Committed to the Commonwealth
Bellisario College faculty members drive efforts to serve people across Pennsylvania
![Portrait of Christopher Ali](/assets/uploads/images/_1280x630_crop_center-center_80_none/ChristopherAli.jpg)
![Viv Bellisario stands for a portrait](/assets/uploads/images/_480x252_crop_center-center_80_none/VivBellisario-main.jpg)
![Carlee Weber and her service dog Magenta outside Old Main.](/assets/uploads/images/_480x252_crop_center-center_80_none/CarleeMagenta.jpeg)
Spinal muscular atrophy didn’t keep Carlee Weber from a college experience and it won’t stop her from working toward a career in the music industry
![Headshots of seven students](/assets/uploads/images/_480x252_crop_center-center_80_none/sevenstudents.jpg)
There are as many potential success stories in the Bellisario College as there are students — more than 2,600 — and there are some common ingredients: abundant opportunity, a pinch of encouragement and a strong helping of hard work.
![Students gathered around an open table talking to their faculty member](/assets/uploads/images/_480x252_crop_center-center_80_none/prprogramstudents.jpg)
Public relations program among nation’s top five as ‘finalist’ in PRWeek competition
![A girl with wavy blonde hair stands, arms crossed and smiling, while standing in front of gray concrete building on a sunny day.](/assets/uploads/images/_480x252_crop_center-center_80_none/AnnaMeyer-portrait.jpg)
Persistence and a promise helped journalism major Anna Meyer find success at Penn State
![Smartphone in use](/assets/uploads/images/_480x252_crop_center-center_80_none/newsliteracy.jpg)
Faculty-hosted podcast, 'News Over Noise,' provides ongoing discussion
Perspective: Leaders at Penn State - Marie Hardin
Contributors
Alumni Notes
See All![Michael Pettigano headshot](/assets/uploads/images-alumni-notes/assets/uploads/alumni-note-images/_120x120_crop_center-center_80_none/PSU-Alum-Pic.jpeg)
Michael V. Pettigano
2006 Journalism
earned the 2023 Associated Press Sports Editors contest Excellence in Video honor for "The Athlete of the Week Story" at NorthJersey.com and The Bergen Record. This is his second consecutive APSE Excellence in Video honor. . .
![Emily Mahler (Evans) headshot](/assets/uploads/images-alumni-notes/assets/uploads/alumni-note-images/_120x120_crop_center-center_80_none/Mahler_headshot-250x300_230327_130549_1.jpg)
Emily Mahler (Evans)
2004 Journalism
was recognized as one of America's Best Lawyers in the Employment Law - Management category for 2024. . .
![Jerry Hoak headshot](/assets/uploads/images-alumni-notes/assets/uploads/alumni-note-images/_120x120_crop_center-center_80_none/JerryHoak.jpg)
Jerry Hoak
2003 Advertising/Public Relations
has been named chief creative officer at The Martin Agency. . .
![Student with a backpack on walking down a sidewalk on the mall, happily screaming with her mouth open.](assets/images/story-sounds.jpg)
Events
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Staff Stories
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![](/assets/uploads/images-generic/_480x480_crop_center-center_80_none/penn-state-bellisario-generic-green-green.png)
Professors’ interests prompt real-life opportunities for students
Student Stories
See All![Portraits of three students](/assets/uploads/images/_480x480_crop_center-center_80_none/HollwoodProgramtrio.jpg)
Semester-long program offers internships and real-life growth in Los Angeles
A Day in the Life
See All![Jessica Paholsky portrait](/assets/uploads/images/_1280x630_crop_center-center_80_none/JessicaPaholsky_Headshot.jpg)
A Day in the Life with Jessica Paholsky
Video Marketing Coordinator, Milton Hershey School
Jessica Paholsky ('14 Journ) enjoys interacting with the variety of people people — and telling their stories — at the Milton Hershey School.
![Ben Boskovich golfer](/assets/uploads/images/_480x480_crop_center-center_80_none/BenBockovich.jpg)
Deputy Editor at Esquire
![Samantha Freed at work with a mascot](/assets/uploads/images/_480x480_crop_center-center_80_none/Freed.jpeg)
Senior Manager of Event Operations, San Diego Padres
![Click Here to Make a Gift to the Bellisario College](assets/images/SupportGift-sq.jpg)
The Interview
See All![Boaz Dvir seated at a table](/assets/uploads/images/_1280x630_crop_center-center_80_none/DvirBoaz-portrait.jpg)
The Interview
Boaz Dvir
Boaz Dvir directs the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Initiative at Penn State. It is an interdisciplinary program — part of the Hammel Family Human Rights Initiative, which Dvir also directs — that aims to solve this issue through evidenced-based training and listening.
![Stephanie Madden](/assets/uploads/images/_480x480_crop_center-center_80_none/StephanieMadden.jpg)
Stephanie Madden
![Colleen Connelly-Ahern headshot](/assets/uploads/images/_480x480_crop_center-center_80_none/ConnollyAhernColleen2018.jpg)
Colleen Connelly-Ahern
![Invitation to mentor Bellisario College Students. Animation shows training, advice, goal, support, coaching, direction, and success.](assets/images/Mentoring-sq.gif)
Campus Stories
See All![Anne Hoag makes a point about two things](/assets/uploads/images/_480x480_crop_center-center_80_none/AnneHoag-twothings.jpg)
Entrepreneurial spirit soars in the Bellisario College
Obituaries
See All![Jane Zimmerman headshot](/assets/uploads/images-obituaries/_480x480_crop_center-center_80_none/JaneZimmerman.jpg)
![Patricia Cole headshot](/assets/uploads/images-obituaries/_480x480_crop_center-center_80_none/PatriciaCole.jpg)
'99 Journalism
![Thomas William Huntley headshot](/assets/uploads/images-obituaries/_480x480_crop_center-center_80_none/ThomasWilliamHuntley.jpg)
'52 Journ
![Curt Chandler headshot](/assets/uploads/images-obituaries/_480x480_crop_center-center_80_none/ChandlerCurt.jpg)
Award-winning, respected faculty member