The People of Penn State

The popular adventure reality television show, "The Amazing Race," is now in its 35th season...and one of the contestants is a Penn Stater! Alumnus Joe Moskowitz and his fiancé, Ian, started competing on the show in June of this year. Joe joined The People of Penn State Podcast to discuss his experiences on "The Amazing Race" so far, including being a long-time fan of the show, the application process, behind-the-scenes details, what it's like competing alongside his fiancé, and more. He also discussed his path to Penn State, majoring in Hospitality Management, and his professional role with Dealpath, a commercial real estate firm for data-driven investment decisions. Check out the video version of this conversation on our YouTube page. Connect with Joe on:InstagramLinkedIn----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookX (Twitter)InstagramLinkedInToday's episode is also our season two finale of The People of Penn State! We'll see you after the Thanksgiving holiday for season three, featuring plenty of more conversations with inspiring and impactful Penn Staters! We Are! 

Both a United States Field Hockey Hall of Fame and a National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, as well as an inductee of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Char Morett-Curtiss is a Penn State coaching legend.Having led Penn State Field Hockey for 36 seasons, she compiled 541 victories, eight Big Ten regular-season titles, seven Big Ten Coach of the Year honors, 30 NCAA Tournament appearances and six Final Four appearances. Char retired as the program's head coach this past spring, but her commitment to Penn State was far from over. She is now serving as an advisor for Penn State Athletics and the Chair of Teammates For Life.  Teammates For Life is a women’s athletics initiative created to celebrate, elevate and engage past, present and future women student-athletes at Penn State.Char was gracious enough to stop by The People of Penn State for an enlightening conversation on topics such as: - Competing at the 1984 Summer Olympics;- Her retirement from coaching;- The lessons she learned and shared with fellow Nittany Lion coaching legends such as Joe Paterno, Russ Rose and Erica Dambach;- Teammates For Life and its purpose;- The Penn State Field Hockey Complex being dedicated in her honor. Connect with Char on X.Follow Teammates For Life on:InstagramXYouTubeFacebookTikTokLinkedIn----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookX (Twitter)InstagramLinkedIn

On this episode of The People of Penn State, we speak with Katie McPeak, M.D. Katie is a primary care pediatrician and Medical Director for Health Equity of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She is also an associate professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Katie has extensive experience in quality improvement, system redesign, and primary care management in predominantly Medicaid-insured/underserved communities. During our conversation with Katie, she talked about her time at Penn State, her career, pediatric health care, health care disparities, the importance of trust between patients and physicians, and more. Connect with Katie:InstagramFacebookLinkedIn ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookX (Twitter)InstagramLinkedIn

Fans of Broadway and the hit Disney film series "Frozen" won't want to miss this episode of The People of Penn State, as we're joined by Broadway and Theatre Actress, Caroline Bowman '10! Caroline is currently starring in Disney’s "Frozen" North American Tour as the role of Elsa. Her Broadway credits include Elphaba in "Wicked" and Nicola in "Kinky Boots" (Opening and Closing cast). During our conversation with Caroline, she discussed being a part of the renowned musical theatre program at Penn State, why she wanted to pursue a career in acting, getting her start on Broadway, what it's like playing a character as popular as Elsa, working alongside her husband Austin Colby on stage, and more. She has been seen on tour and around the world in "Evita" (Eva Perón, Helen Hayes Award Nominee), "Spamalot" (Lady of the Lake), "Grease" (Rizzo), and "Fame - The China Tour" (Carmen). Caroline has also performed with multiple symphonies including the North Carolina Philharmonic, the Dayton Philharmonic and in numerous cabarets and concerts in and around New York City, including her own solo show. Having graduated from Penn State in 2010 with a BFA in musical theatre,  she was one one of 10 honorees to receive the University's 2014 Alumni Achievement Award, which recognizes alumni 35 years of age and younger for their extraordinary professional accomplishments.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Caroline through her website or on social media:InstagramXFacebook----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookX (Twitter)InstagramLinkedIn

