10 Penn Staters honored with 2026 Alumni Achievement Award

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State Alumni Association will honor ten prominent young alumni for their outstanding professional accomplishments at the 2026 Alumni Achievement Awards Ceremony on Friday, March 20, at 6 p.m.

The award is one of the Alumni Association's most prestigious honors. Recipients - alumni aged 35 and younger - are nominated by an academic college or campus and invited by the president of the University to return to Penn State to share their expertise with students and the University community. They demonstrate to students that Penn State alumni can succeed in exceptional fashion at an early age. 

"Our Alumni Achievement Award recipients show students what's possible when passion meets purpose," said Ryan Jones, interim CEO of the Alumni Association. "Their accomplishments so early in their careers demonstrate the lasting value of a Penn State education and the difference our alumni make around the world."

The following Penn Staters will receive the Alumni Achievement Award:  

Julia Cecchetti, class of 2020, Penn State Behrend

Cecchetti is a senior propulsion engineer at Impulse Space in Redondo Beach, California, designing advanced chemical rocket engines for in-space mobility. Previously, she contributed to SpaceX's Dragon and Starship programs. A NASA Early Career Achievement Medal recipient, Cecchetti graduated as valedictorian of the Behrend School of Engineering and continues to support Penn State as a guest lecturer.

Taylor Criste, class of 2014, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, Schreyer Honors College

Criste is the director of nursing operations at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia, leading workforce strategy for a large academic medical center. A recognized nursing leader, he advances staffing innovation, quality improvement and patient safety initiatives. Criste supports Penn State through alumni mentorship and service on the Alumni Society Board.

Alex Hogan, class of 2016, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications

Hogan is a foreign correspondent for FOX News Channel, covering international and domestic stories, including Ukraine, Taiwan and European humanitarian crises. A regional Emmy Award winner, Hogan brings a global perspective to her reporting and continues to engage with Penn State by mentoring students and sharing her professional experience.

Matthew Kapelewski, class of 2012, College of Science, Schreyer Honors College

Kapelewski is director of chemistry at Orbital, an AI-focused startup in Princeton, New Jersey, leading teams developing advanced materials for carbon dioxide capture and energy-efficient cooling. At Penn State, he held multiple leadership roles in Atlas, a THON organization, including fundraising chair, directing initiatives that raised over $370,000 for children with cancer. He continues to mentor students and support Penn State programs.

Natalie Keller, class of 2017, College of Agricultural Sciences, Schreyer Honors College

Keller is a senior food scientist at Campbell's, developing and bringing to market cookie and cracker products for the Pepperidge Farm brand. Her work spans consumer research, recipe development and scaling production. Keller supports Penn State through her leadership and has served as president of the Schreyer Honors College Alumni Society Board from 2021 to 2025, spearheading initiatives including an endowed emergency scholarship and mentoring students.

Anthony M. Mitchell, class of 2017, College of the Liberal Arts

Mitchell is vice president of federal affairs at America's Health Insurance Plans, advancing health care access, affordability and equity with Congress and federal agencies. A political science graduate and two-time national "40 Under 40" honoree, he was active in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Lion Ambassadors and the University Park Undergraduate Association. Mitchell remains engaged through alumni leadership, philanthropy, mentorship and service on Penn State boards.

Rhoda "Dr. Rho" Moise, class of 2015, College of Health and Human Development, Schreyer Honors College

Moise is a scientist, educator and wellness practitioner bridging public health research, integrative healing and community empowerment. She is founder of Dr. Rho Wellness where she aims to empower individuals and communities to heal, grow and thrive. Her honors include the Schreyer Honors College Outstanding GOLD Scholar Alumni Award, the Barrett Prize for Best Dissertation, and the University of Miami's HR Excellence in Teaching Award.

Uma Moriarity, class of 2014, Smeal College of Business, Schreyer Honors College

Moriarity is senior investment strategist and global head of sustainability at CenterSquare Investment Management, where she leads firmwide investment strategy and sustainability initiatives across global real estate platforms. The firm's youngest partner, she is a frequent industry speaker and was elected to the Penn State Board of Trustees in 2025 following a campaign focused on financial and sustainability stewardship. She also serves on the Smeal Sustainability Advisory Board, mentors students, and is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. She has been honored as a Schreyer Honors College Outstanding GOLD Scholar and a 2024 Woman of Influence by GlobeSt.com.

Lisa Marie Rogali, class of 2016, College of Arts and Architecture

Rogali is a professional opera singer who has appeared in leading roles nationwide and performed at Carnegie Hall. Acclaimed for her portrayals of the title role in Bizet's "Carmen" and Rosina in Rossini's "Il barbiere di Siviglia," she has trained with Detroit Opera, Minnesota Opera, the Glimmerglass Festival and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. Featured on the cover of the Penn Stater magazine in 2025, she continues to inspire Penn State students through performance and mentorship.

Tiffany Veet, class of 2014, Penn State Hazleton

Veet is head of drug substance continuous improvement APU support at Sanofi, providing strategic leadership for vaccine manufacturing across multiple biologics programs. She serves as president of the Hazleton Campus Alumni Society and on the Penn State Alumni Council, supporting mentorship, education and continued engagement with the Hazleton campus community.

About the award

The Alumni Achievement 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. Those interested in tuning in virtually to the ceremony may register here. 

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 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.