Networking & Career Exploration Connect Networking & Career Day Sponsored by the David S. Rocchino Family Foundation in partnership with the Scholar Alumni Society

Connect Networking & Career Day brings more than 50 Scholar alumni to campus for a day of career-related panel discussions and networking. With expertise in a variety of fields, Scholar alumni are ready to share their knowledge and perspectives with current Scholars. Whether you are exploring majors, considering internships, preparing for graduate or professional school, or sending out resumes for employment, this event is for you.

Apr 5

Connect 2025

Scholar RSVP Coming Soon
CONNECT Networking and Career Day logo

Event Schedule

Successful Scholar Alumni Alumni Bios

Learn more about the Scholar alumni attending this year's event.

Michael Appleman headshot

Michael Appleman Director, Content Partnerships, NBCUniversal

Jennifer Ashman headshot

Jennifer Ashman Principal, CX Amplified

Jennifer Ashman is the president of CX Amplified, a boutique consulting firm that helps companies adopt a customer-focused approach to design and deliver best in class experiences. She has been a customer experience and marketing practitioner for over 20 years and her diverse background includes working at MRM//McCann, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and Ford Motor Company. In addition to consulting, Jennifer is a Professor of Practice at Michigan State University, where she teaches Experience Design as part of the Masters degree program in Customer Experience Management. She is also a Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP), issued by the global Customer Experience Professionals Association. Jennifer earned a BS in Marketing with Honors in 1994 and a Masters degree in Marketing in 1996. She is currently a Board Member for the Scholar Alumni Society.
Samuel Bonsall headshot

Samuel Bonsall Deloitte & Touche Teaching Excellence Professor of Accounting, Penn State - Smeal College of Business

Dr. Sam Bonsall is the Deloitte & Touche Teaching Excellence Professor of Accounting at Penn State's Smeal College of Business in University Park, Pennsylvania where he teaches Master of Accounting and doctoral students and conducts research related to the impact of information on capital markets. Before joining Penn State in 2017, he served on the faculty of the Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business in Columbus, Ohio and worked in economic litigation consulting at Bates White LLC in Washington, DC. He earned a B.S. in Economics with Honors from Penn State in 2004. He also earned a M.S. in Business Administration from Penn State in 2004 and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Penn State in 2012. Please feel free to connect with him on LinkedIn. Sam serves on both the Scholar Alumni Society Board and the College's Faculty Advisory Committee.

Learn more about me before the event by listening to my episode of the Following the Gong podcast.

Jason Cornelius headshot

Jason Cornelius Aerospace Engineer, NASA Ames Research Center

Stefanie Coyle headshot

Stefanie Coyle Education Counsel, New York Civil Liberties Union

Stefanie Coyle is the Education Counsel at the New York Civil Liberties Union, where she focuses on education litigation and advocacy efforts across the state. She is a frequent commentator on issues of student privacy and the use of facial recognition technology in schools and has appeared in Wired, CNN, Vice Magazine, Education Week, The 74, Politico New York, and other local New York publications. Stefanie has a long track record of serving students, starting in the classroom as a kindergarten teacher in Phoenix, Arizona. Prior to joining the NYCLU in 2017, she litigated arbitration cases for the New York City Department of Education and worked in-house for a NYC charter school network. Following law school, Stefanie was a litigation associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP, where she was recognized for her pro bono work challenging New York’s funding scheme for Special Act schools with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. As a law student, she co-founded the Education Law and Policy Society and served as an editor for the Michigan Journal of Race and Law. Stefanie is currently a member of the New York City Bar Association’s Council on Children and Committee on Education and the Law, where she chairs the Subcommittee on Diversity. Stefanie graduated Phi Beta Kappa and with high distinction from Pennsylvania State University’s Schreyer Honors College and received her law degree from the University of Michigan with a pro bono service certificate.
Alejandro Cuevas headshot

Alejandro Cuevas PhD Student in Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University;, Co-Founder, Redoux

Alejandro is a PhD Candidate in Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University and a co-founder of Redoux (a NY-based fragrance company). At CMU, he works on measuring social influence and reputation in online platforms using computational social science methods. He's authored several papers on security and privacy, was awarded a Cylab Presidential Fellowship, and previously worked at Microsoft Research. At Redoux, he handles primarily operations and strategy. He earned his BS in Security and Risk Analysis with Honors from Penn State in 2018. Please feel free to connect with them on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aledancuevas/).
Henry is a third year law student at Fordham University School of Law. This past summer Henry was a Summer Associate at Seward & Kissel LLP, and he will be returning to the firm after graduation as an Associate. Henry earned a BS in Biobehavioral Health and Honors in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State in 2021. Please feel free to connect with Henry on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-deteskey-8b654b19b/) or email (hdeteskey@fordham.edu).

