VALLEY VIEW: Sure, we’re biased, but the sight of Mount Nittany overlooking the tailgate fields on the last Saturday in September offered one of those occasional reminders that there is no better game-day setting in college football.
Alumni Fellows
Twelve Penn State alumni were honored in a September ceremony for their professional accomplishments.
A dozen of Penn State’s most accomplished graduates were recognized this fall as Alumni Fellows, the most prestigious designation given by the Penn State Alumni Association. “The Alumni Association is proud to honor these exceptional alumni, who exemplify the spirit, leadership, and innovation of our community,” said Ryan Jones ’95 Com, the association’s interim executive officer.
The 2025 honorees:
■ Judith Aberg ’90 MD Medicine is an international leader in HIV and infectious diseases and professor emeritus at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she was a systems chief of Infectious Diseases.
■ Tiffany Beers ’02 Behrend leads global engineering teams at Logitech, driving innovation to help the company cut its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030.
■ Gary Brito ’86 H&HD is a highly decorated four-star general and commander of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). He is one of just 11 four-star U.S. Army generals currently serving.
■ Gary Butler ’71 Eng is president and CEO of Precision Components Group LLC; under his leadership, PCG has become a trusted supplier to the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, and NASA.
■ Barbara Dalton ’74 Sci is a retired senior managing partner and vice president at Pfizer Ventures, where she led more than $1 billion in biotech investments for 17 years.
■ Jennifer Homendy ’94 Hbg is the chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, overseeing high-profile investigations such as the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore
and the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. 
■ Chukwudi Igwé ’06 MS Bus, ’08 PhD IST is founder and president of Moravia Health, a nationally recognized home health care agency, and Moravia Cares, a nonprofit serving low-income families.
■ Jacqueline Jamieson-Szafara ’83 Com is the executive director of the National Arts Program, which empowers organizations across the country to host art exhibitions.
■ Cindy Miller ’03 Hbg is former CEO of Stericycle, where she led a multiyear transformation culminating in the company’s $7.2 billion acquisition in 2024. During 30 years at UPS, she advanced from package car driver to president of UPS Europe.
■ Eileen Supko ’85 Eng is president of Energy Resources International. A frequent expert witness, she co-authors a major annual industry report and serves as principal representative in North America for the World Nuclear Transport Institute.
■ Tina Terrell ’87 Agr is a senior executive for national recruitment at the U.S. Forest Service, championing workforce diversity and conservation leadership. A 40-year agency veteran, she has influenced major national policy and legislation.
■ Steven Wagman ’82 H&HD directs strategy and development across North America for Siemens Smart Infrastructure. He has led initiatives in health care IT, imaging, consulting, and smart infrastructure.
Member Benefit
Penn State Bakery Discount
Alumni Association members enjoy 10% off orders from the Penn State Bakery, which has been supplying blue-and-white baked goods to dining halls, tailgates, and happy homes since 1947. The bakery ships tins of its popular cookies across the continental U.S., making it a great holiday gift for far-flung Penn Staters. If you’re close enough to pick up your order at the University Park bakery, there are a lot more sweet treats to choose from, including vegan and allergen-free options. pennstatebakery.com
Save the Date
Nov. 1, Nov. 29: Roar Tour Stops
Come join the Alumni Association at our Roar Tour stops at Ohio State (Nov. 1) and Rutgers (Nov. 29). The free pregame event at away football games features Penn State cheerleaders, the Nittany Lion, and special guests, plus games, refreshments, and more. Learn more at alumni.psu.edu/gameday.
On Demand: Linkedin course
Help your LinkedIn profile stand out by following the tips taught in the LinkedIn Masterclass, an on-demand course developed by experts on optimizing LinkedIn for networking success. The course regularly costs $99 but is available free to all Alumni Association members. Register at cvent.me/ayKrOy.
Dec. 17: ACS webinar
Learn about the resources available through Alumni Career Services during a recurring webinar that explains the opportunities available to members at all stages of their careers, including résumé assistance, personalized career coaching, mentorship programs, and much more. tinyurl.com/3xf9pxty
From the Archives
Raising the Bar
Sixty years before Nittany Lion quarterback Kerry Collins ’94 Lib became a Penn State legend, another Carey Collins—C.C. Alexander, a.k.a. “Doggie”—made his mark in a different way: as the owner of the All-American Rathskeller, a quintessential college bar whose storied history was chronicled in the Penn Stater’s November/December 1975 issue. That today’s students know it as Doggie’s Pub might make some former ’Skeller “rats” shake their heads (and pony bottles) in dismay, but the bar’s current name is actually an homage to its early days. Read the full story.
Chapters & Groups
World Campus Alumni Society
Penn State World Campus Alumni Society’s leaders traveled to University Park this summer for a chance to connect in person and plan for ways to carry out the society’s mission of supporting the more than 40,000 World Campus alumni around the world. Society members were treated to tours of the Penn State All-Sports Museum and the Student Farm, and got a peek inside West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium.
Hampton Roads Chapter
The Hampton Roads Chapter helped host the annual B1G Alumni Kickoff Social in Virginia Beach in August, attended by two dozen Penn Staters along with alumni from a dozen other Big Ten universities. Per tradition, attendees brought donations for regional food banks. Between perishable items and monetary donations, the total collected would provide 461 meals.
