fit, and “enjoying where you are” in med school Thoughts on the final year at Penn State and final year of med school Picking a specific discipline within medicine Healthcare leadership and management A very general overview of kidney diseases, nephrology, and the transplant process (not a formal medical opinion – please consult your physician if needed) The impact of the pandemic on transplant programs and patients Finding wellness as a medical professional Mentorship as a medical student and professional ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars 

Overview: Reggie Hedgebeth ’89 Liberal Arts joins the show to discuss his career in corporate legal leadership. Reggie graduated from the College of the Liberal Arts with Honors in Economics in 1989 and went on to earn his JD at Harvard Law. He shares his career journey where he has served in senior, c-suite level roles for large organizations in a variety of industries from retail to energy to finance with vast responsibilities beyond the legal departments including HR and supply chain management. Reggie, a 2020 Penn State Alumni Fellow, provides his insight as not only a legal officer but as a corporate leader who has experienced the highs and lows of serving in these roles across the country. This episode will be helpful for any Scholar, and especially those seeking careers in law or business. You can read a more robust bio of Reggie and a more detailed breakdown of the topics we cover further down in the show notes. This episode was recorded prior to Reggie’s departure from Capital Group.   Guest Bio: Reggie Hedgebeth ’89 Liberal Arts most recently served as the Chief Legal Officer of Capital Group, a financial services firm with over $2.6 trillion in equity and fixed income assets for millions of individual and institutional investors globally. Reggie also formerly served as executive vice president, general counsel and chief administrator for Marathon Oil Corporation; general counsel, corporate secretary and chief ethics and compliance officer for Spectra Energy Corp; general counsel for Spectra Energy Partners; senior vice president, general counsel and secretary for Circuit City Stores, Inc.; and vice president of legal for The Home Depot, Inc. Reggie began his legal career as an associate at King and Spalding, LLP, and prior to law school held various finance and commercial real estate positions at GE Capital. Reggie earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics with Honors from Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts in 1989 and his Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School.  Reggie currently serves on the board of directors and as chair of the audit committee for BWC Terminals LLC, and the advisory board of The Artemis Fund, a venture capital fund with an exclusive focus on investments in companies led by female founders. He is also a member of the external advisory board of the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State, where he was named a 2020 Penn State Alumni Fellow and a 2011-2012 Outstanding Scholar Alumnus.   Episode Topics: Coming to University Park from out of state and sight unseen and choosing a major deeper into your academic career Using student experiences like serving as a TA and working in student radio in your career Comparing the Honors experience at Penn State to law school Working in a law firm and then as in-house counsel Insights on working as an attorney in different industries including retail, energy, and finance & asset management Learning management and subject matter specifics as a chief legal officer Networking and the power of building relationships The role of the chief legal officer and working in the “C-Suite” with other senior executives and what that means Sitting on corporate boards of directors Navigating the corporate ladder and relocating across the country Getting involved with local non-profits and staying involved with the Honors College as an alum Reflective advice from over thirty years in corporate & legal settings for any Scholar ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn 

Overview: Scholar Alumni couple Erin (’99 Com) & Tony (’99 Eng) Talbert join Following the Gong to share their joint story and advice after meeting early in their Penn State journey. After serving as Lion Ambassadors and ringing the gong, Erin pursued a career in consulting and Tony went into financial services roles. They shared their advice on these fields, including commercial real estate, family transitions, and career transitions including moving into roles in community organizations and small businesses. Erin and Tony offer advice that is helpful for any Scholar, not just those in similar fields, as they both took directions away from their major and have navigated their journey together, including as donors to and volunteers with the College. For each of their bios and a more detailed breakdown, continue reading these show notes! Guest Bio: Erin Talbert ’99 Communications is currently an active community volunteer, elected School Board member and small business owner. Before that she spent nearly 20 years working in the pharmaceuticals industry. In her 11 years at AstraZeneca, Erin worked in several commercial roles including Marketing, Managed Markets, and Sales. In her 7 years with Accenture, Erin focused on change management, organizational design, and communications. She now owns Brandywine Outdoor Living and works with landscape architects and their clients to add the outdoor "finishings" to large scale landscape projects including furniture, lighting, shade, and planters. Erin graduated from Penn State’s Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications with Bachelor of Arts in Advertising/Public Relations with Honors and a minor in Labor & Industrial