Sending a 'We Are!' to these Penn Staters — Sept. 19

As part of our regular "We Are!" feature, we recognize 13 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:

• Mary Beth Aber, administrative support coordinator for the Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Smeal College of Business, whose nominator wrote: "Mary Beth brings a positive and a personal touch to the office. She is extremely organized and able to find ways to manage routine activities efficiently and effectively. Her ability to build relationships with others is unmatched! Her creativity supports the vision of the Farrell Center and Smeal."
• Alyssa Bumbaugh, business analyst for Penn State IT, whose nominator wrote: "Alyssa has kept a project alive and moving forward for over two years. As it nears completion, I would like to thank her for always being optimistic, pleasant and determined in the face of setbacks. We could not have done it without her!"
• Samantha Chavanic, marketing content and web experience manager in the College of Engineering, whose nominator wrote: "Sam embodies the 'We Are!' mentality: she is devoted, self-motivated and committed to giving her all and supporting her team in all aspects of her work. Sam's dedication elevates the work of our team by providing better solutions, creating excellent content and showcasing the College of Engineering."
• Rachel Colombo, administrative assistant at Penn State Altoona, whose nominator wrote: "Rachel provides outstanding customer service. She is friendly and knowledgeable, and she will go out of her way to help anyone in need. Her outgoing personality is an asset to the campus as she greets future Penn Staters for new student orientation (NSO), making students and their parents feel welcome with her contagious smile."
• Amy Cook, HR consultant at Penn State Behrend, whose nominator wrote: "Amy went above and beyond to help with an important hire. There were several challenges involved, and Amy took the extra time and effort to find solutions that ensured the hire could be made while following all University rules. We are extremely grateful to Amy!"
• Karen Doberstein, academic adviser in the College of Engineering, whose nominator wrote: "Karen is always ready to greet and work with our engineering students, welcoming them with enthusiasm and a smile. She is a great source of support and guidance with an unrivaled dedication to students. Her steadfast positivity and encouragement guide them through any challenge they encounter."
• Bill Hager, marketing and web specialist at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, whose nominator wrote: "As the University moves toward a regionalized approach, Bill has not shied away from picking up marketing projects that serve not only the Fayette campus, but Beaver and New Kensington too. He's a great example of inter-campus cooperation, embodying the 'We Are!' spirit."
• Jamie Klaue, office manager and administrative support coordinator for the Agricultural Analytical Services Lab (AASL) in the College of Agricultural Sciences, whose nominator wrote: "Jamie is a crucial member of our AASL staff, and she never wavers in her commitment to be kind, pleasant and helpful to our clients and coworkers. She truly cares for everyone she meets, and her professionalism and expertise are unmatched. She is, without a doubt, deserving of a 'We Are!'"
• Emily Lombardi, customized programs coordinator for Penn State Global, whose nominator wrote: "Emily is the embodiment of a team player! She shows up every day with a smile and is ready to tackle any size project. Her kindness radiates through everyone she works with. She is always willing to lend a helping hand to her team and constantly goes above and beyond."
• Chris Nischalke, education abroad adviser for Penn State Global, whose nominator wrote: "Chris works tirelessly to find enriching experiences abroad for Penn State students. Not only does he work with course-related programs, but also he manages all of the experiential programs like international internships and research abroad. He is an excellent teammate and friend!"
• Randy Schmidt, transfer credit specialist at Penn State World Campus, whose nominator wrote: "Where to start? Randy is that guy on the team who goes above and beyond to lend a hand. He stops what he is doing to answer any question you might have, even if you asked it 100 times before. He is always looking out for his students and doing the best he can to get them to graduation."
• Xiaohong Sheng, administrative assistant for the School of Global Languages, Literatures, and Cultures in the College of the Liberal Arts, whose nominator wrote: "Xiao saved the school a sum of money by taking the extra time to check several other channels before making supply purchases. Xiao's dedication to finding the best price when ordering something shows how financially responsible she is. Thank you, Xiao!"
• Carly Sunseri, senior director of data science and analytics in the Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research (OPAIR), who received multiple nominations. One nominator wrote: "Carly is a standout for her data science expertise, diplomatic nature, helpfulness and thoughtfulness. I am really impressed with the creativity and ingenuity that she brings to complicated problems. It is a joy to be in meetings with her." Another nominator wrote: "Carly's work in data analytics in higher education is inspiring. Whenever an issue arises within the data community, Carly is the first to make sure all voices are present at the table when a solution is being found to ensure not just a quick solution, but the right solution."

Thank you to Mary Beth, Alyssa, Samantha, Rachel, Amy, Karen, Bill, Jamie, Emily, Chris, Randy, Xiaohong and Carly - 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.