Penn State Harrisburg announces spring 2025 student marshals

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — Penn State Harrisburg has selected six graduates to serve as student marshals at the spring 2025 commencement ceremony. The students will bear the banners representing each academic school and, together with the faculty marshals, lead the graduating students during the ceremony processional.

Student marshals were selected based on their GPAs from among students eligible to graduate. Other criteria considered included engagement with the academic school and the college, involvement in research, involvement in leadership activities, and faculty recommendations.

The spring 2025 student marshals are:

School of Behavioral Sciences and Education

Mubeen Jawed, bachelor of science in biobehavioral health 

Activities/Achievements: President of the Muslim Student Association, vice president of the Pre-Med Club, President Walker Award, President Sparks Award, Dean’s list, Penn State Harrisburg Alumni Society Scholarship, presented and published research on an interplanetary material, Hibonite, in the Journal of Physical Chemistry.

Q: What piece of advice would you give to a future Penn State Harrisburg student?

“Relax. There will be times when you will feel stressed out, especially by exams, tests, quizzes and other projects you may do. But think about your own capabilities. You know yourself best. Go about your career in undergrad how you would do it, personally. Don’t focus on what other people tell you. There may be good advice you may hear — take that based on what you would do yourself, not what others expect from you. Stick to your capabilities and do your best. Don’t be stressed out because it’s not worth it to ruin your mental health.”

Jawed will be escorted by faculty marshals Weston Kensinger, associate teaching professor of biobehavioral health, and Elizabeth Kirman, assistant teaching professor of education.

School of Business Administration

Sarah Shaub, bachelor of science in cybersecurity analytics and operations

Activities/Achievements: Dean’s List, Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honors Society (computing and information sciences), Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society for student-athletes with a 3.5 or higher GPA, National Security Agency (NSA) certificate of achievement and letter of recognition, four-year student-athlete on the women’s tennis team, vice-chair of the NCAA Student Athlete Leadership Committee (SALC), president of the Women in Tech Club, founder and president of the Penn State Harrisburg chapters of Women in Cybersecurity and Association for Computing Machinery – Women in Computing. Awards include the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania Women in Tech Scholarship, Whitaker Center Women in STEM Marion C. Alexander Rising Star Award, Plum Bottom Scholarship for Women in Tech. Completed a 52-week co-op for federal government and completed two technical internships.

Q: What will you miss about Penn State Harrisburg?

“I’d say all my friends and faculty who have supported me throughout my four years here. They’ve been very important in my life going forward and my career. They’ve influenced my decisions in a positive way, and I’ll be forever grateful for my friends and faculty here.”

Shaub will be escorted by faculty marshals Roderick Lee, associate professor of information systems, and Andrew Morrow, assistant teaching professor of cybersecurity.

School of Humanities

Cristina Orozco, bachelor of humanities in English, secondary education

Activities/Achievements: Excellence in Secondary Education Award (2025), Evan Pugh Scholar Award (2023, 2024), and the Outstanding Adult Learner Award (2022), member of Sigma Tau Delta international English honor society, member of President’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity, Academic Integrity Committee, liaison for the Educational Equity Committee.

Q: What will you miss about Penn State Harrisburg?

“Everything. I love learning. There’s no way Penn State has seen the last of me. I am already looking at master’s programs. I just love learning. I will miss all of the knowledge that the professors share with us.”

Orozco will be escorted by faculty marshals Russell Kirkscey, associate professor of English and technical and professional writing, and Mary Zaborskis, assistant professor of American studies and gender studies.

School of Public Affairs

Samuel Albright, bachelor of arts in political science

Activities/Achievements: Dean’s list each semester, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society while a student at HACC, worked as a canvasser for an organization encouraging young people to vote, advocated for Penn State in Harrisburg at Capital Day 2025, recipient of the Robert J. Bresler and Carol R. Nechemias Outstanding Political Science Senior Award

Q: What will you miss about Penn State Harrisburg?

“I like the atmosphere a lot. I feel like it’s right in that sweet spot of being not too small, not too big. It never feels too stressful or like there’s too much hustle and bustle here. Everything feels well paced out and very comfortable. I think it really helps my learning a lot to have such a comfortable environment.”

Albright will be escorted by faculty marshals Seth Wright, assistant teaching professor of political science and public policy, and Jennifer Schally, associate teaching professor of criminal justice.

School of Science, Engineering, and Technology

Jie Lee, bachelor of science in computer science

Activities/Achievements: Dean’s List, Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Computer Science award for 2024-25, secretary (spring 2024) and vice president (fall 2024-present) or the TECS (Technical Education and Career Success) Club, where he organized technology and soft skills workshops, second place team at the Penn State Generative AI competition, eighth place team in Mid-Atlantic region, second division, at ICPC regional programming competition

Q: What advice would you give a future Penn State Harrisburg student?

“Don’t be afraid to participate in school stuff, like extracurricular activities, especially if you are a computer science student or engineering student. A lot of students on campus are missing out, I feel. There’s a lot of cool stuff you can do and meet a lot of cool people. So show up to events.”

Lee will be escorted by faculty marshals Jeremy Blum, associate professor of computer science, and Nashwa Elaraby, teaching professor of electrical engineering.

J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School

Omar Abdulqader, Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Activities/Achievements: Working to publish and present research on investigating the impact of solvent vapor smoothing on the surface roughness and mechanical strength of 3D printed polycarbonate samples; bachelor’s degree from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia; five years work at Aramco, one of the world’s largest integrated energy and chemicals companies

Q: What was your favorite class and why?

“I’d say different classes influenced me in different ways. Every professor has his own unique style. But if I had to choose one, I’d go with the thesis class because it made me experience real research, where you have to sometimes tackle questions that … you might not even have a clue what their answer might be. This definitely has added to my experience because you have to navigate through uncertainty, and you still need to push through and get meaningful outcomes.”

Abdulqader will be escorted by faculty marshals Ola Rashwan, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and J. Brian Adams, teaching professor of mathematical sciences.