Alumni Notes

90 Advertising/Public Relations

has launched a podcast, "Attribution," about success and gratitude, designed to help people feel a little more grateful, inspired or supported.

The effort is distributed in part by PBS and its public media initiative, Chasing the Dream. Listeners can subscribe on Apple (https://apple.com/2LfD9lt) or Spotify (https://spoti.fi/360o1nc).

Note Posted: December 14, 2020

1991 Journalism

editor of The Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and a regional editor working with the The Times-News of Cumberland, Maryland, has been promoted to general manager of both papers, Publisher Robert Forcey has announced.

“Chip’s dedication to the job and to both papers has been excellent over the years,” Forcey said.

“This is a well-deserved promotion that is going to allow him to further his career and give us another tier to help steer the ship.”

Minemyer will continue as editor in Johnstown and in his role as regional editor for CNHI newspapers in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina.

As general manager, Minemyer expands his oversight to areas of the operation beyond the editorial department.

“There is more responsibility on the business side of what we do,” Minemyer said. “I am excited about that.”

Minemyer said his familiarity with more than 150 employees across the two organizations gives him confidence in the newspapers’ continued success.

“I have spent a lot of time in Cumberland over the years and I know that market really well, in addition to Johnstown,” he said.

Minemyer was named editor of The Tribune-Democrat in 2004. He left the paper in 2012 when he was named executive editor of the Centre Daily Times in State College, but returned to Johnstown as editor in 2014.

Note Posted: November 2, 2021

1991 Broadcast/Cable

author, keynote speaker and founder of TiLT Parenting, recently published a new book titled "Differently Wired: Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World" (Workman Publishing). In November 2018, she spoke at TEDxAmsterdam, delivering a talk titled "Why the Future Will Be Differently Wired," and she will be speaking at TEDxPSU in February 2019. She recently moved back to the New York City area after living in the Netherlands with her husband and son for the past five years.

Note Posted: January 20, 2019

1991 Journalism

was recognized among the first-ever SPOKEies award winners. The SPOKEies honors the best in-house spokespeople representing brands, non-profits and corporations. Goldman was named the winner in the Corporate Sports category for his work as the head of marketing and sponsorship for the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) in Washington, D.C., where he also serves as the organization's spokesperson. The MCM routinely ranks as one of the largest marathons in both, the country and the world, welcoming more than 30,000 runners annually.

Note Posted: July 4, 2018

1991 Mass Communication

was promoted to full professor of Journalism and Communication Studies at Long Island University Brooklyn in New York. Her book, "Slow Media: Why Slow is Satisfying, Sustainable and Smart," will be published by Oxford University Press in September 2018.

Note Posted: January 29, 2018

1991 Broadcast Journalism

was appointed executive director of the American Wine Society, the oldest and largest organization of wine consumers in the United States, in 2017. A member of the American Society of Association Executives, he serves on that organization's public policy committee.

Note Posted: September 17, 2017

1991 Mass Communication

published a new book with Routledge in January 2021.

"Resisting the News: Engaged Audiences, Alternative Media, and Popular Critique of Journalism" examines how audiences filter their interpretations of mainstream news through their experiences with alternative media and political protest. The book illuminates public criticism of news to offer a distinctive perspective on how to bolster trust in journalism. Details about Resisting the News are available here: http://jennifer-rauch.com/books/.

Note Posted: April 27, 2021

1991 Journalism

was named sports director at WBOC-TV, a CBS/Fox affiliate in Salisbury, Md.

Note Posted: January 4, 2016

1991 Film-Video

was named Best Director at the Asian Cinematography Awards for his film "The Haunted Swordsman," which also earned several other awards — Best Animated Short Film, Best Film of the Month, and Best Cinematography.

Note Posted: February 9, 2021

1989 Broadcast Journalism

will mark her third anniversary as weekend host on SiriusXM Classic Vinyl in February 2020. Boyd's classic rock show broadcasts live across North America on SiriusXM Radio, Channel 26, and around the world on the SiriusXM App. SiriusXM has more than 33 million subscribers. Boyd broadcasts live each weekend from the studio is the heart of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Fans are invited to stop by the Rock Hall and watch her in action Saturdays and Sundays from 12-6 p.m. She can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @KatBoydRocks.