Learn more about me before the event by watching my episode of the Following the Gong podcast.

Sean Duffy headshot

Sean Duffy Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice

Penn State B.A. History (1996); Columbia J.D. (2001). Since finishing law school, I have practiced law in a variety of settings, in both the public and private sector. I worked as a law clerk to a federal district court judge from 2001 through 2002 and for a federal appeals court judge from 2004 through 2005. In between the two clerkships, I practiced litigation at the law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell in New York from 2002 through 2004. In 2005, my career took an international turn. I practiced international arbitration at the law firm of Shearman & Sterling in Singapore from 2005 through 2008. From 2008 through 2011, as an adjunct professor, I taught law students attending Temple Law School's Tokyo, Japan campus. I returned to the United States at the beginning of 2012, taking a job as an attorney in the General Counsel's Office of the Postal Regulatory Commission. In 2014, I took a position as a trial attorney with the Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division.
Jocelyn Fitzgerald headshot

Jocelyn Fitzgerald Assistant Professor, Ob/Gyn and Urogynecology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC, Magee Womens Research Institute

Olivia Francois headshot

Olivia Francois Exam Developer, The National Restaurant Association

Olivia Francois is an Exam Developer at the National Restauration Association in Washington, DC where she develop resources for professional certification exams in the food and restaurant industry. Before joining the National Restaurant Association in 2023, she previously worked in k-12 assessment at Cambium Assessment as well as in fundraising for cancer research at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. Olivia earned a BS in Toxicology with Honors in BioBehavioral Health and a minor in Global Health. Please feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn. Olivia currently serves on the Scholar Alumni Society Board.

Asia is the founder of the vegan skincare line, Redoux. She founded the company in 2019 while living in New York, where she previously worked as a user experience research consultant at IBM and Capco. She earned a BS in Marketing with Honors from Penn State in 2017, and served as president of the Scholar Alumni Society Board President. Currently, she is based out of the Philadelphia area. Feel free to connect with her via Linkedin if you don't mind waiting, or email if you're looking for a quicker response.

Learn more about me before the event by listening to my episode of the Following the Gong podcast.

Andrew Gutberlet headshot

Andrew Gutberlet Project Planning, Design & Construction Division Head, Penn State Applied Research Lab

Andrew Gutberlet ('gut' = stomach; 'ber' like in November; 'let' like 'let it go') is the Manager of Engineering Services for Penn State's Office of Physical Plant where he manages the team of engineers that support planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance of all 30 million square feet of space at the University. Before joining Penn State in 2014, he previously worked as a civilian for the Navy at the Naval Facilities Engineering Command and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He earned a BS in Engineering Science with Honors from Penn State in 1998; he also holds a Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States War College - which sounds cool, but is otherwise totally useless.
Brian Harkless headshot

Brian Harkless Cost Pillar Director, Naval Air Systems Command

Mr. Harkless became a Navy civilian in 2010 and currently serves as NAVAIR Command Property Officer, Sustainment Group, Property Management Department at Patuxent River, MD. In this role, he is responsible for the physical accountability of all NAVAIR owned material as well as policy, oversight and guidance for all Property Management functions at the Command. Mr. Harkless previously served as Branch Head for NAVAIR 6.8.3.3 Sponsor Owned Material branch in the Total Asset Visibility Division at Patuxent River, MD. In this role, he managed Interim Supply Support warehouses for all pre-Material Support Date NAVAIR Spares and maintained the Special Tooling/Special Test Equipment boneyard at Granite City, IL. Prior to joining Logistics full time, Mr. Harkless completed a year-long NAVAIR Leadership Development Program (NLDP) special project rotation where he developed the processes and procedures for NAVAIR material conversion to Navy Enterprise Resource Planning (Navy ERP). His primary engineering work at NAVAIR was serving as a composite material Subject Matter Expert in the NAVAIR Airframe Technology Branch where he developed new composite repair and evaluation techniques and led cross-organizational teams to implement advanced technologies with other Department of Defense agencies and foreign partners. Before NAVAIR, Mr. Harkless worked in the private sector for 15 years primarily in military aircraft structural repair, ultimately acting as Chief Engineer and Program Manager for CSC’s Bonded Repair Division. Mr. Harkless holds degrees in Aerospace Engineering with Honors from Penn State (BS) and the University of Maryland (MS) where he focused on aircraft structures, composite materials and smart structures as well as an MBA from Texas Christian University. Mr. Harkless is a 2016 graduate of the NAVAIR Leadership Development Program and a 2018 graduate of the Department of the Navy Bridging the Gap Program. Brian currently serves as the Vice President of the Scholar Alumni Society, and is a 2020 Outstanding Scholar Alumni Award Recipient.
Charlotte Harris headshot

