Alumni Notes
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2005 Telecommunications
Jaclyn Brandtis the owner of Polaris Digital, a marketing agency in Boise, Idaho.
Note Posted: September 3, 2020

2005 Broadcast Journalism
Lauren Sweeney, an investigative producer at the NBC affiliate in Houston, has been invited to attend a peer-to-peer educational conference between American and Russian journalists in Moscow in September. The event is being organized by the Sunlight Foundation and Transparency International in Russia, a division of the United State's Embassy in Russia.
Note Posted: June 23, 2016
2005 Journalism
Megan Gotchhas developed and is writing for The Nerdy Girlie blog. Here you can get tips for San Diego Comic Con and discover the latest in what is nerdy and girlie. You can find The Nerdy Girlie at www.thenerdygirlie.com online.
Note Posted: February 27, 2013
2005 Advertising/Public Relations
Justin Schorahpublished his debut novel, Stage, in January 2014. The story follows four friends on a hellish journey to landing a record deal. If you're in the mood for music and mayhem, this book is for you. Download it now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or justinschorah.com online.
Note Posted: January 13, 2014

2005 Journalism
Laura Michalski\=joined The Washington Post as a multiplatform editor in August 2017. Previously, she had worked at The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Virginia. She started there as a Dow Jones News Fund intern in 2005 and became a copy editor, assistant copy desk chief and, most recently, night editor. She now lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
Note Posted: August 18, 2017
2004 Journalism
Monica Prytsand her husband Stephen Pryts, Sharpsville, Pa., welcomed a son, Gavin, on Nov. 27, 2015. Gavin is their first child.
Note Posted: March 4, 2016

2004 Journalism
Emily Mahler (Evans)has been elevated to partner at the law offices of Margolis Edelstein. She graduated from the Temple University Beasley School of Law class of 2010 and has been with Margolis Edelstein since 2011
Note Posted: April 9, 2018
2004 Film-Video
Addie Maniswas promoted to director, live action visual effects at Lucasfilm with a focus on television content.
Note Posted: July 11, 2018
2004 Advertising/Public Relations
Jen Lemanskiwas named as one of Houston Business Journal's 40 Under 40 for 2017. She is the practice growth senior manager for Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. (PKF Texas), a middle market accounting and advisory firm in Houston. She is also a national board member of the Association for Accounting Marketing. Lemanski recently completed three terms as president of the Greater Houston Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, where she remains as an at-large board member.
Note Posted: April 7, 2017

2004 Telecommunications
Rob Joswiakand Matthew McCarty ('95 Edu) are both Air Force veterans who were given their first post assignments as Department of State Foreign Service Officers. Joswiak's website covers his background (www.robjoswiak.com) while McCarty is a retired pilot now embarking on a second career as a diplomat. Both were sworn in Feb. 17 by Secretary Tillerson at the Harry S. Truman Building in Washington, D.C.
Note Posted: February 12, 2017

2004 Film-Video
Kalyn (Conner) Flockhartis a director at ESPN and celebrating 15 years with the company this summer. She recently was awarded a Sports Emmy for Outstanding News/Feature Anthology for "E:60" and a Peabody Award for the network’s collaborative coverage of the Larry Nassar/Michigan State gymnastics story.
Note Posted: May 23, 2019
2004 Journalism
David Roushwas one of 17 winners -- from a record 7,100 nominations -- of the seventh annual Big Apple Awards, honoring exemplary New York City public school teachers. Roush, David Roush, a media communications teacher at Harry S. Truman High School in the Bronx, makes the classroom feel like a real television production studio, holding five-minute ‘staff meetings,’ and then releasing students to complete their work. He goes above and beyond to create opportunities for his students, like coordinating a Saturday morning internship program with CBS News. Classmates hold each other accountable for their successes through a positive and safe environment that supports and accelerates learning. One student said: “He helps all his students equally and shows us no matter where you come from we are all like a family.”
Note Posted: May 30, 2019

2004 Journalism
Jeanine (Noce) Larsonwas hired as director of public relations & team development at Heritage Homes and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Premier Properties, located in Fargo, N.D. She is responsible for public relations, communications, advocacy, agent recruitment and retention, training, event coordinating, promotions and strategic planning. She lives in in West Fargo with her husband, Ryan, and her daughter and son.
Note Posted: September 28, 2015

2004 Broadcast Journalism
Jeanine Larsonhas been hired as digital marketing manager at Western Products, located at 474 45th Street South in Fargo, N.D. In her new position, Larson will work to connect Western Products and its brands with consumers through the digital media landscape, including social media, online media and more. Originally from Pittsburgh, Larson lives in West Fargo. She and her husband, Ryan, have a daughter and son.
Note Posted: February 24, 2015

