Alumni Notes

2004 • Broadcast JournalismMass Communication

Jeanine Larson

was hired as a communications manager for RDO in Fargo, N.D. Founded in 1968, RDO Equipment Co. sells and supports agriculture, construction, environmental, positioning, surveying and irrigation equipment from manufacturers including John Deere, Vermeer, and Topcon. With more than 75 locations across the United States, including partnerships in Russia, Ukraine, and Australia, RDO Equipment Co. is a total solutions provider.

Note posted: October 25, 2022

1999 • Journalism

John Curley

, an honorary alumnus, was named as the 2022 recipient of Omicron Delta Kappa's Pillars of Leadership Award in Communications.

Curley is a 1958 initiate of the Dickinson College Circle (chapter) Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK). In addition to being a collegiate initiate of ODK, he is a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. After earning his baccalaureate degree from Dickinson, Curley completed a master's degree from Columbia University.

He was a professor, distinguished professional in residence, and founding co-director of the Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State. The center was later renamed in his honor as the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism.

Previously, Curley was the first editor of USA Today. Curley was also the head of Gannett News Service, during which time the news service won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. He retired from Gannett as chairman in January 2001 after more than 30 years with the company.

During that time, Curley served as an editor at the Rochester Times-Union in Rochester, New York; as editor and later publisher of the Courier-News in Bridgewater, New Jersey; and later as the publisher of the News-Journal in Wilmington, Delaware. In May 1996, he was selected as chairman of the Newspaper Association of America.

Note posted: October 17, 2022

2014 • Advertising/Public Relations

Rachel Steinberg

is the marketing manager for league and team partnerships at FanDuel.

She is an experienced sports marketing and partnerships professional currently managing league and team partnerships at FanDuel.

Prior to FanDuel, she worked in marketing and partnerships for multiple NBA teams and started her career on the sports marketing agency side. Previous NBA team career stops include managing digital partnerships for the New York Knicks at MSG, partnership strategy at the Brooklyn Nets and marketing at the Philadelphia 76ers.

She started her career at Octagon, a premier sports marketing agency assisting the BMW and LG electronics accounts.

Note posted: October 10, 2022

2016 • Advertising/Public Relations

Katie Blitz

is an account director for BerlinRosen.

Since graduating from Penn State, she has worked in public relations roles across industries including media, technology, sports, cities, higher education and real estate. Currently at BerlinRosen, a public relations agency, she works with clients shaping the future of cities and higher education.

Previously, she worked at DKC and Meredith Corporation (for Entertainment Weekly and Food & Wine magazines).

Note posted: October 10, 2022

2020 • Advertising/Public Relations

Allison Wulfhorst

is an event coordinator at the Centre Foundation.

Since graduating from Penn State, she has stepped into a public relations and communications role at a local Centre County nonprofit, Centre Foundation. After attending Penn State, she fell in love with the area and wanted to make a difference in the local community.

At the Centre Foundation, she does so by communicating and engaging with local nonprofits, donors and the community.

Note posted: October 10, 2022

1999 • Advertising/Public Relations

Tom Resau

is a director of communications for security, compliance, identity, management and privacy for Microsoft.

He has more than 20 years of experience as a strategic communicator, primarily in the technology industry on issues including cybersecurity, privacy, and risk management. He currently serves as Director of Communications for Microsoft's Security, Compliance, Identity, Management & Privacy product division.

Prior to Microsoft, He was a Senior Vice President at W2 Communications, an integrated marketing and communications firm, where he led the cybersecurity and privacy practice representing clients around the world and leading media relations, content development, events, crisis communication and other activities building brands and trust in competitive markets.

He previously led public relations activities for the technology, intellectual property and regulatory practices at global law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP and served on the corporate communications team at Symantec, where he was responsible for the company’s public relations programs reaching the U.S. government, energy, financial services, healthcare and other vertical sectors.

After graduating from Penn State, he began his PR career at Merritt Group, working in the agency's cybersecurity and enterprise software account teams.

Note posted: October 10, 2022

2016 • Advertising/Public Relations

Scott Nulty

is the government relations manger for Shield AI.

The defense technology company is building the world's best AI pilot. He works closely with elected officials to deliver next-generation AI and autonomy capabilities to the Department of Defense and our service members.

Prior to joining Shield AI, Nulty served as the top military adviser to U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a senior member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and the former Chairman, now Ranking Member, of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Nulty also served in a similar capacity for U.S. Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson.