Note Posted: January 15, 2020

1989 Journalism

is public information officer for Mt. Lebanon Municipality and editor in chief of Mt. Lebanon Magazine. Her career has included writing positions at the Centre Daily Times and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in addition to radio work at CBS Radio in Pittsburgh.

Note Posted: April 17, 2019

1989 Journalism

senior vice president of Vanguard Communications in Washington, D.C., has been named a PR News 2019 Top Woman in PR for her "far-reaching impact on the field of strategic communications and public relations." Foster was honored for her 30-year career helping nationally prominent nonprofits and government agencies, such as Farm Aid and the American Psychological Association, achieve their social change goals.

Note Posted: April 8, 2019

1989 Advertising/Public Relations

is now the vice president of customer & technician experience at Comcast and recently completed the Betsy Magness Leadership Institue program as part of the BMLI Class 32 along with fellow Penn State alum Lauren Monks of NBCUniversal.

Note Posted: June 23, 2016

1989 Advertising/Public Relations

was named associate dean, graduate liberal studies, at Georgetown University. He also earned his Ph.D. in workforce education from Penn State in 2013. He previously worked as director of executive and professioanl education at George Washington University, and in the College of the Liberal Arts at Penn State.

Note Posted: July 28, 2015

1989 Journalism

recently was an elected as an alderman in the City of Middletown's (N.Y.) second ward. Kevin works as the commmunity liaison, managing website content and handing public relations, for the Middletown school district. Prior to joining the district in 2010, Kevin spent 21 years as a sports writer with the Middletown (N.Y.) Times Herald-Record. There, he won won multiple Associated Press New York state sports writing awards, and was a three-time finalist in annual national AP writing awards contests.

Note Posted: July 27, 2014

1989 Journalism

marked her third anniversary as weekend host on SiriusXM Classic Vinyl in February 2020. Boyd's classic rock show broadcasts live across North America on SiriusXM Radio, Channel 26, and around the world on the SiriusXM App. SiriusXM has more than 33 million subscribers. Boyd broadcasts live each weekend from the studio is the heart of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Fans are invited to stop by the Rock Hall and watch her in action Saturdays and Sundays from 12-6 p.m. She can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @KatBoydRocks.

Note Posted: June 18, 2020

1989 Journalism

won first place, 2022 Professional Keystone Media Award for Business or Consumer Story, for “Trapping and Rapping: Wildlife control expert starts podcast to help local businesses,” an article in the May 6, 2021 edition of the Centre County Gazette.

Note Posted: August 26, 2022

1989 Print Journalism

is president and chief storyteller at Kerry Ford Communications. Founded in Pittsburgh in 2017, the PR and social media firm specializes in large retail brands, family marketing clients and customized crisis counseling. The agency provides expertise in brand identity, campaign development, social media, CSR, media relations, crisis management,internal communications and special events planning.

Kerry Ford Communications has also secured thousands of local, regional, national and international media placements. Key clients include McDonald’s Restaurants, Disney On Ice, Monster Jam Motor Sports, Universal Studios Live, Jurassic Park Live, Ronald McDonald House Charities, GoodTaste! Pittsburgh, Urban Land Institute, and Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon. Ford is the eight-time recipient of McDonald’s Corporation’s highest award for public relatins achievement and six-time winner of Renaissance Awards from the Public Relations Society of America. She is a board member of The Daily Collegian’s Alumni Interest Group and the Outdoor Classroom. Kerry also chairs the PR committees for Ronald McDonald House Charities and St. Louise de Marillac School. Ford and her husband Ed Tomkowitz are parents to 8-year-old Kathleen and 19-year-old Greydon, a junior majoring in advertising/public relations in the Bellisario College.

Note Posted: March 9, 2020

1989 Advertising/Public Relations

is a partner/creative director at 31,000 FT, a full-service creative advertising agency in Dallas, Texas.

Note Posted: September 4, 2023