Penn State Harrisburg announces fall 2025 student marshals

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg has selected six graduates to serve as student marshals at the fall 2025 commencement ceremony. The students will bear the banners representing each academic school and, together with the faculty marshals, lead the graduating students during the ceremony processional.

Student marshals were selected based on their GPAs from among students eligible to graduate. Other criteria considered included engagement with the academic school and the college, involvement in research, involvement in leadership activities, and faculty recommendations.

The fall 2025 student marshals are:

School of Behavioral Sciences and Education

Giulia Cantella, bachelor of science in psychology

Cantella, of Milan, Italy, distinguished herself at Penn State Harrisburg through engagement, leadership, and scholarship.

Cantella supported international students in their transition to Penn State through her work as a Global Community Leader and Global Lion Mentor, and she helped coordinate cultural programming and promote intercultural understanding as a Global Ambassador. She also served as a Domestic Violence Ambassador, raising awareness on critical issues among her peers.

Her academic journey was enriched by research involvement. As a member of the Awareness and Community Engagement (ACE) Lab, she examined substance use disorder in Pennsylvania, presented research at the American Public Health Association (APHA) Conference in Washington, D.C., engaged in peer education initiatives, and launched her own independent research project.

Cantella also worked as a Lion Guide peer adviser, supporting fellow students in navigating academic and advising resources, and she participated in a spring break service program, through which she engaged in community revitalization initiatives in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cantella was the winner of the 2024 Martin Luther King Poster Contest sponsored by the Diversity and Educational Equity Committee, and she also created a collage that was featured in Penn State Harrisburg's 2024 end-of-year video. She has consistently placed on the Dean's List and is a member of both the Honor Society and the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Cantella will be escorted by faculty marshals Övgü Kaynak, associate professor of psychology, and Denise Salters, assistant teaching professor of biobehavioral health.

School of Business Administration

Dhruvikumari Patel, bachelor of science in finance

Patel, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, has been recognized with the President Walker Award, the Graduate Student Engagement Award, and Dean's List honors. During her time at Penn State Harrisburg, she served as president of the Finance Club and senior fund manager of the Student Investment Fund. She was also treasurer of the campus chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and competed in a state-level FBLA competition where her team took third place in a finance category and advanced to compete at the national level.

Patel also served as a student delegate on the Student Fee Allocation committee, working with committee members to award funding to campus events and organizations. During spring break, she traveled to London on a study tour to see the International Capital Markets.

As a participant in the Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate program, Patel has been working toward her MBA as well and expects to earn her graduate degree in the spring.

Patel will be escorted by Indrit Hoxha, professor of economics, and Emily Crum, lecturer in accounting.

School of Humanities

Justice "Phoenix" VanSkyhawk, bachelor of humanities in English

VanSkyhawk, a devoted student of literature, paved their way as a leader in the humanities at Penn State Harrisburg.

VanSkyhawk, of Bethel, Pennsylvania, maintained a 4.0 GPA and earned several awards, including the Evan Pugh Scholar Award and the President Walker Award. They are a member of the international English honor society, Sigma Tau Delta, and the campus choir.

In the past two semesters, VanSkyhawk directed a full choral ensemble piece and an A Capella small group piece for each of the semester concerts. Additionally, they regularly volunteered to usher for the Kulkarni Theatre and worked at the campus library since their first semester.

This semester, VanSkyhawk began an internship with the Penn State University Press, working remotely with the journal productions team at University Park. After graduation, they said they plan to continue their work in the publishing industry.

VanSkyhawk will be escorted by Adam Gustafson, associate teaching professor of music, and Emily MacLeod, assistant professor of English.

School of Public Affairs

Malcolm Jenkins, bachelor of science in criminal justice

Jenkins, of Hershey, Pennsylvania, transferred to Penn State Harrisburg in the fall of 2023 and consistently appeared on the Dean's List since his arrival, with a GPA of 3.8. He was invited to be a member of the National Society for Leadership and Success.

In addition to actively participating in the classroom in positive ways, Jenkins said he enjoyed playing intramural basketball and was a Penn State Harrisburg Intramural Basketball Champion in 2024 and 2025.

Jenkins looks forward to a career in policing, where his excellent communication skills and respectful manner will serve him well. In the future, Jenkins said he intends to further his education by pursuing a master of arts in criminal justice.

Jenkins will be escorted by faculty marshals A. Patricia Aguilera-Hermida, associate teaching professor of human development and family studies, and Chris Dolan, assistant teaching professor of homeland security and public policy.

School of Science, Engineering, and Technology

Carolyn Albert, bachelor of science in mechanical engineering

Albert, of Shiremanstown, Pennsylvania, has excelled academically, earning the President Walker award in 2024 and completing her degree with a 3.98 GPA. She served as the president of the Penn State Harrisburg chapter of the Society of Women Engineers, where she was responsible for planning club activities, including arranging speaking engagements and workshops to advance students' engineering skills.

While working as a research assistant with Ola Rashwan, associate professor of mechanical engineering, Albert completed a Multi-Campus Research Experience for Undergraduates (MC-REU) project conducting cytotoxicity testing related to a new 3D-printer filament meant to be used for medical purposes, such as 3D-printed bone implants.  

Albert passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam for Mechanical Engineers, the first step to becoming a licensed professional engineer. Over the summer, she completed an externship with the Mechanicsburg Ottobock clinic, obtaining hands-on experience with prosthetics. She said she aspires to work in the biomedical engineering field and help people by improving the materials and equipment used by doctors, technicians, and patients.

Albert will be escorted by faculty marshals Ola Rashwan, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and Nik Tsotakos, associate professor of biology.

J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School

Madeline Reese, master of arts in clinical psychology

Reese, of Chicago, Illinois, completed a master's paper that explored the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in addressing mental health symptoms that adult autistic women present with in therapy. She received a "high pass" from the committee on her paper, denoting exceptional meritorious achievement.

During her 700-hour clinical practicum and internship, Reese worked at a private practice where she administered, scored, and interpreted neuropsychological assessments for children ages 7 to 21. She collaborated with her supervisor to conceptualize cases and craft a comprehensive interpretive report for the client's family. She also attended the American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology Conference through her internship site.

At Penn State Harrisburg, Reese worked as a case manager in the Office of Student Advocacy, providing short-term case management services to students struggling with a variety of challenges preventing them from being successful in the classroom. She served as the dedicated Fostering Lions coordinator at the Harrisburg campus, providing support to students previously in the foster care system.

Reese is also co-authoring a grief study with Övgü Kaynak, associate professor of psychology. The project aims to reduce stigma related to the opioid epidemic.

Reese said she plans to move to Michigan, where she will work as a therapist conducting neuropsychological assessments for a pediatric population. In a few years, she hopes to pursue a doctorate in psychology and potentially open her own private practice.

Reese will be escorted by faculty marshals Gina M. Brelsford, professor of psychology, and Jonathan W. Ivy, associate professor of psychology.