Nulty's experience in both chambers of Congress provides a unique perspective of Capitol Hill and allowed him to usher numerous pieces of legislation through Congress that were signed into law.

He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College, was born and raised West Chester, Pa., He resides in Arlington, Va.

Note posted: October 10, 2022

1974 • Journalism

Steve Lampert

is the advisor for Lampert Public Affairs LLC.

He is an independent public affairs adviser and consultant, specializing in strategic public affairs and communications planning and execution. His career began in various public affairs leadership positions at Weightman Advertising and PR, Aramark Services, Gino's Corporation and Delaware County government. In 1987 he joined AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals in Wilmington, and for nearly 24 years, held senior-level corporate affairs positions.

In this role, he directed a department of 25 employees who developed strategic, proactive and issues management plans for the company and its major products in the cardiovascular, mental health, oncology, diabetes, respiratory and gastrointestinal therapeutic areas.

He was also responsible for leading strategic planning for the company's corporate affairs leadership team, which included corporate communications, advocacy relations, community relations and government affairs. His career accomplishments include the creation and development of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Prostate Cancer Awareness Week programs, which raised public awareness of both diseases and saved thousands of lives through early detection.

He was also responsible for instituting on-site cancer screenings at his company in 1991. He went on to testify about workplace screenings in Washington, D.C.

Following, he led nationwide corporate efforts to counsel companies to establish on-site screening programs. He has served as a 10-year adviser to the National Pharmaceutical Council and is a frequent guest lecturer and panel member at industry and communications meetings. He serves on a number of boards and is an active member of the Public Relations Society of America.

He is also engaged in numerous community service and school projects in his hometown of West Chester, Pennsylvania, and Ocean City, Maryland. He is an avid reader, traveler, sports enthusiast and beach-goer with his wife and their two daughters.

Note posted: October 10, 2022

2007 • Advertising/Public Relations

Becky Kitlan

is the vice president, creative director, GALE Agency.

Since graduating from Penn State, Kilan has gained 15 years of experience and leadership in the advertising/marketing world. Specializing in digital transformation, she’s worked on award-winning campaigns for global brands such as Google, Smirnoff, Gucci, Project RED, Verizon and more.

She’s excited and motivated by the ever-changing dynamic between consumers and the brands that fight for their attention. She’s dedicated to changing the way people perceive the digital space with innovative ideas that help redefine culture.

At GALE she's the agency’s creative lead on Chipotle, Hard Rock and Hertz. When she’s not making things, you can find her biking through the streets of Brooklyn.

Note posted: October 10, 2022

1983 • Advertising/Public Relations

Kathy DeGrandi Heasley

is the founder and president of HEASLEY&PARTNERS Inc.

She is the creator of Heart & Mind® Branding, a business builder, speaker and author. She was the driving force behind the growth of Cold Stone Creamery and many other heart-based brands people love.

With her, business leaders achieve exceptional results by building winning brands and strong cultures. An accomplished senior executive, entrepreneur, advisor, and thought leader with decades of success in business development, communications, marketing, brand building, public relations, publishing, video, content development,

She has worked with diverse companies and people. Franchising, consumer products, financial services, hospitality, tech, manufacturing, real estate, healthcare, government, political, beauty, fitness, wellness are among the industries in her experience arsenal.

Clients find her diversity an asset because she readily sees the patterns in a business and can apply the best practices laterally. The result is exceptional creativity. Her methods are featured in Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul and Midas Touch, by Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki. Kathy graduated from Penn State University with a BA in Advertising.

In 2019, she was named a Penn State Alumni Fellow, the most prestigious award given by the 700,000-member Penn State Alumni Association. She serves as president of the Penn State AD/PR Alumni Board for the university’s top-ranked Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, and is a regular guest lecturer in the classroom.

She is a member of the college’s Alumni Society Board and the Carnegie Society. She served as an advisory board member at Grand Canyon University's Executive MBA Program under the direction of Ken Blanchard and as a business plan panel judge at Thunderbird’s Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship. Kathy is also a repeat speaker at ASU’s Center for Services Leadership Symposium.

She was named a Woman of Achievement in 2017 by In Business Magazine, in 2012 was one of the Top 25 Women in Business by the Phoenix Business Journal and an Athena Award nominee. Before founding her firm in 1994, Kathy worked with Coca-Cola, Ryland Homes, Exxon, Dr Pepper, and B2B firms in finance, insurance, and technology.