Charlotte Harris Medical Student, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

Charlotte Harris is a first-year medical student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Philadelphia, PA where she is pursuing her doctorate in medicine (M.D.). She recently graduated from the Schreyer Honors College in 2024, where she earned her BS in Biobehavioral Health (BBH) with honors in BBH as well. Charlotte is happy to speak further about applying to health professions school, pursuing a career in medicine, and research as an undergraduate student. Please feel free to connect with her via email: charlotte.harris@students.jefferson.edu or LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-harris-0708b726a
John Hemmer headshot

John Hemmer Patent Attorney and Partner, Morgan Lewis

John Hemmer is a patent attorney and partner at Morgan Lewis based in Philadelphia. John focuses his practice on patent counselling in the mechanical engineering, industrial design, and life science fields to help clients identify patenting opportunities, protect and leverage competitive advantages, manage patent portfolios, and avoid patent infringement. John also prepares and negotiates technology agreements and works with clients on licensing, investment, merger and acquisition agreements, and IP due diligence. John earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering magna cum laude and with Honors from Penn State in 2003 and his law degree from Temple University in 2006.

Learn more about me before the event by listening to my episode of the Following the Gong podcast.

Gabriel Hiestand headshot

Gabriel Hiestand Staff Engineer, Herbert, Rowland, & Grubic, Inc.

Gabe Hiestand is a staff engineer in the water and wastewater service group at Herbert, Rowland, & Grubic, Inc. Gabe earned a BS in environmental systems engineering with Honors and a minor in watersheds and water resources from Penn State in 2023. During his undergraduate studies, Gabe completed two internships in engineering at McCormick and Company, Inc. and one research internship at the Penn State University Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering. Gabe earned an MS in civil and environmental engineering at the University of California at Berkeley in 2024, where he graduated from the Energy, Civil Infrastructure, and Climate program. Gabe is happy to speak further about climate change adaptation and mitigation, the food-water-energy nexus, water resources engineering, wastewater treatment, humanitarian engineering, environmental sustainability, STEM education, and obtaining a graduate degree. Please feel free to connect with Gabe by email or on LinkedIn.
Madelyn Hindman headshot

Madelyn Hindman Graduate Student, Penn State School of Public Policy

Madelyn Hindman is an Intern with PSU Votes in the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement at Penn State where she works with partners across campus to bring nonpartisan voting resources to students. Madelyn earned her BA in Political Science with Honors from Penn State in 2024. She is currently working towards a Master of Public Policy degree at Penn State. She is happy to speak further about voting, American politics, Jane Austen novels, or Penn State hockey. Please feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn.
Joshua Horenstein headshot

Joshua Horenstein SVP, Chief Legal and Human Resources Officer, Innophos

Karah Hughes headshot

Karah Hughes Administrative and Programs Coordinator, Centre Helps

Karah earned a BA of Political Science with Honors in May of 2024, and was heavily involved with student organizations and campus leadership fields. She is currently working on applications to law schools, and would be happy to talk about the pre-law, political science, study abroad, student involvement, and resident assistant opportunities at Penn State. Please feel free to reach out with questions or to connect further at kghughes28@gmail.
Sue Kelley headshot

Sue Kelley Associate Teaching Professor of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State College of Health and Human Development

Sue Kelley went on to earn her M.S. and Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh after completing her undergraduate degree in psychology at Penn State. Sue’s research focused on the socioemotional development of toddlers. She studied factors related to self-conscious emotions and mastery, learned helplessness, and attachment. After spending nearly 20 years teaching psychology at Lycoming College, she transitioned into an administrative position at Pennsylvania College of Technology. She is currently Dean of the School of Business, Arts & Sciences.
Andrew Kreider headshot

