2000's

2000s

Shereen Abdel Kader '08 Ph.D., C&I assistant professor of early childhood education at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis, MO, recently received the 2009 Heartspring Award for Innovation and Creativity in Special Education.

A recent press release stated, "Shereen has a vision and a dream about creativity in the world and hopes the day will soon come when creativity is recognized and highly appreciated in all aspects of life, especially in education. She believes that creativity should be perceived as a natural right for all humans and that children with special needs are uniquely creative, which must be considered when planning educational programs and services to maximize their potential.

Originally from Egypt, Shereen served as an assistant professor at Kindergarten Teachers’ College at Cairo University and later joined the faculty as an assistant professor of Early Childhood Education at the Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis in August 2007. She received her Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University in May 2008. Shereen’s thesis research focused on enhancing creative behavioral expressions in school systems. She is leading a new school reform that calls for “Education for Creativity Rather Than Education for Achievement.” Currently, Shereen is in the process of establishing a Center for Creativity at Harris-Stowe that will model her groundbreaking ideas and put them into practice.

E-mail: shereenkader@gmail.com (June 2009)

Naif H. Al-Romi '01 Ph.D. EDTHP has been appointed Deputy Minister for Educational Development for Saudi Arabia. (August 2006)

Brian Beabout '08 Ph.D. INSYS coordinated a research conference entitled "Five Years of Post-Katrina Reform," in New Orleans in September. The 3-day meeting is to take stock of the educational changes in storm-impacted communities and to look forward to the next 5 years of post-Katrina educational research. Email: bbeabout@uno.edu (July 2010)

Jennifer Black ’01 B.S. EK ED is a 6th grade teacher at Bellefonte Middle School in Bellefonte, PA. She married her high school sweetheart and boyfriend of nine years the summer of 2003. E-mail: jab425@psualum.com (September 2006)

Curtis Brower '00 B.S. EK ED is now working as an Assistant Principal at Hunter G/T Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh, NC. He is married to Allison Brower and they have two children: Andrew, who is 3 years old, and Caroline, who is 6 months old. Curtis is currently pursuing an Ed.D. degree from NCSU. E-mail: cbrower2@wcpss.net (December 2008)

Anthony Calvano '04 B.S. EK ED is engaged and still playing professional soccer with the Harrisburg City Islanders. In the off-season, he substitute teaches and tutors. He endorses a health drink called "Go Chi" and their energy drink "Chi 3 Energy." E-mail: aacally@yahoo.com (January 2009)

Bradley Cox '10 Ph.D. HI ED is currently an assistant professor of higher education in the department of educational leadership and policy studies at Florida State University. He was recently named an Emerging Scholar by the Association of College Personnel Administrators (ACPA). The Emerging Scholars Program honors and supports individuals with an early record of scholarship and who show potential for future contributions to scholarship in student affairs and higher education. ACPA is one of the two leading associations of college student affairs professionals in the U.S. (January 13)

Lisa A. Draper '02 Ph.D. C&I is currently teaching Grade 7 World Geography at Nitschmann Middle School in Bethlehem, Pa. She serves as an adjunct professor in the College of Education for both Moravian College and DeSales University. She also serves as a coordinator for National Geographic Action! for the state of Pennsylvania. (February 2010)

Rosemarie Dugi '08 Ph.D. SPLED was selected to receive the 2009-2010 Outstanding Faculty of the Year Award from the College of Education at Montana State University-Billings. Students prepare the nominations and the winners are selected by faculty members. Rose is the youngest faculty member for the second year in a row to receive such an honor. (May 2010)

Jacob Easley II '04 Ph.D. EDLDR is an associate professor of Educational Leadership at Mercy College in New York. Jacob recently released a new book "The Audacity to Teach! The Impact of Leadership, School Reform, and the Urban Context on Educational Innovations." E-mail: jeasley@mercy.edu (December 2010)

Molly Clark Elton, '04 M.Ed. HIED Molly (Clark) Elton and Nathan J. Elton, ('04 M.Ed. CN ED College Student Personnel) were married on June 7, 2008 at the Centre Furnace Mansion in State College, PA. Nathan and Molly both work at Oberlin College; Molly is in the Office of Admissions and Nathan works in the Office of Career Services. (July 2008)

