Meet the Team

Chris Skurka is an assistant professor in the Department of Media Studies in the Bellisario College. Skurka studies the design and effects of persuasive media messages about environmental, health, and science issues. He is passionate about promoting not only personal behaviors to address sustainability issues but collective and political actions that can put pressure on policymakers to bring about meaningful change from the top down.

Gary A. Abdullah has worked at Penn State for over 15 years and currently serves as the Assistant Dean of Diversity & Inclusion in the Bellisario College. No matter what hat he may be wearing at the time, he considers it his mission to help students, staff and faculty navigate the lessons of life, and not only survive but thrive at Penn State.

Lee Ahern is an associate professor of advertising and public relations in the Bellisario College. He is the director of the Science Communication Program and a senior research fellow at the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication. He is the past chair of the International Environmental Communication Association and past head of the Communication Science, Health, Environment, and Risk Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Shannon Brace is the events and special activities coordinator for the Bellisario College. From backyard composting to adopting a more “zero waste” lifestyle to reusable and efficient event supplies, Shannon is passionate about integrating sustainable practices in both her professional and personal life.

Ben Cramer is a teaching professor in the Department of Telecommunications and Media Industries. One of his research specialties is the environmental impact of modern telecommunications networks. He has expertise in environmental law and developed a capstone-level course on Telecommunications and the Environment. He is the author of seven books about Pennsylvania hiking trails and has served on the board of directors for Keystone Trails Association and the Pennsylvania Chapter of Sierra Club.

With Bellisario College personnel located in several buildings across campus, occupying hundreds of thousands of square feet of office space and laboratories, Karen Mozley-Bryan provides forward-thinking and level-headed leadership for the team that maintains and upgrades those facilities. A former Lion Ambassador as an undergraduate student at Penn State, she brings a valuable student focus to her work.

Megan Pietruszewski Norman is a Ph.D. student in the mass communications program. She studies strategic environmental communication; specifically, how visuals and technological affordances can be used to help communicate about environmental risks and crises. She believes people can find joy connecting to nature, food, and others through community. Megan enjoys gardening, biking and exploring the outdoors.

Juliet Pinto, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Journalism in the Bellisario College and a co-funded faculty member in the Institutes of Energy and the Environment. Her research focuses on environmental communication in international media, and her latest book, “Climate Change, Media and Culture: Critical Issues in Global Environmental Communication” was published by Emerald in 2020.

Cassandra Troy is a Ph.D. candidate in the mass communications program. Before coming to Penn State, she managed communications for a university sustainability office. Currently, she conducts research on strategic environmental communication, including how to effectively communicate about environmental solutions and encourage public support for collective pro-environmental action.

Maritza Smith is the administrative support assistant for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. She also supports recruitment efforts in the Bellisario College. Prior to working at Penn State, Maritza worked at a non-profit agency in New York City providing support and advocacy for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Maritza believes in inclusion opportunities and full equity for all diverse populations.