Jennifer Breese named 2025-26 IST Statewide Faculty Member of the Year

McKEESPORT, Pa. — Jennifer Breese, associate professor of information technology at Penn State Greater Allegheny, has been named the 2025-26 Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Statewide Faculty Member of the Year.

This University-wide award recognizes faculty across Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses who excel in teaching, research and outreach, and who embody the college’s mission of improving lives locally and globally. Awardees are honored for fostering future leaders in the digital, global economy.

Breese earned her doctorate while working in industry and began focusing on cybersecurity after the 2017 "WannaCry" cyberattack, which infected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide and disrupted hospitals, businesses and government agencies.

“My work in academia and industry continues to explore how technology impacts social norms,” Breese said. She has authored nearly 50 research and conference publications, examining the societal implications of evolving technology.

Although Breese taught as a visiting faculty and adjunct for several years, she left industry for a tenure-track position in 2019. The department chair at her undergraduate alma mater had predicted her teaching path two decades earlier, she said.

She joined Penn State Greater Allegheny in 2019, drawn by the campus’s diverse student body, the number of first-generation students, and the small class sizes that allow for more personal engagement.

Breese described her teaching style as student-centered and supportive while grounded in real-world applications. She said her approach accounts for work, life and mental health challenges while maintaining a rigorous academic environment.

Students frequently note Breese’s thorough preparation, structured instruction, and practical, hands-on scenarios that prepare them for careers beyond graduation. She also emphasizes connecting students with internships and professional experiences to expand their opportunities.

“My goal is to make a meaningful impact within the Penn State community by helping students reach their full potential and honoring the vocation I’ve chosen,” Breese said.

Her foundation is shaped by her own life-long learning journey, she said.

“As a first-generation college student, returning to education several times during my industry experiences taught me the importance of determination and regular self-survey,” Breese said. “I try to develop new and innovative ways to teach, but ultimately, I want my students to learn.”

Breese said she credits a network of mentors, colleagues, and role models for shaping her path.

“Like Mr. Rogers said, ‘find the helpers,’ and I have been incredibly blessed to have found many who have helped me, even in small ways,” she said.

Breese said that among those who influenced her career were James Wood, her undergraduate department chair; David Iwinski, former CEO; Geoff Graves, former manager; the Spalla Family; and Jacqueline Edmondson, the former chancellor who brought her to Penn State Greater Allegheny. She also acknowledged the support of colleagues Larry Dupak, Brian Gardner, Connie Surman and the late J. Andy Landmesser.