Through that she realized the power of heart and has made her mark trumpeting that emotion moves people to action by speaking on "heart" around the world. Her record of results demonstrates the effectiveness of connecting emotional triggers with business practices (Heart with Mind). Best of all, she gives business leaders a process to make it happen in their companies.

Note posted: October 10, 2022

1997 • Mass Communication

Lauren Connolly

is the global chief creative and experience officer for Mercedes Benz Team X.

She joined BBDO New York in 2000 as a copywriter and has gone from writing for global accounts to leading them. She has won and judged most major awards. She was twice named one of “The Most Creative Women in Advertising” by Business Insider. She was named AdAge’s “40 under 40” and Adweek’s “Young and Influential 20 Under 40,” and was an honoree at the inaugural MAKERS conference. In 2014, she was inducted into the prestigious Advertising Hall of Achievement.

She is a founding member of BBDO’s Diversity Council, the Women in Leadership committee and has created work such as “Put Her On the Map,” an effort to memorialize female role models.

Note posted: October 10, 2022

2006 • Advertising/Public Relations

Tara Smith

is the graduate program director and instructor for Department of Communication at University of Delaware.

She is currently a full-time instructor for the University of Delaware’s Department of Communication and Director of the M.A. in Strategic Communication program. Prior to her transition into higher education, she lived and worked in New York City at the headquarters of NBCUniversal News Group, Time Warner Inc., and Ketchum.

Outside the office, she is an active member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), where she also earned the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) credential. She currently serves as the President PRSA Delaware and is a member of PRSA’s National APR Marketing Committee.

Throughout her career, she has gained recognition from notable industry awards, including the CLIOs, SABREs, and the coveted PRSA Silver Anvil Award. She was also selected as PR Week Magazine’s 2006 Student of the Year during her senior year at Penn State.

She earned her M.S. in public relations and corporate communication from New York University with distinction.

She lives in Delaware with her husband and two young children, also known as “Team Smith” among family and friends. When not at home, the family can be found in one of their two happy places: Rehoboth Beach and Disney World.

Note posted: October 10, 2022

2008 •

Suzanne Schulner

is the account executive for Game Show Network.

She has worked at CNN, MGM Studios and now Game Show Network, all in advertising sales roles. Her role requires her to partner with agencies and advertisers to help meet their marketing objectives while simultaneously keeping their return on investment high.

Note posted: October 10, 2022

2010 • Advertising/Public Relations

Gladys Charity

is a merchant for The Home Depot

Charity worked on behalf of The Coca-Cola Company, MARS-Wrigley and Subway Restaurants during her time working in New York City for various media agencies. After relocating to Atlanta, she joined The Home Depot to work in their marketing department, driving sales for the largest home improvement retailer in the United States.

She has since moved into Home Depot's merchandising department, as an associate merchant focusing on buying products and identifying strategies to drive sales via e-commerce.

Note posted: October 10, 2022

1992 • Broadcast/Cable

Ellen Kelley

started working as an information specialist at the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, the largest chamber in the Tampa Bay region, on Jan. 3, 2022.

Note posted: October 06, 2022

2013 • Journalism

Pete Floyd

works as a marketing and business development specialist for the Walz Group, a CPA firm in Lancaster, Pa.

Note posted: September 26, 2022

2000 • Broadcast Journalism

James Berry

is the vice president, content and programming, for Townsquare Media in New York City.

In that role he works with leaders and talent in 75 U.S. cities, representing 350 radio stations, sites and apps to create content that entertains and informs people across multiple platforms.

Note posted: September 26, 2022

2011 • Print Journalism

Nicole Guven

was promoted to assistant product manager at IG Design Group Americas.

Note posted: September 26, 2022

2003 • Telecommunications

Joel Molinsky

was promoted to director II at ESPN. He's the lead director of all Baseball Tonight coverage for the third year, including MLB All-Star, Draft and World Series coverage.

Note posted: September 22, 2022

2014 • Journalism

Alex Walker

joined WFTV in Orlando, Florida, as sports anchor.

He covers UCF, Florida, the Orlando Magic, Orlando City (MLS), the Orlando Pride, Daytona, the PGA Tour and a bit of NFL from time to time in Tampa.

After graduation in 2014, Alex worked as a sports anchor at KCAU-TV in Sioux City, Iowa. He also worked as a sports anchor at WITN-TV in Greenville, N.C, before moving to the Bluegrass State to work as a sports anchor for WKYT-TV in Lexington, Ky., prior to EFTV.

Note posted: September 19, 2022