Brandywine Alumni Society
For the fourth year, the Brandywine Alumni Society sponsored the September series of “Dining Under the Stars,” a weekly outdoor dining event in Media, Pa. Members connected with alumni and shared with the community faculty and student research and campus resources such as the Brandywine LaunchBox.
Millennium Scholars AIG
The Millennium Scholars Program AIG, which became a chartered Alumni Interest Group earlier this year, launched its MSP AIG Mentorship Program in August to connect senior alumni (graduated three-plus years ago) with more recent alumni and current scholars to share guidance and support for professional and personal growth.
Have news to share from your chapter, AIG, or alumni society? Send it to rsr3@psu.edu.
Volunteer Spotlight
KD Frick, Mentor, Health and Human Development / Schreyer Honors College
KD Frick began mentoring students as a way to “pay it forward” for guidance received as a student. “I would not be where I am today if there hadn’t been specific people who were very interested in my development,” says Frick ’91 H&HD Hon, a professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School, who’s been mentoring students in Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development and Schreyer Honors College since 2007.
Frick was honored with the Martin R. Cepeda Jr. Award for Alumni Career Advancement and Development in 2024, a nod to longstanding service to the university and relationships with students that sometimes stretch decades into their careers.
Frick insists that even newer alumni have insight to share with current students; the ability to listen fully and the willingness to connect people are all that’s needed: “I ask myself from the first meeting, ‘Who’d be a good person for [this student] to talk to?’”
Support PSAA
KEEPSAKE THAT GIVES BACK
When you purchase an heirloom-quality item from the Penn State Elms Collection, a portion is donated toward planting trees at University Park. Not only are you giving a second home to the majestic campus elms, you’re helping to ensure that future Penn Staters inherit a campus as picturesque as it was in your day. Visit pennstateelmscollection.com to purchase your piece of Penn State history.
Leave Your Legacy
When you earned your Penn State degree, you became a Nittany Lion for life. Show your pride with a commemorative paver within the Alumni Plaza! Forever display a message of celebration, remembrance, or recognition on the University Park campus. Visit our website to see options and availability. Place your order by Feb. 1, 2026, to be included in the spring 2026 installation. Learn more at alumni.psu.edu/alumniplaza.
Serving With Pride
The 2025 Volunteer Awards were presented this summer.
Eleven affiliate groups and six individuals were honored by the Alumni Association for giving back to their communities and supporting current and future Penn State students.
Engagement With Young Alumni Award
Penn State Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Society APG reached nearly 100 young alumni last year through panels, a job shadowing program, and more.
Fellowship and Networking Award
Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing Alumni Society hosted more than 250 alumni and friends at its football tailgate in 2024.
Fundraising Award
Triangle Chapter donated $4,427 and 600 pounds of food to aid relief efforts after Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
Joint Activity Award
World Campus Alumni Society, Great Valley Alumni Society, and Fox Graduate School Alumni Society held the event “Meet the Leaders and Learn About Innovation in Online, Graduate, and Professional Education.”
Ned Brokloff Award for Alumni Association Affiliate Group Innovation
World Campus Alumni Society sponsored a “Roar Where You Are Scavenger Hunt” during We Are Weekend. Nearly 50 people shared their Penn State pride in various challenges.
Outstanding Service Project Award
Bucks County Chapter (above) donated a dozen carloads of professional clothing to
Penn State Abington’s Campus Career Closet for student use during interviews and job fairs.
Professional Development Award
Harrisburg Alumni Society partnered with Career Services and Residence Life on a new etiquette series to prepare students for professional settings and life after college.
Scholarship Development Award
Phoenix Chapter created the Tamara Abromitis Spirit Award for past chapter president Abromitis ’07 Com, who died in 2024.
Tracy and Rick Riegel Pinnacle Event
Excellence Award College of Health and Human Development Hotel & Restaurant APG reimagined its premier fundraiser and moved it to University Park, creating opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to engage with industry leaders and raising $640,000.
Joan M. McLane Recent Alumni Award
John Colwell ’16 WB, social media chair for the New York City Chapter, doubled the chapter’s Facebook following and increased year-over-year Instagram views by 6,400%.
Kay and Ernie Salvino Volunteer of the Year Award
Steven Wagman ’82 H&HD served as the association’s president from 2017 to 2019,
and on the Board of Trustees for five years.
Mark and Carol Poblete Award for Alumni Leadership Development
Michelle Buzzelli ’19 MPS WC has been a steady source of leadership, guidance, and mentorship for the Baltimore Chapter.
Martin R. Cepeda Jr. Award for Alumni Career Advancement and Development
Donovin Lindsay ’14 WB, ’21 MPS Lib has assisted students and alumni through Lion Link project sponsorship, mentorship programs, and advocacy efforts.
Philip Philip Mitchell Alumni Service Award
William Guthlein ’74 Bus, ’74 Lib and Bob Buday ’77 Com, business experts and Daily Collegian alumni, conducted a study of best practices to help ensure the viability of the Collegian after the university cut subsidies for the student newspaper.