Andrew Kreider Environmental Protection Specialist, U.S. EPA

Following my graduation from Penn State, I worked briefly for a grassroots environmental advocacy group in CA before accepting a job with the U.S. EPA in Washington, DC, in 1996. While with EPA in DC, I worked on the Superfund program, land contamination, economic redevelopment, and stratospheric ozone depletion. In 2001, I transferred to the EPA regional office in Philadelphia, where I've managed grants to local governments, led efforts for several partnership programs (like Energy Star), and participated in climate change education and training. Outside of EPA, I've done volunteer work with former Vice President Al Gore's global warming awareness organization, and at the local level with my township Environmental Advisory Council. In my 20+ year career, I've experienced environmental work from the perspective of all levels of government, as well as the nonprofit and private sectors.
Peri Newman headshot

Peri Newman Medical Student, Penn State College of Medicine

Peri Newman, MPH is a first-year medical student at the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, PA. She previously worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Penn State College of Medicine while completing her Master of Public Health (MPH) as part of Penn State's Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate (IUG) Program, where she graduated with her B.S. in Immunology and Infectious Disease with honors in Immunology and Infectious Disease and her MPH in August 2023. Peri is currently is more than happy to talk more about medicine, clinical research, and public health. Please feel free to contact her at perinewman@yahoo.com or pnewman@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.
Jennifer Owlett headshot

Jennifer Owlett Communication Consultant,

Dr. Jennifer Owlett is currently a Volunteer Professional Development Coordinator for the American Red Cross (National Headquarters – Disaster Cycle Services). She is also pursuing a graduate certificate in Learning Design and Technologies at Arizona State University. Prior to these roles, Jen worked as a Communication professor and has taught at the University of Delaware, Purdue University, and William Paterson University. She earned a Honors B.A. from Penn State in 2008. To connect with Jen, please contact her through jowlett@gmail.com.
Matthew Popek headshot

Matthew Popek Transportation Planning Assistant Manager II, Montgomery County (PA) Planning Commission

Matthew Popek, AICP is the Transportation Planning Assistant Manager at the Montgomery County Planning Commission in Norristown, PA. He has worked at the MCPC for nearly 9 years and has been involved with right-of-way acquisition and construction oversight for multiple County-led projects, as well as Philadelphia regional transportation efforts including financial decisions and long-range planning. Matthew has a Master of Science degree in Community and Regional Planning from Temple University and a Bachelor of Science degree with Honors in Geography from Penn State (Class of 2009). Matthew can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @mpopek as well as LinkedIn.
David Rocchino headshot

David Rocchino Chairman, David S Rocchino Family Foundation

Bio forthcoming
Lisa Ruch headshot

Lisa Ruch Assistant Dean of Humanities and General Education and Professor of Humanities, Bay Path University (MA)

Assistant Dean of Liberal Studies and Professor of English and Communications at Bay Path University. M.A. in English from Indiana University, Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Penn State. I see my Honors degree at Penn State as one of the defining aspects of my life and career and want to give something back to the program.
Nikhil Shekher headshot

Nikhil Shekher Vice President (Investment Banking), Jefferies

Nik is the Technology Investment Banking Associate at Jefferies. He was preiously the VP of Sales at DBC, Inc. after working at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch in the Investment Banking division. He earned a BS in Finance with Honors from Penn State in 2016. Please feel free to contact Nik at njshekher@gmail.com.
Steve Swart headshot

Steve Swart General Counsel, rand* Corporation

Steve is the Corporate Counsel at rand* Construction Corporation in Alexandria, Virginia where he manages company risk and oversees the legal function. Before joining rand* in October 2023, Steve worked as a construction and litigation attorney for Williams Mullen and Venable LLP. Steve earned BAs in Jounalism (with Honors) and Political Science from Penn State in 2005, and a JD from George Mason University in 2009.
Leena Wardeh headshot

Leena Wardeh Medical Student, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

Leena Wardeh (she/her) is a current first year medical student at Thomas Jefferson’s Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Philadelphia PA. She is currently working towards her MD degree. She graduated with Honors from Penn State in May of 2024 with a major in Biology and a minor in Anthropology. Feel free to connect with Leena via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leena-wardeh-648376226?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
Schreyer Scholar Jackie Zheng

I really enjoy being around other Scholars and focusing on things that don’t necessarily get brought up on a daily basis. For example, we’ve talked about Afghanistan and refugees and mental illness. It’s really nice how Scholars come together and talk about ideas. Everyone just respects each other. Everyone just wants to support each other and push each other, making sure everyone is doing their best.

Jackie Zheng ' 24 Architecture