UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The College of Health and Human Development has named two college marshals for Penn State’s spring 2025 commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 11.
Bailey McLaughlin, biobehavioral health
Bailey McLaughlin, daughter of Daniel and Amy McLaughlin of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biobehavioral health.
McLaughlin served as an undergraduate research intern in the Behavioral Neurogenetics Lab, examining the effects of chronic stress on alcohol consumption in adolescent mice; an undergraduate research assistant in the Penn State Neuroethics Lab, exploring the ethics of neurotechnology use with an international research team; a research coordinator for the Lively Tunes Project at the Penn State College of Medicine, recruiting participants for a study exploring the effects of music on loneliness in older adults and playing guitar for the study herself; and as a clinic intern with University Health Services at Penn State, greeting patients, checking vital signs, and shadowing healthcare providers. She also participated in the Primary Care Scholars and the BRIDGE programs with the Penn State College of Medicine, where she had the opportunity to interact with and seek mentorship from medical professionals and learn about careers in primary health care.
As a Schreyer Honors Scholar, she conducted a thesis project, “Adolescent Stress and Binge-like Alcohol Consumption in BALB/cJ and C57BL/cJ Mice.” McLaughlin also served as a teaching assistant for a number of courses, including Anatomy and Physiology, Honors English, Biology, and Honors Research Methods in Biobehavioral Health.
On campus, McLaughlin served as director of the first "New Wine Worship Night," a praise and worship night for all Christian student ministries and churches in State College. She served as vice president and secretary of the Penn State Scientific Journal Club, which discusses research articles and invites guest speakers to share their research experience. She held the position of THON family relations chair for Alpha Epsilon Delta, the national health preprofessional honor society. She was a member of the Globe, a Living Learning Community in the Schreyer Honors College dedicated to fostering personal growth through exposure to diverse perspectives. She was also a volunteer musician for Sunday Mass at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center.
McLaughlin received the Academic Excellence Scholarship, the Weaver and Sutherland Scholarship, the President Walker Award, the President Sparks Award, the Evan Pugh Senior Scholar Award, and a Global Safety Network Grant through Schreyer Honors College to support research in Melbourne, Australia. She was also recognized on the Penn State 2024 Homecoming Student Court.
Following graduation, McLaughlin will attend medical school at the Penn State College of Medicine.
Leah Monty, biobehavioral health
Leah Monty, daughter of Douglas and Kristin Monty of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biobehavioral health.
While at Penn State, Monty served as the solicitations captain for Atlas Benefitting THON; the director of philanthropy for the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, serving the Ronald McDonald House Charities; and as a volunteer at the Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
She participated in the Primary Care Scholars program through Penn State College of Medicine; studied abroad in Florence with the Department of Human Development and Family Studies; participated in an Atlantis program, which provides opportunities for pre-med students to shadow care providers around the world; and was a member of the Campus Orchestra.
As a Schreyer Honors Scholar, Monty conducted a thesis project, “Investigating the Association Between Child Maltreatment History and Cardiovascular Risk Factors, as Well as the Possible Influence of the Greater Family Environment.” She also served as an undergraduate research assistant for the Child Health Study, which aims to understand how life experiences cause biological changes that can affect child health and well-being.
Monty received the Evan G. and Helen G. Pattishall Outstanding Research Achievement Award, the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, the President Sparks Award, the President Walker Award, and the Jane B. Slep Honors Scholarship.
Following graduation, Monty will attend medical school.