As part of our regular “We Are!” feature, we recognize 12 Penn Staters who have gone above and beyond what’s asked of them in their work at the University.
This week, on behalf of the entire Penn State community, we’d like to say thank you to:
Amy Custer, undergraduate program staff assistant in the College of Engineering, whose nominator wrote: “Amy deserves a shoutout for her tireless dedication to supporting undergraduate students and faculty in the Department of Aerospace Engineering.”
Mary Edgington, senior director of the HUB-Robeson Center overseeing Student Affairs facilities and staff development, whose nominator wrote: “Mary is a person of so many talents. One of them is the way she creates warm, inviting and memorable events. It is clear how organized, visionary and empathetic she is. After attending a recent event that she oversaw, we felt energized, welcomed and connected. Thank you, Mary!”
Lindsey Hopkins Hall, associate director of student leadership and involvement at Penn State Behrend, whose nominator wrote: “Lindsey remains calm under pressure with a high attention to detail. She is constantly problem solving and pivoting during the planning and executing of large campus events. She offers support to coworkers that goes beyond her responsibilities to guarantee an event's success.”
John Hurst, assistant director for Residence Life in Student Affairs, whose nominator wrote: “John is a passionate and energetic member of the Residence Life department at University Park! He is kind, friendly and welcoming and is an important member of the department.”
Sarah Jones, academic programs coordinator and supervisor in the College of the Liberal Arts, whose nominator wrote: “Sarah has flawlessly managed two large undergraduate degree programs and a graduate program while our office went through a staffing transition. Sarah took on the challenges without complaint and soared. She IS Penn State!”
Jaron Lee, event planning assistant in the College of the Liberal Arts, whose nominator wrote: “Jaron is helpful and kind to everyone! They always seem to have the answer and if not, they take the time to find it. Thank you for everything you do!”
Sara Lobb, human resources consultant in the College of Health and Human Development (HHD), whose nominator wrote: “Sara consistently goes above and beyond to serve the staff employees in HHD. She handles complex situations with grace and understanding and is a trusted colleague not only within HHD, but within the Human Resources community.”
Megan O’Polka, assistant director of Student Affairs at Penn State Behrend, whose nominator wrote: “Megan is a wealth of knowledge in the Student Affairs office at Behrend. Megan's door is always open for questions from staff as well as resident assistants. She's always happy to lend an ear and share her knowledge with others. Megan is a true asset to Penn State!”
Leslie Pillen, associate director of farm and food systems, who received multiple nominations. One nominator wrote: “Leslie consistently goes above and beyond for her students and the Farm and Food Systems program at Penn State. She is thoughtful, inclusive and hardworking. Her dedication has changed many students' lives and serves as a powerful example for making meaningful change in a college setting.” Another nominator wrote: “Leslie helped us to start a community garden at Easterly Parkway Elementary School, which provides food for an adjacent community in need. She provided the starter plants and guidance to make this happen on short notice. The garden and community are thriving. She made me proud to be a Penn Stater.”
Erin Raupers, assistant director of health promotion and wellness in Student Affairs, whose nominator wrote: “Erin is not only an excellent supervisor and leader, but also a joyous colleague to be around. She manages a lot of responsibilities and oversees all the wellness initiatives coming out of our office. While doing so, she always brings a smile, a sense of humor and a calm energy to our team.”
Mindy Regester, administrative assistant in the College of the Liberal Arts, whose nominator wrote: “Mindy is one of the most thorough and organized administrators I have encountered in my academic career. Not only that, she always goes the extra mile giving administrative support to faculty and students. She is a terrific asset to the department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies.”
Tammy Spevak, Student Success Center coordinator at Penn State Hazleton, whose nominator wrote: “Tammy is always looking for ways to help students succeed! She applied for and received a grant for the fall semester to add a peer academic coach to every first-year seminar section. These sections are using the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) to gather information about learning and study practices and attitudes.”
Thank you Amy, Mary, Lindsey, John, Sarah, Jaron, Sara, Megan, Leslie, Erin, Mindy and Tammy — and to everyone who helps make Penn State such an incredible community!
Do you know someone who deserves a shoutout? If you do, consider nominating that person by filling out a short online form.