Alumni Notes

2009 • Media Studies

Rachel Guldin, Ph.D.

coauthored the book “Language Arts in Action: Engaging Secondary Students with Journalistic Strategies“ (Norton Professional Books).

The book presents an instructional model based on journalism skills that taps into student agency to develop communication skills.

Guldin, an assistant professor at Denison University, earned her bachelor's degree at Penn State in media studies in 2009 and her master's degree in 2011.

Note posted: August 21, 2023

1995 • Broadcast/Cable

John Myers

is the co-founder of Rowhome Productions. He recently partnered with Philadelphia radio station WXPN to produce the premier season of the "Artist to Watch," podcast which tells the stories of five Black artists in country music.

Note posted: August 20, 2023

2023 • Broadcast Journalism

Luke Dreyer

accepted a position at abc27 WHTM-TV as a news photographer/editor.

Note posted: August 20, 2023

2015 • Telecommunications

Adam Conklin

is a new business team lead at AssetMark, based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Note posted: August 20, 2023

2006 • Film-Video

Tyler H. Walk

has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) under the documentary branch.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences extended invitations to 398 distinguished artists and executives to join the organization in 2023. Membership selection is based on professional qualifications, with an ongoing commitment to representation, inclusion and equity.

"The Academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership. They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines, and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide," said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang."

Note posted: July 02, 2023

1981 • Print Journalism

Rich Scarcella

was inducted into the Berks County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2023 class.

In addition, he won a first-place award for sports event/breaking news coverage in the 2023 Keystone Media Awards writing contest for his work in the Reading Eagle. He also won first place for feature writing in the 2022 Football Writers' Association of America writing contest for his piece on former Penn State player Adam Taliaferro.

Note posted: June 03, 2023

2012 • Print Journalism

Jocelyn Brumbaugh

was promoted to senior digital curator on Hearst Television's national desk, which is based at WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh.

Note posted: May 02, 2023

1985 • Mass Communication

Bernard A. Oravec

was named general sales manager at Seven Mountains Media

Note posted: March 15, 2023

2017 • Broadcast Journalism

Kathleen Ritter

was hired as the player and media relations coordinator for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Note posted: February 09, 2023

1988 • Broadcast/Cable

John Shaffer

works as a nationwide anchor for USA News (USAMediaGroup.com).

He writes and anchors news updates ad the top and bottom of the hour for affiliates across the country, and can be heard from 4 to 8 p.m. ET Monday to Wednesday and again from 1 to 3 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.

USA News is based in Dallas. Shaffer works from a studio in Las Vegas.

Note posted: January 13, 2023

1983 • Broadcast Journalism

Susan Sheaffer Rickens

retired as the director of marketing for Commonwealth Media Services after 31 years of service in state government. She is a former Emmy Award-winning broadcast and radio news producer/reporter. She served 10 years on the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications Alumni Board.

Note posted: January 10, 2023

2022 • Broadcast Journalism

Dale Ostrander

has joined WSTM, WSTQ and WTVH in Syracuse, New York, as a multimedia journalist.

Note posted: January 06, 2023

2015 • Advertising/Public Relations

Danielle Schall

accepted a position as international communications manager at UPMC.

Note posted: November 28, 2022

2009 • Journalism

Alexandra E. Petri

covers trends and breaking news for the Los Angeles Times.

She previously covered live news at the New York Times. A two-time reporting fellow with the International Women’s Media Foundation, she graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism and international studies.

Note posted: November 21, 2022

2001 • Journalism

Jason Fagone

was awarded first place in this year's Best American Newspaper Narrative contest.

Fagone, a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, was honored for "The Jessica Simulation," a longform story about a freelance writer who created an A.I.-powered chatbot to replicate the voice of his deceased fiancee.

The award was given as part of the annual Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, a prestigious event for writers hosted in Dallas by the University of North Texas. Its writing contests award cash prizes and publishing opportunities for authors of book manuscripts, unpublished essays and longform journalism.

Note posted: November 15, 2022

2012 • Print Journalism

Lynn Schoof

is the communications manager at Via of the Lehigh Valley, marking her second job in the non-profit sector since 2016.

Relying on skills learned in college, Schoof is committed to telling the stories of the lives impacted by the services Via provides to those with disabilities in the Lehigh Valley community.

Note posted: November 14, 2022

1990 • Journalism

Patrick Evans

was promoted to the rank of captain in the United States Navy. Currently, he serves as the Navy’s Deputy Chief of Information (CHINFO) in the Pentagon.

Note posted: November 06, 2022

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