As part of our regular “We Are!” feature, we recognize 19 Penn Staters who have gone above and beyond what’s asked of them in their work at the University.
This week, on behalf of the entire Penn State community, we’d like to say thank you to:
Gopal Balachandran, associate clinical professor of law at Penn State Dickinson Law, whose nominator wrote: “Professor Balachandran has tripled the size of our externships program since becoming its director. He is a dedicated colleague and community advocate. Positive, talented and genuine, he is a model Penn Stater we all would do well to emulate.”
Gina Burge, registered nurse in University Health Services, whose nominator wrote: “As one of my employees, Gina has helped me adapt into the nurse manager role since joining the Penn State team in recent months. Her knowledge, advocacy for her peers and commitment to improvement are notable, and I’m grateful for her mentorship as I get my feet under me in my new role.”
Rachel Cloninger, animal science advising coordinator in the College of Agricultural Sciences, whose nominator wrote: “Rachel is fantastic with students. She understands their needs and works hard to find solutions. She approaches everything with a smile on her face and a can-do attitude — from simple fixes to complicated course requirements. We all appreciate her enthusiasm and dedication.”
Theresa Conway, registered nurse in University Health Services, whose nominator wrote: “Theresa has repeatedly stepped forward to take on challenging assignments to help her peers. Furthermore, she brings forwards recommendations for improvement and innovation. She exemplifies the responsibility and community of the Penn State Values.”
Michelle DiMondo, assistant director of student affairs at the College of Medicine, whose nominator wrote: “Michelle has been critical to career counseling efforts in Student Affairs. She has created webinars, handouts and 1:1 sessions, and she follows every detail of our medical students applying for residency. She is organized, efficient and kind. ‘We Are!’ proud.”
Kim Dorman, IT support specialist in Penn State IT, whose nominator wrote: “Kim is an amazing and supportive coworker. Every day she tries to make the workplace a better place to be. She takes the time to update our documentation and knowledge and optimizes our chatbot to make sure our customers have the best information available.”
Beth Edgar, assistant director for recruitment in Undergraduate Admissions, whose nominator wrote: “Beth is constantly striving to make sure students and families get the very best customer service through her dedication to training and documentation in our ever-changing admissions landscape. She is an outstanding leader and communicator, which helps our entire team perform their jobs better!”
Andrea Everhart, senior support assistant in the Office of Government and Community Relations, whose nominator wrote: “Andrea's attention to detail and ability to streamline processes for event planning has allowed us to work more efficiently and collaboratively. Her dedication brings professionalism and a collaborative spirit to the office. We are grateful for her contributions and for having her as a colleague.”
Debbie Heeman, administrative support assistant in the College of Agricultural Sciences, whose nominator wrote: “Every day I witness Debbie's professionalism and courtesy to students, parents, staff, faculty and anyone who contacts our office, always with a smile on her face and in her voice. She is a wonderful asset to the office and Penn State. We are fortunate to have her here!”
Crystal Henry, marketing strategy specialist for Penn State Extension, whose nominator wrote: “Crystal’s ability to motivate, solve problems and answer endless questions has been key to the success of Extension programs, including the Farm Show. Her knowledge, positive attitude and willingness to help wherever needed make her an indispensable part of the team. We’re lucky to have her!”
Beth Isaacs, health services assistant in Counseling and Psychological Services, whose nominator wrote: “Beth is an incredible staff member who greets all clients with kindness and warmth. Her positive attitude is contagious! She spends her spare time knitting and loves to make and then bring in hats, scarves and gloves to leave in the waiting room for any student in need.”
Vanessa Jackson, assistant athletic director and sports information director at Penn State Beaver, whose nominator wrote: “Vanessa’s efforts in marketing the department have been unparalleled. Between social media, website and streaming initiatives, she has made the department look top notch. Her added work on the production of the hall of honor was above and beyond.”
Stephanie Mullin, assistant director of the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Development, whose nominator wrote: “Stephanie is the ultimate team member, always going above and beyond in her job and volunteering to help others. Stephanie brings energy to her work and is very organized, efficient and thoughtful. She has a great relationship with students and staff, and she is greatly appreciated.”
Melanie Parenteau, IT project manager in the Office of Research Information Systems, whose nominator wrote: “Kudos to Melanie for keeping our team moving forward. In addition to being our project manager, she serves as our scrum master and vendor liaison. She does all of this with enthusiasm and a smile. We are extremely lucky to have Melanie on the team!”
Emily Repka, senior administrative assistant and human research technologist in the Center for Healthy Aging in the College of Health and Human Development, whose nominator wrote: “A huge shout out to Emily for being the Center’s go-to person! Thanks for finding typos, helping with tech issues, tracking down elusive receipts, getting us out of pickles, and always going above and beyond! We are appreciative of you and the cheerful attitude you bring to our team!”
Becky Stanko, sustainability and community impact specialist at Penn State Great Valley, whose nominator wrote: “Becky's Penn State pride and spirit are inspiring. She leads the sustainability committee with passion, engaging staff and students in environmental initiatives. Becky's positivity and dedication motivate us all to make a difference and contribute to a sustainable future.”
Amy Ward, marketing and communications specialist and student engagement manager at the College of Medicine, whose nominator wrote: “Amy organizes all celebration and milestone events for the medical school through the office of student affairs. She has gone above and beyond and also organized seasonal events, including the Medical School White Out Party, office winter wonderland decorating, Halloween Trick or Treat, and the Duck Scavenger Hunt. Amy is a Penn State gem!”
Valeria Warner, administrative support coordinator in the Office of Government and Community Relations, whose nominator wrote: “Val stands out not only for her skills but for the profound impact she has on our team dynamics and project outcomes. Her dedication to excellence transforms everyday workings into a well-oiled machine. Her contributions are nothing short of remarkable and deserve recognition.”
Michelle Whalen, academic program coordinator, engineering division, at Penn State Great Valley, whose nominator wrote: “A big shoutout to Michelle for her incredible dedication and innovation in investigating, learning and creating a more efficient process for Great Valley staff to contact students with important information and reminders using Salesforce! Her hard work is making a huge difference. Thank you, Michelle.”
Thank you Gopal, Gina, Rachel, Theresa, Michelle, Kim, Beth, Andrea, Debbie, Crystal, Beth, Vanessa, Stephanie, Melanie, Emily, Becky, Amy, Valeria and Michelle — and to everyone who helps make Penn State such an incredible community!
Do you know someone who deserves a shout out? If you do, consider nominating that person by filling out a short online form.