Relations from Penn State in 1999. Tony Talbert ’99 Engineering is a Partner of The Shidler Group, where he is responsible for real estate investments, acquisitions, capital markets and developing new investment strategies, including The Shidler Group’s most recent multifamily, hotel, and net-lease investment platforms. Since joining The Shidler Group in 2013, Tony  has been instrumental in the acquisition of over $3.24 billion of office, hospitality, and multifamily assets throughout the U.S. Tony was previously with Chatham Financial Group where he co-founded the firm’s real estate investment banking practice where he specialized in capital raising and complex debt advisory assignments, including a $1.3 billion securitization of One Bryant Park in New York after beginning his career on Chatham’s derivative desk. Tony graduated from Penn State’s College of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Industrial Engineering in 1999.  He earned his Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School in 2004. Episode Topics: · Coming to University Park and choosing Schreyer from Maryland and Hawaii and as a first-generation student – and meeting your future spouse on day 1! · Selecting a major based on skills rather than topics and as a first-gen student, or as a student in DUS · Making a career pivot as you are nearing graduation based on pre-professional experiences and succeeding regardless of alignment with your major · Leading while walking backwards with the Lion Ambassadors · Working your way through school with on- and off-campus jobs and managing time · Learning from pragmatic thesis topics like marketing plans and product component dissection · Going to business school after starting your career and switching from consulting to corporate roles · Stepping away from traditional careers to focus on family and finding new opportunities locally · A crash course on working in commercial real estate and forming business partnerships · Reflective lessons on the Scholar experience , success, relationships, mentorship, and more ----- Schreyer Honors College Links: ...

Overview: Don Aguillo ’07 A&A is a freelance illustrator and comic creator based in San Francisco, California. He has over fifteen years of experience in comics, tabletop games, and working fulltime in his area of passion as both an artist and entrepreneur. Don shares his experiences as a first-generation American at Penn State, life as a Resident Assistant on campus and also studying (and drawing) abroad. Don explains the ins and outs of being a fulltime artist and how he self-promotes, enhances his skills, and evolves his style, and manages the business side of this career path in addition to promoting education of his Filipino heritage. You can read a full breakdown of topics below. Guest Bio: Don Aguillo ’07 Arts & Architecture is a freelance illustrator and comic creator in San Francisco, California where he illustrates covers for McFarlane Productions' Spawn series published by Image Comics, produces their own ongoing comic series, Rise, with Scout Comics, and work on other projects such as Adi Shankar's Netflix series Guardians of Justice and a host of commissions and freelance projects across the entertainment industry and independent publishing communities. Before this, he has worked for Stan Lee's company in concept work for one of his later projects, tabletop gaming projects, card games, book covers and art asset design work in all these fields. He earned a BFA with Honors from Penn State’s College of Arts & Architecture in 2007. Please feel free to connect with them or follow them @artofdonaguillo across all social media platforms to explore commissions or have him speak about his work. Episode Topics: · Choosing Penn State after growing up as an immigrant within earshot of Beaver Stadium · Finding a passion – like drawing – in an elective/general education course as a STEM student · Informing parents & family about changing your major – especially away from a familial path · Being a Schreyer Scholar in the creative arts including the thesis process for a fine arts major · Finding family, leadership education, and lifelong interests on campus through clubs like the Penn State Filipino Association and martial arts groups · Living and working as a Resident Assistant (RA) while also being a Scholar and as a “townie” · Using study abroad as an opportunity to test yourself and develop a vision for your future career · Jumping at opportunities when they are presented – like being hired to an animation studio · Determining that freelance work is the right path for you in the arts or other professions, and using each job to enhance your skills, the benefits, and challenges of this career style · Developing and defining your personal artwork aesthetic · Working in comics, board games, film & television, and getting paid for your work and worth · New school technology for drawing · Other industries where an art degrees can are useful – and the hard and soft skills that go with them for successful professionals · Navigating artist job interviews vs. traditional interviews · Balancing primary and secondary skill sets or media x and thoughts on overcoming creative blocks · Showcasing work at signature industry events like San Diego Comic Con and Seattle Comic Con  · The importance of feedback for continued learning and development as well as relationship building · The relationship between visual, performing, and martial arts and learning culture through all three · The importance of knowing the foundations above all else in art · Writing, illustrating, and self-publishing your own graphic novel/comic book · Aligning your paid work with your values and being okay with turning down opportunities · Mentorship as an artist ----- Schreyer Honors College Link...

