Smeal College of Business

Penn State Smeal recognizes 10 major marshals and ROTC representative

The Penn State Smeal College of Business recently recognized its student marshals in a ceremony in the Business Building atrium. Pictured above are, front row from left to right: Felisa Higgins, associate dean of undergraduate education, Zirui “Rinna” Wang, Ayesha G. Patel, Jasmine K. Sodhi, Elaina S. Jowdy, Emily A. Yost, Charles H. Whiteman, John and Karen Arnold Dean, Michael J. Burke. Back row, from left to right: Joseph M. Yahner, Logan R. Galloway, Caden T. Hazenstab, Jake A. Williams, Isaac J. Pelka, Elliot N. Rost. Credit: Photo by Karen Serago. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Smeal College of Business has selected student marshals for outstanding academic achievement in their respective majors.

The college's overall student marshal is Elaina Jowdy, who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

What follows is a brief look at the marshal for each of Smeal’s 10 majors, as well as an ROTC representative for the class of 2023. 

Accounting

Jasmine K. Sodhi

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Sodhi will be graduating with a master’s in accounting. She is a recipient of the Lion’s Scholar Award, the President’s Freshman Award, PICPA and Ready to Succeed Scholarship, the Bunton-Waller Scholarship, and the Presidential CES Scholarship. Sodhi also served as the Indian Cultures and Languages Club events chair, Orientation and Welcome Weekend leader, and a teaching assistant for advanced financial accounting and accounting information systems. After graduation, she will serve on the Governmental Accounting Standards Board as a technical assistant. 

Actuarial Science

Emily A. Yost

Morgantown, Pennsylvania

Yost received the CAMAR Actuarial Scholarship, Blaney-Spriggs Scholarship, Class of 1922 Memorial Scholarship, and President’s Freshman Award. Yost was a member of the Actuarial Science Club, an Omega Chi Sigma Fraternity member, and an Eclipse THON fundraiser. After graduation, she will work for the Aetna/CVS Health Actuarial Leadership Development Program. 

Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Elliot N. Rost

Ligonier, Pennsylvania

Rost also will graduate with a minor in international business. Rost has received the Center for Global Business Studies Research Assistant Award and worked self-employed at the Rost Resells Business, as the West Halls Residence Association vice president, a Tarriff Center Scholars Strategy and Operations Committee member, and a Center for Global Business Studies research assistant.

Finance

Logan R. Galloway

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Galloway also will graduate with a minor in information systems management and a Real Estate Analysis and Development Certificate. Galloway earned the Evan Pugh Scholar Junior and Senior Awards, President Sparks Award and President’s Freshman Award. He was the Polish Student Organization secretary, a Penn State Finance Society member, and a Penn State Archery Club member. He will join the Financial Development Rotational Program at TE Connectivity as a financial analyst II.

Management

Ayesha G. Patel

Mifflinville, Pennsylvania

Patel also will graduate with a minor in entrepreneurship and innovation. Patel received the Student Leader Scholarship, Sobocinski Open Doors Scholarship, and CWC First Year Award. Patel was president of Assistance in Transition to University Park, Striving Toward Awareness and Respect for Tomorrow (START) committee member, MATH 110 learning assistant, and a Pathway to Success: Summer Start (PaSSS) Program mentor. She will work as a KPMG human capital advisory associate after she graduates.

Management Information Systems

Michael J. Burke

Dripping Springs, Texas

Burke was a Schreyer Honors Scholar, a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honors Society, and earned a Torabi-Dussinger Honors Scholarship and RSM LLC Scholarship. Burke was the Penn State men’s club lacrosse vice president and primary THON chair, Dear Hero Program treasurer, and a member of the Management Information Systems Association. After graduation, Burke will work as a data concierge at the Advisory Data Organization of KPMG. 

Marketing

Zirui (Rinna) Wang

Wuhan, China 

Wang also earned a minor in digital media trends and Analytics. She was a Schreyer Scholar and earned the Evan Pugh Scholar Award and President Sparks Award. She was the Chinese Culture Club advertisement chair, Google Marketing Challenge team leader, a CommAgency social media strategist, a Suppy Chain Management 301H teaching assistant, Penn State American Marketing Association member, a residence assistant, and a Penn State Educational Partnership Program tutor. After graduation, she will work as a staff consultant at JTG Consulting. 

Real Estate

Jake A. Williams

Wexford, Pennsylvania

Williams was a starting midfielder for the Penn State men’s lacrosse team, the Sigma Chi Fraternity head recruitment chair, a Real Estate Boot Camp member, an ICSC Foundation Mentorship Program member, a CBRE summer research analyst, a Williams Woodlands LLC assistant property manager, and a CDG sports counselor.

Risk Management

Isaac J. Pelka

Wysox, Pennsylvania

Pelka chose the enterprise risk management option of the risk management major. He received the Larry Duane Feathers Trustee Scholarship, Clyde Fuller Family Scholarship award, and the Class of 1922 Memorial Scholarship award. He was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society and the Enterprise Risk Management Association. He will join Grant Thornton LLP as a risk advisory associate after graduation.  

Supply Chain and Information Systems

Caden T. Hazenstab

Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania 

Hazenstab also earned minors in information systems management and Spanish. He was a Schreyer Scholar and received the 2022 R. Gene Richter Scholarship, a Traffic Club of Pittsburgh Scholarship, Evan Pugh Scholar Award, Bechtel Scholarship for SCIS, President Sparks Award and President’s Freshman Award. He was a Supply Chain Management 200 lead teaching assistant, Sigma Chi Mu Tau Supply Chain National Honor Society treasurer, and a Center for Supply Chain research project consultant. He will join the Supply Chain Development Program at Dell Technologies following graduation.  

ROTC

Joseph M. Yahner

Massapequa, New York 

Yahner’s faculty escort will be Lt. Col. Daniel Gross, U.S. Army professor of military science. Yahner earned minors in history and military studies. He was a member of Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society and Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He also was a THON committee donor and alumni relations chair, co-founder and administrative director of the Penn State Moot Court Association, and a member of the Penn State Supply Chain Management Association. He will serve as an Army Transportation Corps officer in the U.S. Army following graduation. 

Last Updated May 5, 2023

Contact