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.
Connect 2025

Event Schedule
Successful Scholar Alumni Alumni Bios
Learn more about the Scholar alumni attending this year's event.

Michael Appleman Director, Content Partnerships, NBCUniversal

Jennifer Ashman Principal, CX Amplified

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 Aerospace Engineer, NASA Ames Research Center

Stefanie Coyle Education Counsel, New York Civil Liberties Union

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

Henry Deteskey Associate, Seward & Kissel LLP
Learn more about me before the event by watching my episode of the Following the Gong podcast.

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

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

Olivia Francois Exam Developer, The National Restaurant Association

Asia Grant Founder and Creative Director, Redoux
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 Project Planning, Design & Construction Division Head, Penn State Applied Research Lab

Brian Harkless Cost Pillar Director, Naval Air Systems Command

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

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

Madelyn Hindman Graduate Student, Penn State School of Public Policy

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

Karah Hughes Administrative and Programs Coordinator, Centre Helps

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

Andrew Kreider Environmental Protection Specialist, U.S. EPA

Peri Newman Medical Student, Penn State College of Medicine

Jennifer Owlett Communication Consultant,

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

David Rocchino Chairman, David S Rocchino Family Foundation

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

Nikhil Shekher Vice President (Investment Banking), Jefferies

Steve Swart General Counsel, rand* Corporation