Overview: Diana Adams ’13 Berks is the Executive Director of Brevard Heart Foundation, co-owner and Community Engagement Coordinator of Rock Paper Simple, and a Council Member for the City of West Melbourne in Brevard County, Florida which come on the heels of a seven year career in elementary education in Florida where she earned numerous awards, including Teacher of the Year for her school and the Dr. Theron Trimble Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year award for the state of Florida. She earned a BS in Elementary Education with Honors from Penn State Berks in 2013, followed by a Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of West Florida and is currently working on her Doctorate in Public Administration from Valdosta State University. Diana discusses many topics that can be helpful to Scholars of all stripes. After sharing her experience coming to Penn State at a non-traditional age, staying at a Commonwealth Campus, and moving out of state for her first teaching job, Diana discusses making a career change in her 20s, working in non-profits, small business, and public administration. She also shares thoughts on making the most the thesis and Scholar experience and overcoming personal adversity. Guest Bio: Diana Adams ’13 Berks is the Executive Director of Brevard Heart Foundation, co-owner and Community Engagement Coordinator of Rock Paper Simple, and a Council Member for the City of West Melbourne in Brevard County, Florida. In each of her roles, she seeks to address community needs by using data and relationships to make a positive difference in her community, in particularly the fields of business, healthcare, and local government. Prior to her current roles, Diana was a teacher in Florida for seven years, where she earned numerous awards, including Teacher of the Year for her school and the Dr. Theron Trimble Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year award for the state of Florida. She earned a BS in Elementary Education with Honors from Penn State Berks in 2013, followed by a Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of West Florida and is currently working on her Doctorate in Public Administration from Valdosta State University. With her life dedicated to public service, Diana knows the value of connecting with others for the betterment of our communities and is happy to speak further about education, business, grants, and municipal government. Please feel free to connect with her at LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-adams-010853179) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/blondiebookworm/) Episode Specifics: In this episode, Diana shares her insights on: · Choosing Penn State Berks for being close to home and the smaller campus feel and the Honors College for the intellectual community it provides · Pursuing an education major and selecting the right level for you – and test driving as a first-year student · Starting college earlier than is “traditional” · Balancing student teaching with writing a thesis, and using that thesis in interviews and in the classroom · Brining life experience and identity to influence your thesis topic and research · Job searching outside of Pennsylvania and ideas for job search research generally · The ups and downs of being an elementary school teacher · Making the decision to leave teaching and pursue new opportunities · Handling your inclination to say “yes” to every opportunity · Getting involved in municipal government – both as a citizen and as a leader · Keeping a grounded approach to success through serving others · Lessons from getting SCUBA certified despite a physical disability · Thoughts on mentorship ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website

Overview: This is a special episode focused on the College’s mission tenet of civic engagement and leadership with a specific angle on student leadership. Management consultant and Scholar Alumni Society leader Alayna Auerbach and student leader and fourth year Scholar Mahika Sampat join the show to talk all things student leadership, engagement, and clubs & organizations. Alayna and Mahika share their insights from serving in leadership roles for various groups including the Scholar Alumni Society, THON, Schreyer for Women, and South Asian Student Association. This episode transcends majors and career paths to be a resource for any Scholar, and particularly those serving in any sort of leadership role in a student club or organization, internship, or similar opportunities and how these experiences can influence post-undergraduate opportunities.  Guest Bios: Alayna Auerbach ’15 Bus is a management consultant based in Brooklyn, NY.  She graduated summa cum laude from Penn State's Smeal College of Business earning a BS in Finance with Honors and minors in Economics and Spanish. Alayna works in mergers & acquisitions management consulting since graduating in 2015. She partners with companies across industries to deliver enterprise-wide value in deal transactions, including being a trusted advisor and project leader for executives. Alayna is a mental health advocate and a New York Certified Peer Specialist (Provisional). She volunteers as a mental health helpline responder to connect NYC residents to mental health resources. Alayna is also an executive board member of the Scholar Alumni Society (SAS) where she is the inaugural chair of the Student Engagement Committee. Through SAS, she connects scholars and alumni. Any scholars listening to the podcast should reach out to her to see how their student organizations can increase connection with alumni. Mahika Sampat ’23 HHD is a