Jane Ferris '02 B.S. SECED was recently named as the first national "American Pioneer of Teaching" by the National Coalition for Public School Options (NCPSO). The organization is an alliance of parents that supports and defends parents' rights to access the best public school options for their children. Jane is employed at the Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School in West Chester, PA E-mail: janelmatthews@aol.com (May 2009)

Leslie E. Coleman Gentzyel '04 B.S. SECED Leslie (Coleman) Gentzyel is teaching biology and general science at York Suburban High School, York, PA. She married Brian Gentzyel in August of 2004. They welcomed their first child, Brayden, in July 2005. E-mail: lesliecoleman04@yahoo.com (February 2007)

Keri Cooney '03 B.S. EK ED is teaching 6th grade at Fort LeBoeuf Middle School. She also started a high school girls' golf team (after playing golf for PSU for 4 years). Married Rob Cooney ('01 Plastics Engineering- PS Behrend) in 2004. E-mail: rkcooney04@yahoo.com (November 2006)

Julie Dryburgh Gardner '03 B.S. SECED is a biology teacher in the Altoona School District. She married Daniel Gardner on July 1, 2006. Daniel also graduated from Penn State in 2003. E-mail: jad208@hotmail.com (April 2008)

Ruben Flores '00 M.Ed. ADTED is the Director of Residence Life at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ. E-mail: rcflores@fdu.edu (January 2009)

Scott A. French '00 B.S. REHAB Services currently works for people with disabilities in a residential program. He has been married for just over a year and he and his wife are expecting their first child in June 2007. E-mail: sfrench49@yahoo.com (January 2007)

Andrea Fürer '00 B.S. EK ED is currently teaching at an elite private school in Zürich, Switzerland (August 2006)

Mary Jo Galati Hutchinson '01 B.S. EK ED was recently selected "Teacher of the Year" for Burlington County (NJ) in the Delran Township School District. Mary Jo did her student teaching with the Professional Development School (PDS) partnership with the State College Area School District. She is also past president of the PDS Alumni Interest Group which is part of the College of Education's Alumni Society. E-mail: maryjohutch@yahoo.com (June 2009)

Amanda L. Gifford '04 B.S. EK ED; B.A. Journalism works for ESPN Radio and served as moderator for the "Monday Conversation" with Bob Costas, October 2, 2006 at Schwab Auditorium. E-mail: amanda6913@aol.com (September 2006)

Paula Granese Husar, '00 M.Ed. INSYS ( '86-HHD) has been selected as the new principal for the Chichester Middle School (Grades 5 through 8) for the Chichester School District - Boothwyn, PA. (May 2007)

Reynol Junco '02 Ph.D. CN ED is a faculty member at Lock Haven University. He recently received media attention regarding his research on social media, specifically Twitter. An article featuring his research appeared in the Chronicle of Higher Education: chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/tweeting-students-earn-higher-grades-than-others-in-classroom-experiment/28172. His Twitter research was also featured in Mashable that also includes a video made by one of his students: mashable.com/2010/11/04/twitter-student-engagement/. E-mail: rey.junco@gmail.com (December 2010)

Joshua A. Kirby '07 M.Ed. EDPSY; '10 Ph.D. INSYS is an assistant professor with the Ohio State University Extension in Columbus, OH. He is Ohio's Extension Specialist for 4-H Older Youth and Camping. He supports, through research, teaching, and service, the 4-H professionals and volunteers who deliver teen-oriented or camp-based programs across Ohio's 88 counties and 14 4-H camps. E-mail: kirby.159@osu.edu (February 2012)

Jason E. Lane '03 Ph.D. HI ED is a professor of education at the University at Albany. Jason was recently named the prestigious 2009-2010 Fulbright New Century Scholar. For more information, please visit: www.albany.edu/news/release_6477.php E-mail: jlane@albany.edu (June 2009)

Yan Li '03 Ph.D. WF ED has been promoted to Manager of Business Practices in the Asia/Pacific Region of Caterpillar University (June 2006)