2004 Journalism
Nichole Doboaccepted a fellowship with The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit news outlet that produces in-depth journalism on inequality and innovation in education. It is based at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. A story Dobo wrote this summer as a freelancer for The Hechinger Report appeared in The Atlantic. Dobo, who worked at The Daily Collegian while at Penn State, is married to Wade Malcolm ('06 Journ, Daily Collegian). Malcolm is a business analyst at Synygy in Chester, Pennsylvania, and a student pursuing a M.S. in finance at the University of Delaware. They live in Wilmington, Delaware. Dobo's sister is Elizabeth Dobo ('13 HHD). Malcolm's sister is Brittany Malcolm ('10 Lib).
Note Posted: October 2, 2014

2004 Broadcast Journalism
Alissa J. Cruzearned an MBA from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business in December 2012. She is a management consultant/communications strategist for the Center for Organizational Excellence, which is located in the Washington, D.C., area.
Note Posted: April 3, 2013
2004 Journalism
Tom Bassingerworks for the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times as a designer/editor of the paper's business and sports sections.
Note Posted: January 28, 2013
2004 Journalism
Nichole Dobowas one of 11 journalists selected as a Knight-Wallace Reporting Fellow for the 2021-22 academic year at the University of Michigan.
Dobo, the senior editor for audience engagement for The Hechinger Report, based in Wilmington, Delaware, fill focus on a project titled "A Reckoning: Higher Education in Rural America."
Created in 2020 to support ambitious journalism and respond to the remote needs of Covid-19, the Knight-Wallace Reporting Fellowships provide an academic year of support and collaborative learning. Fellows undertake projects examining pressing public challenges including social shifts precipitated by the pandemic, the nation’s deep economic and political divisions, and persistent social justice issues surrounding race, ethnicity and inequality.
Knight-Wallace Reporting Fellows will remain where they live while participating in weekly remote workshops, professional development sessions and seminars with University of Michigan faculty and experts. Two one-week Fellowship Cohort sessions at Wallace House on the University of Michigan campus are planned for the 2021-2022 academic year, subject to public health guidance.
The Reporting Fellowship is designed to benefit both working journalists and U.S. newsrooms. Each Reporting Fellow will pair with a local or national news organization to develop and publish their reporting project. The support of the fellowship allows news organizations to pursue ambitious journalism that they may not have the staff or funding to support independently.
Knight-Wallace Reporting Fellows will receive a stipend of $70,000 for the academic year plus an additional $10,000 in supplemental support to cover extra costs including health insurance, reporting equipment and supplemental travel-related expenses.
This adapted fellowship takes the place of the traditional, residential Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellowship for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Note Posted: July 15, 2021

2004 Journalism
Emily Mahler (Evans)was elevated to equity partner at the law offices of Philadelphia-based Margolis Edelstein.
Note Posted: April 10, 2022

2004 Broadcast Journalism, Mass Communication
Jeanine Larsonwas hired as a communications manager for RDO in Fargo, N.D. Founded in 1968, RDO Equipment Co. sells and supports agriculture, construction, environmental, positioning, surveying and irrigation equipment from manufacturers including John Deere, Vermeer, and Topcon. With more than 75 locations across the United States, including partnerships in Russia, Ukraine, and Australia, RDO Equipment Co. is a total solutions provider.
Note Posted: October 25, 2022

2004 Journalism
Emily Mahler (Evans)was appointed to the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners for a term of three years, commencing on April 1, 2023.
Note Posted: March 26, 2023

2004 Journalism
Emily Mahler (Evans)was sworn into the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States by Chief Justice, John G. Roberts, Jr. on May 25, 2023.
Note Posted: May 30, 2023

2004 Advertising/Public Relations
Kyle Wintersteenhas been named editor of Delta Waterfowl’s award-winning membership publication.
\Wintersteen, who has nearly 20 years of experience writing and editing outdoors content, has served as Delta Waterfowl’s managing editor since March 2015. With the promotion, Wintersteen will be responsible for producing and guiding the editorial content of Delta’s flagship magazine. Delta Waterfowl Magazine is published five times annually as an exclusive membership benefit of The Duck Hunters Organization.
A native of central Pennsylvania, Wintersteen grew up hunting ducks along the north branch of the Susquehanna River. When he isn’t hunting ducks, Wintersteen competes in English springer spaniel field trials. He has owned two field champions, including a National Open High Point Champion.
“Kyle has proven himself as a valuable writer and editor for Delta for the past seven years, and he’s ready for the challenge of running Delta’s magazine,” Brice said. “These changes put both Kyle and Paul in positions to use their skills to provide the most impact for Delta Waterfowl.”
Delta Waterfowl is The Duck Hunters Organization, a leading conservation group working to produce ducks and secure the future of waterfowl hunting in North America.
Note Posted: September 29, 2023
2004 Journalism
Emily Mahler (Evans)was recognized as one of America's Best Lawyers in the Employment Law - Management category for 2024.
https://www.bestlawyers.com/la...
Note Posted: February 15, 2024