fourth-year Scholar majoring in Biobehavioral Health with minors in Biology and Health Policy and Administration on the pre-medical track in the College of Health of Health and Human Development. She has received the WISER Research Grant, HHD Dummer Research Grant, and Student Leader Scholarship. She is President of South Asian Student Association and Career Development Director for Schreyer for Women for the 2022-2023 academic year. She is passionate about leadership, service, and making an impact at Penn State. Please feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn. Episode Specifics: In this episode, Alayna and Mahika share their perspectives on: · Overcoming preconceived notions of Penn State and enjoying the experience from Day 1 · Finding student organizations to join like Schreyer Consulting Group, THON, Schreyer for Women, and South Asian Student Association · Identifying what kinds of opportunities are best for you and your personal and professional interests and passions · Explaining your involvement in clubs and activities to your family · Relational, technical, and other skills you can look to develop as a student leader that will serve you well in any career · Resources and techniques for learning leadership on the fly for new club officers and leaders · Handling setbacks like not being chosen for an officer role or other opportunities · Putting yourself out there and overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome to step up as a club leader · Balancing leadership and friendship in a student organization and handling ethical conflicts · Balancing academics and student leadership by asking for help, overcoming perfectionism, and time management · Tools and tips for achieving that organization and time management · Leveraging advisors, alumni, and older students as mentors ----- Schreyer Honors College Links: 

Overview: Lauren Jowell ’04 Behrend is the Chief of a Monitoring and Evaluation division in the Bureau of International Labor Affairs at the US Department of Labor in Washington, DC, though she is appearing on this podcast in her personal capacity, and her views are solely her own. Her team is responsible for strategic planning, independent program evaluations, and collecting and reporting on performance data for executive, congressional and interagency reporting requirements. Lauren shares her experiences at Penn State Erie, the Behrend College, where she earned a BA in Political Science with Honors and High Distinction in 2004. She also shares her experiences in the Peace Corps, earning a Masters in International Law and Politics from Georgetown, and using her social sciences background in several federal roles. Lauren provides great insights on navigating the job search for federal jobs and the distinction from a more traditional resume and application process, and the perks of living in Washington, D.C. Guest Bio: Lauren Jowell ’04 Behrend is the Chief of a Monitoring and Evaluation division in the Bureau of International Labor Affairs at the US Department of Labor in Washington, DC, though she is appearing on this podcast in her personal capacity, and her views are solely her own. Her team is responsible for strategic planning, independent program evaluations, and collecting and reporting on performance data for executive, congressional and interagency reporting requirements. Before joining the Department of Labor, she was a senior strategic planning analyst at the Department of the Interior and a program audit analyst at the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General. Lauren served in the Peace Corps in Ukraine from 2004 to 2006 where she taught English as a second language in a village in the central part of the country. She earned a BA in Political Science with Honors and High Distinction from Penn State Erie, the Behrend College in 2004. She also earned a MA in International Law and Politics from Georgetown and a Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation from Michigan State University. She is happy to speak further about the growing program evaluation career field and you can connect with her on LinkedIn. Episode Specifics: In this episode, Lauren shares her insights on: · Ethics disclaimers and requirements for federal employees and sharing their own opinions and views · Choosing Penn State Behrend and a glimpse into the campus culture · Starting in a campus honors program before joining the College · Mortifying experiences at milestone moments – like hair dye gone awry · Joining the Peace Corps after graduation and living & working abroad, as well as thoughts on studying abroad · Using strong social science skills like writing in the auditing and government oversight fields · An overview of the program monitoring, assessment, and evaluation field · The importance of skills and not just knowledge in the social sciences including government, private, and non-profit work · Skills and opportunities for Scholars to look into and learn while they are in college, including professional associations, writing, and even improv comedy! · Where the end results of the assessments and evaluations go · Understanding the differences in resumes and job searching for government careers than other industries · Details about the Penn State Professional Women’s Network of Washington, DC for both new alumni and current students interning in the District & surrounding area · Exploring all the things to do in and around DC · Taking pride in your work and still finding balance · Developing responsive communication skills that adapt your style to others’ ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  ...