Marcus Lingenfelter '03 M.Ed. HI ED recently completed the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Institute for Educational Management (IEM). The IEM program, now in its 40th year, is designed for the most senior-level administrators to examine critical leadership issues at colleges and universities. Marcus is currently the Vice President for Advancement at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. (August 2008)

Eric G. Lovik, '10 Ph.D. HI ED was awarded the Dissertation of the Year by the Dalton Institute on College Student Values at Florida State University at the February 2011 annual meeting. Eric will receive a cash award and forthcoming publication of his dissertation in an article in the September issue of the Journal of College and Character. The College and Character Clearinghouse will also feature an interview with him to be posted on their website. (May 2011)

Melissa Lynch Berkowitz '01 B.S. SPLED has recently married and accepted a full-time teaching position in Yardley, PA. E-mail: melispsu@yahoo.com (August 2006)

Joseph A. Mazza, Jr. '00 B.S. EKED (Spanish) is now a 6th year elementary school principal in Lansdale, PA. In May 2013, Joe will graduate with a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. Before graduation, his inquiry team of 10 will travel to Helsinki, Finland for a week to study their #1 education system through the lenses of students, teachers, parents, and leaders. His team will be keeping others around the world engaged in their own learning with a daily blog at: http://www.pennfinn13.wordpress.com. They will be keeping a hashtag through the week at #pennfinn13.
E-mail: psumazza@gmail.com (March 2013)

Jennifer A. McIntyre '05 B.S EK ED was named New Teacher of the Year at Beech Tree Elementary School in Falls Church, VA. E-mail: mcintyre.jennifer@gmail.com (May 2006)

Rebecca Morris '00 B.S. EK ED earned her Masters of Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Science in 2004. She is a memeber of the College of Education Alumni Board of Directors. E-mail: rmorris@dlsd.k12.pa.us (November 2006)

Gregory H. Miller '02 M.Ed. C&I was elected Class of 2009 Teacher of the Year at the Fox Chapel Area High School. The Teacher of the Year is elected by the senior class. Gregory, who is in his seventh year at Fox Chapel, is one of the youngest teachers to receive the award. (June 2009)

Jesse M. O'Neil '01 B.S. SECED has been recognized with the New Jersey Teacher of the Year Award by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. O'Neil teaches history at Warren Hills Regional High School in Washington Township, New Jersey. (August 2006)

Scott Perrotte, '00 B.S. SECED (Social Studies) has been teaching for six years since graduating from PSU. He spent 5 years teaching in the Charlotte metro area in North Carolina. He and his wife Lindsay moved to a suburb of Toledo, OH last year, and currently holds a teaching position in Maumee City Schools. Scott is currently working towards a Masters of Arts in Military History. E-mail: Sperrotte@buckeye-express.com (July 2007)

Rene Quesada-Inces '01 Ph.D. C&I Bilingual Ed. retired last year as Regional English advisor for the Ministry of Public Educatioin in Costa Rica and part time teaching in higher education. At present, is teaching EFL part-time at the Costa Rican North American Cultural Center. E-mail: reneinces@costarricense.cr (March 2008)

William Reusch '05 B.S. SECED is teaching at a public charter in the Los Angeles area. He has taught world & US history, geography, economics, government, and life skills. He has written his own course in sociology entitled "American Social Issues" which was recently approved by the University of California standards as an accredited course.  E-mail: breusch@hotmail.com (May 2009)

Carrie Rodas '00 B.S. EK ED has spent the last five years in Guatemala teaching elementary school, and recently was on hand for Penn State's volleyball wins against Minnesota and Wisconsin. E-mail: cschonveld@yahoo.com (October 2006)

Gail Romig '01 B.S. EK ED Third grade teacher at Park Forest Elementary School is among 85 teachers - and one of just two from Pennsylvania - chosen to receive the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The recognition comes with a $10,000 award and a trip to Washington D.C. Gail previously received the Penn State College of Education Alumni Society's Outstanding New Graduate award in 2004. E-mail: GMR12@scasd.org (May 2011)

