Sending a 'We Are!' to these Penn Staters — Jan. 22

As part of our regular "We Are!" feature, we recognize 15 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:

• Brian Algeo, senior international student adviser in Penn State Global, whose nominator wrote: "Brian is a dedicated adviser who approaches each student and scholar interaction with insight and care, tackling even the most complex challenges effortlessly. His uplifting humor and vibrant energy brighten any workspace, making him an invaluable asset to the students, scholars and staff alike."
• Jeremy Blum, associate professor of computer science at Penn State Harrisburg, whose nominator wrote: "I'd like to give a shoutout to my adviser, Dr. Blum, for his guidance. His advice on career options is always filled with insightful advice that genuinely makes a difference. His approachable nature and dedication to helping students succeed has made my college experience so much better."
• Kristin Bowers, associate director of marketing services at Penn State Behrend, whose nominator wrote: "Kristin has a remarkable ability to understand Behrend's mission. She takes our raw ideas and crafts them into messages that resonate deeply with prospective students, parents and community partners. She works tirelessly behind the scenes and plays a vital role in our enrollment success."
• Tammi Day, administrative assistant for academic advising at Penn State Shenango, whose nominator wrote: "Tammi's positivity makes her a joy to work with and makes her the perfect 'first face' for visitors to the Academics and Advising Center. She is always on-task and great at juggling competing priorities. She is creative, patient, organized, student-centered and so very appreciated!"
• Jen Dilts, academic affairs program coordinator at Penn State Beaver, whose nominator wrote: "Jen never ceases to amaze her colleagues with her ability to troubleshoot and learn new things. We have admiringly been using the tagline, 'Dilts does it all!' She is appreciated and widely recognized as one of our campus' MVPs!"
• Fred Fonseca, associate professor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology, whose nominator wrote: "Professor Fonseca's dedication as an educator was demonstrated during his teaching of IST 240 last year, taking me, a complete programming 'n00b,' from having trouble installing the NetBeans IDE to working with arrays. Thank you, Professor Fonz!"
• Xianlong Ge, associate teaching professor of chemistry at Penn State Harrisburg, whose nominator wrote: "Professor Ge is an amazing person and resource to his students. His understanding and compassion make him easily approachable, and he is always willing to take extra time to explain concepts and answer questions. He is a positive and funny person, and one of the best STEM professors at Harrisburg."
• Katie Immel, admissions officer at University Park, whose nominator wrote: "Katie personifies excellence in customer service. She is helpful, pleasant and always looking for a positive solution for the families she works with. In addition, she provides that same level of training and thoughtful helpfulness to our team. Katie is the best!"
• Lindsay Levy, senior enrollment services counselor at Penn State World Campus, whose nominator wrote: "In addition to her regular duties as a senior enrollment services counselor, Lindsay is serving as chairperson for one of World Campus EMS's strategic goal committees and doing a fabulous job! We appreciate her leadership on as we tackle important topics in support of World Campus student needs."
• Kendall Mainzer, civic engagement program coordinator in Student Affairs, whose nominator wrote: "As advisor of the nonpartisan student Civic Engagement Alliance, student voter registration and turnout increased for the recent election and voting errors significantly decreased. She also coordinates the Thanksgiving basket drive and serves as an Alternative Breaks learning partner. Kendall is a fantastic asset to students and to Penn State!"
• Karen Marsala, academic records manager in the College of Engineering, whose nominator wrote: "Karen goes above and beyond everyday managing engineering students' academic requirements and official records. She fosters a winning team with undergraduate coordinators and advisers for 8,500 students at University Park and over 2,000 at the Commonwealth Campuses. The College of Engineering appreciates her initiative."
• Michael Melusky, adjunct lecturer at Penn State Harrisburg, whose nominator wrote: "I want to give a shoutout to my instructor for his teaching skills. I believe he genuinely puts in the effort to make sure his students grasp the material and concepts, and whenever I've had a question, he has always responded with clarity and patience."
• Purnima Neogi, assistant teaching professor of biology at Penn State Harrisburg, whose nominator wrote: "Dr. Neogi always makes an effort for her students, taking care to attend to their needs. She listens to feedback and adapts her teaching style accordingly. When students say they need a study guide for a test, she provides comprehensive lists and questions to help them practice."
• Tracy Noll, business services director at the Center for the Performing Arts, whose nominator wrote: "Tracy is a caring coworker, excellent customer service provider and a respected arts leader. From her contributions to the development of a ticketing app, to her assisting our patrons, to her individual attention to make a family's recent experience one to remember, she demonstrates Penn State Values every day."
• Nicole Rigg, assistant financial officer in the College of Health and Human Development (HHD), whose nominator wrote: "Nicky is an expert in her field and played a significant role in the smooth transition between HHD financial officers. Under Nicky's guidance, the HHD finance office team provides exceptional customer service to the college departments and units. Nicky is a team player and goes the extra mile."
• Wade Shumaker, instructional production specialist in Penn State University Libraries, whose nominator wrote: "Wade's assistance with my team's Open Educational Resource (OER) has been instrumental to our success. We value his enthusiasm and proactive approach, helping our work be accessible and inclusive. His technology suggestions have enhanced our book, making it an excellent resource beyond Penn State."
• Erica Smith, administrative assistant in the College of Education, whose nominator wrote: "Erica is amazing. She is effective in her role and dedicated to the needs of the program and students in the program. She has insight that she shares, and she acts by foreseeing program needs. She is trustworthy and has taken on responsibilities that highlight her 'We Are!' attitude."
• Jacki Weikert, IT consultant in the College of Agricultural Sciences, whose nominator wrote: "Jacki has worked extremely hard to ensure the transition to Teams Calling was seamless and a smooth transition for Penn State Extension staff. Whenever we have questions, she is readily accessible. The Zoom help sessions she has set up are a great idea!"
• Minhwa Youn, monograph acquisitions specialist for Penn State University Libraries, whose nominator wrote: "Minhwa's dedication to the Libraries' e-book program ensures that students have seamless access to digital resources. Her strong communication skills help maintain the program's smooth operation. Her contributions are invaluable to the success of the e-book program."

Thank you Brian, Jeremy, Kristin, Tammi, Jen, Fred, Xianlong, Katie, Lindsay, Kendall, Karen, Michael, Purnima, Tracy, Nicole, Wade, Erica, Jacki and Minhwa- 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.