2004 Journalism
Jennifer Lynn Melnickhad her story “Amelia Pepperpot Can’t Ah-Choo” published in the December 2013 issue of Highlights magazine. Melnick, a native of Hazleton, Pa., who also earned her master's degree at Penn State ('06 Telecom) has been writing stories since first grade and recently decided to pursue her dream of becomming a children's author. Melnick’s story is about a young girl named Amelia Pepperpot, who has an odd infirmity -- she can’t sneeze. Melnick, who has a large portfolio of stories for children, is also a self-taught illustrator. “I enjoy doing both as I can have my characters look exactly as I envision them,” she said. “My mother is a talented artist and has a degree in commercial art, so it seems I’ve inherited her creativity.” She also complemented her journalism degree from Penn State with a minor in art history. For her master’s thesis, Melnick extensively studied the history of children’s books, as well as the children’s book and e-book markets, in order to find how publishers can promote a healthy e-book market for children. Founded in 1946, Highlights for Children Inc., is publisher of the most-read children’s magazines in North America.
Note Posted: November 23, 2013

2003 Journalism
Mike Contimarried Leighan Blaede ('03 H&HD) May 17, 2014, in Dahlonega, Georgia.
Note Posted: June 24, 2014
2003 Telecommunications
Shelley (Signor) Rodgersearned her MBA with a concentration in marketing from the University of Pittsburgh. She is an executive producer at WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh.
Note Posted: April 6, 2014

2003 Telecommunications
Joel Molinskyis entering his second year as the lead director of ESPN's "College GameDay" for basketabll. He and his wife will also be welcoming their second daughter into the world in December.
Note Posted: November 23, 2016
2003 Advertising/Public Relations
Jennifer Bullano-Ridgleywas promoted to VP of media relations with the Pittsburgh Penguins. She has been with the team for 14 seasons.
Note Posted: June 18, 2020
2003 Advertising/Public Relations
Mandy (Unanski) Enrightreleased her first book, "30-Minute Weight Loss Cookbook: 100+ Quick and Easy Recipes for Sustainable Weight Loss," in May 2021.
Enright's book helps readers create a truly sustainable weight-loss plan with meals that don’t take a ton of time or effort to prepare. From breakfasts to dinners and desserts, the 30-Minute Weight Loss Cookbook helps readers cook up more than 100 satisfying dishes and provides guidance for changing the way you look at food and weight loss.
The book is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
Note Posted: July 20, 2021

2003 Journalism
Mike Manevalwas named managing editor of the Sun-Gazette in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Note Posted: September 30, 2021

2003 Telecommunications
Joel Molinskywas promoted to director II at ESPN. He's the lead director of all Baseball Tonight coverage for the third year, including MLB All-Star, Draft and World Series coverage.
Note Posted: September 22, 2022
2003 Journalism
Ryan P. Chaseis a lawyer representing catastrophically-injured victims in Philadelphia at the law firm of Ross Feller Casey LLP. He was promoted to partner in December 2018. His firm biography covers his background (www.rossfellercasey.com). Before joining Ross Feller Casey in 2010, he worked at Dechert LLP, one of the largest law firms in the nation. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two children.
Note Posted: January 5, 2019

2003 Advertising/Public Relations
Jerry Hoakhas been named chief creative officer at The Martin Agency.
Hoak joined Martin in 2016 as senior vice president, group creative director, working across multiple accounts and on new business.
Note Posted: February 1, 2024

2003 Journalism
Mike Levinewas named play-by-play announcer for the football team at Florida International University. He has been a sports broadcaster with 560 WQAM for the past seven years, working baseball, basketball and football, including the high school "Game of the Week." He also serves as an on-air personality as well a sports update anchor, reporter and producer. Levine previously spent time with WMAJ-WLTS, State College, Pa. (2003-04) and WKZO-WQSN-WKLZ-WQRL, Kalamazoo, Mich. (2005-07) as a sports director, play-by-play announcer and color analyst.
Note Posted: August 25, 2014
2003 Advertising/Public Relations
Jennifer Bullano-Ridgleywas promoted to VP of media relations with the Pittsburgh Penguins. She is in the midst of her 14th season with the team.
Note Posted: December 30, 2019