Katherine Rountree '09 B.S. EK ED, a former Professional Development Schools (PDS) intern, is a 2nd grade teacher at the Graham Road Elementary School in Falls Church, Va. Katherine was recently highlighted by the Department of Education's "Doing What Works" section of their website. The video, in which she demonstrates a strategy for teaching young readers, can be viewed here: dww.ed.gov/Reading-Comprehension/Teach-Comprehension-Strategies/see/index.cfm E-mail: kar5058@gmail.com (September 2011)

Kenneth Sagan '01 B.S. WF ED is the Program Manager Energy and Green Building in Washington, D.C. As an expert in building codes and energy conservation, Ken has been working on federal legislation for the last three years and is one of approximately 35 people nationwide that focus on the energy efficiency of homes. He has advised Senator Bingaman, Waxman, Snowe, Markey, Lieberman and others in regard to this important initiative. He helped draft the Home Start program currently on the Senate floor, and worked closely with the Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection Energy. (November 2010)

Debra Sagan '01 B.S. WF ED employed by the National Association of Home Builders Research Center, Upper Marlboro, MD. She is the coordinator of a program funded by the US Dept of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency engaged in energy efficiency within the housing industry. (November 2010)

Kristine Sexton '01 B.S. SECED Social Studies has fulfilled a dream of switching coasts and left a tenured high school social studies position in Ridgefield Park, NJ in 2005 to take on a position at Monte Vista High School in the San Francisco Bay area of California. E-mail: stormkloud@hotmail.com (January 2007)

Brooke R. Smith '04 B.S. EK ED is currently serving in the Peace Corps. E-mail: starcamping@hotmail.com (August 2006)

Ji Hoon Song '08 Ph.D. WF ED received the Outstanding Assistant Professor Award from the University Council of Workforce and Human Resource Education at the annual summer meeting in June in Columbus, Ohio. Ji Hoon is an assistant professor at Oklahoma State University. His specialty area is human resource and organizational development. (July 2012)

David Tandberg '07 Ph.D. HI ED has been awarded the Outstanding Dissertation in the Politics Education honor for 2006-07. The Politics of Education Association is a Special Interest Group of the American Educational Research Association.  The study was entitled "Politics, Budgetary Trade-offs, and Public Funding of Higher Education." He will be honored at the up-coming AERA conference in New York City in March. (March 2008)

Bulent Tarman '06 Ph.D. C&I was the 2008 recipient of the Penn State Alumni Association sponsored Alumni Achievement Awards. He has authored a new book entitled "The European Union and the Modernization of the Turkish Educaton System." For more information, visit:
http://www.cambriapress.com/books/9781604975451.cfm. E-mail: tarman@yscp.org (November 2008)

Joseph M. Tokarsky '01 B.S. SECED is teaching physics and math at Richland High School in Johnstown, PA. E-mail: jtokarsky@richlandsd.com (August 2006)

Jeff R. Tranell '00 B.S. EK ED Married Jennifer Bauer, July 22, 2006. Son, Nathaniel Robert born on April 9, 2008. Jeff teaches 6th grade at Park Forest Middle School. Jen teaches 1st grade at Panorama Village Elementary School, both in the State College Area School District. E-mail: tranells@verizon.net (January 2009)

Matthew T. Welch '02 B.S. SECED The NPBTS announced in December 2007 that Matthew has achieved National Board Certification. He is currently a math teacher at the Quaker Valley High School in Leetsdale, PA. E-mail: psugrad02@comcast.net (December 2007)

David R. Williard '04 M.Ed. ADTED Recently accepted a position as Postal Training Specialist at the U.S.P.S. National Center for Employee Development in Norman, Oklahoma where he will be training postal electronic technicians in the installation and maintenance of advance computer-operated mail sorting equipment. E-mail: davewilliard@yahoo.com (April 2007) 

Courtney M. Wozetek '04 M.Ed. CN ED. Courtney Kaufman and Ken Wozetek wed on July 8, 2006 in Eisenhower Chapel on the Penn State campus. Note: Ken is also a PSU alum, 2004 in Engineering. E-mail: courtney@psualum.com (January 2007)