Twelve Penn Staters Honored with Alumni Fellow Award

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Twelve Penn State alumni will be honored for their outstanding professional accomplishments and named Alumni Fellows, the most prestigious designation given by the Penn State Alumni Association.

Since the award was established in 1973, more than 800 alumni have been honored with the title of Alumni Fellow - designated a permanent and lifelong title by the Penn State Board of Trustees - out of more than 800,000 living alumni.

"The Penn State Alumni Association is proud to honor these exceptional alumni, who exemplify the spirit, leadership, and innovation of our community," said Ryan Jones, interim CEO of the Alumni Association. "Recognizing them as Alumni Fellows highlights the profound contributions Penn Staters make across industries and communities around the world, and we celebrate their remarkable achievements."

A ceremony to celebrate their achievements will be held on Sept. 17 at the Nittany Lion Inn, on the University Park campus. Those interested in tuning in virtually may register here.

The following Penn Staters will receive the Alumni Fellow award.

Judith Aberg, class of 1990, College of Medicine, is professor emeritus at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she served as a systems chief of Infectious Diseases and Dr. George Baehr Professor of Medicine. An internationally recognized leader in HIV and infectious diseases, she has shaped national care guidelines, led Mount Sinai's COVID-19 response, and advanced research on HIV comorbidities, vaccine responses and chronic inflammation. She is a former chair of the HIV Medicine Association and an active Penn State alumna.

Tiffany Beers, class of 2002, Penn State Behrend, leads global engineering teams at Logitech, driving innovation in mechanical design, materials and sustainability to help the company cut its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030. A former engineer at Tesla and Nike, she helped create groundbreaking products like the Nike Mag and Air Yeezy. She also contributed to Olympic champion Allyson Felix's Saysh brand and appears in the 2025 documentary "She Runs the World."

Gary Brito, class of 1986, College of Health and Human Development (nominate by Altoona) is a four-star general in the U.S. Army and commander of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), where he recruits and trains the future force. With over 38 years of active-duty service, he is one of just 11 four-star U.S. Army generals currently serving. Among his awards and decorations, he has earned the Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Legion of Merit, and others, reflecting his exceptional leadership and valor.

Gary Butler, class of 1971, College of Engineering, is president and CEO of Precision Components Group LLC, a manufacturer of large pressure vessels, reactors and complex equipment for the defense and energy sectors. Under his leadership, PCC has become a trusted supplier to the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army and NASA. An Executive of the Year honoree, he remains closely connected to Penn State, serving in numerous leadership positions on boards and championing STEM education through community engagement.

Barbara Dalton, class of 1974, Eberly College of Science, 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. A leader in advancing rare disease and oncology innovation, she began her studies at Penn State Berks and supports women in science through the Dalton Undergraduate Student Research Fund. She also serves on the Penn State Research Foundation Board.

Jennifer Homendy, class of 1994, Penn State Harrisburg, is the 15th chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board. She has served as the agency's 44th board member since 2018 and chairman since 2021. She has overseen many high-profile investigations, including the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others; the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore; the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio; and more.

Chukwudi Igwé, graduate class of 2006, Smeal College of Business; graduate class of 2008, College of Information Sciences and Technology, is founder and president of Moravia Health, a nationally recognized home healthcare agency and official provider for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Philadelphia Union soccer club. He also founded Moravia Cares, a nonprofit serving low-income families. He has received numerous accolades, including Most Admired CEO of the Year, Top Entrepreneur of the Year, and Metro Philadelphia Black Power Player.

Jacqueline Jamieson-Szafara, class of 1983, Bellisario College of Communications, is the executive director of the National Arts Program, which promotes diversity and access to the arts by empowering organizations across the country to host art exhibitions. She remains deeply connected to Penn State, mentoring students and young alumni through the Bellisario Fellows program and the Dean's Advancement Council.

Cindy Miller, class of 2003, Penn State Harrisburg, is former CEO of Stericycle, where she led a multi-year transformation culminating in the company's $7.2 billion acquisition in 2024. She previously spent 30 years at UPS, where she advanced from package car driver to president of UPS Europe, overseeing $7 billion in revenue and 50,000 employees. She serves on corporate boards and remains engaged with Penn State through the Alumni Association.

Eileen Supko, class of 1985, College of Engineering, is president of Energy Resources International, specializing in nuclear fuel management and radioactive materials transport. 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. She remains connected to Penn State through the College of Engineering's Campaign Committee and Nuclear Engineering Society.

Tina Terrell, class of 1987, College of Agricultural Sciences, is a senior executive for national recruitment at the U.S. Forest Service, where she champions workforce diversity and conservation leadership. A 40-year agency veteran, she has held 14 positions and influenced major national policy and legislation. The first Black woman to earn a forestry degree from Penn State, she remains engaged through philanthropy and mentoring and helped found the University's MANRRS chapter. She is an honorary fellow of the Society of American Foresters.

Steven Wagman, class of 1982, College of Health and Human Development, is a national healthcare business leader for Siemens Smart Infrastructure, directing strategy and development across North America. During his 33-year career at Siemens, he has led initiatives in healthcare IT, imaging, consulting and smart infrastructure, and championed diversity and inclusion as vice president and chair of the company's DE&I Council. A former Penn State trustee and Alumni Association president, he remains active through mentorship, guest lecturing, and alumni engagement.

The Alumni Fellow program is administered by the Penn State Alumni Association in cooperation with the University's academic colleges, campuses and the Office of the President.

Alumni are nominated by a college or campus as leaders in their professional fields and accept an invitation from the president of the University to return to campus to share their expertise with students, faculty and administrators.

Visit the website for more information on the honorees and the award.

About the Penn State Alumni Association

For more than 150 years, the Penn State Alumni Association has provided alumni with a strong and welcoming community representative of the Penn Staters it proudly serves. The association keeps alumni connected to the University and each other, while upholding Penn State traditions and supporting the University's mission of teaching, research, and service. The association also produces the award-winning Penn Stater magazine and other publications, and offers alumni and friends volunteer opportunities, educational programming, and many other services. For more information about the Alumni Association, visit alumni.psu.edu/youbelong.