Katie Taylor '07 is the Co-founder and CEO of Child Life On Call, a digital platform revolutionizing pediatric healthcare by putting parents at the center of the medical journey. With over 13 years of experience as a certified child life specialist, Katie has made significant contributions to the field of child life and the families she’s served with over a decade of working at the bedside. She is an accomplished author, an engaging speaker on child life and entrepreneurship, and the host of the Child Life On Call Podcast. Katie's work emphasizes the vital role of child life services in supporting caregivers and enhancing children's medical journeys.On episode 43 of The People of Penn State, Katie joined us to discuss how Penn State helped prepare her to become an entrepreneur and enter the “helping profession," the role of a child life specialist, and much more. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Katie and Child Life On Call on social media: FacebookX (Twitter)InstagramLinkedIn Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookX (Twitter)InstagramLinkedIn----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Timestamps0:00 — Intro1:42 — Welcoming Katie to the show2:57 — Becoming a Penn Stater3:48 — Involvement as a student, including being a member of the Lionettes Dance Team and participating in THON 5:41 — Initial career goals7:46 — Ad Read 1 - LionPerks 8:40 — How Penn State prepared Katie for her career in helping others10:21 — Katie's path to becoming a child life specialist 15:05 — What a child life specialist does 17:23 — How storytelling and imagination can help children cope with their illnesses18:56 — Growing as a professional/entrepreneur 24:15 — Ad Read 2 - Alumni Travel  Program24:55 — Child Life On Call Podcast information26:10 — Lightning Round Q&A, including Katie's favorite class at Penn State and Creamery flavor 30:50 — Outro 

On today's episode of The People of Penn State, we're pleased to be joined by Pennsylvania Secretary of Education, Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. For over 25 years, Dr. Mumin has served in various capacities as a teacher, dean of students, principal and central administrator. Most recently, Dr. Mumin served as the Superintendent of Schools at Lower Merion School District. Prior to Lower Merion, he was the Superintendent of Reading School District for seven years. Beginning as a Secondary English teacher in Scotland, Pennsylvania, in 1997, Dr. Mumin rose through the leadership ranks of the education system in Pennsylvania. Dr. Mumin is committed to promoting and sustaining student achievement, equity and access to educational programming for all students, as well as creating plans that are fiscally responsible. Dr. Mumin is also the author of the book "Problem Child: Leading Students Living in Poverty Towards Infinite Possibilities of Success."He earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Education in Teaching & Curriculum from Pennsylvania State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary English Education from Shippensburg University, and an Associate of Arts in English from Northeastern Christian Junior College.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Follow Dr.  Mumin on Twitter. Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0:00 — Intro0:50 — Welcoming Dr. Khalid N. Mumin to the show2:21 — How Dr. Mumin and Paul first got connected3:24 — Dr. Mumin's Penn State story 7:15 — Ad Read - Penn State Alumni Association Travel Program8:05 — Where a passion for education for began for Dr. Mumin13:26 — The importance of educators who care about their students15:23 — Career path in education 21:10 — Dr. Mumin's vision for education in Pennsylvania 24:15 — The commonalities amongst Pennsylvania schools in how they can improve 29:11 — Authoring a book34:33 — Being recognized as the 2021 Superintendent Of The Year 37:06 — Lightning Round Q&A, including a tidbit on Dr. Mumin's friendship with former NBA star Rasheed Wallace 44:25 — Outro  

Anand Ganjam (2015 – Finance) is the 83rd President of the Penn State Alumni Association and began his 2-year term as President on July 1, 2023. At the age of 30, he is the youngest President in the Association’s history.Professionally, Anand is a Strategy & Consulting Senior Manager with Accenture, where he focuses on helping large organizations navigate change and develop talent. As a student, Anand was involved in a number of student organizations and served as President of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) from 2014-2015. He has served on the Alumni Council since 2014.Anand is passionate about travel, personal finance, and of course – all things Penn State.Connect with Anand on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0:00 — Intro1:50 — Welcoming Anand to the show2:10 — How Anand became a Penn Stater4:23 — Involvement as a student6:20 — Experiences during time with the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA)9:09 — Initial career goals11:52 — Ad Read #1 - Alumni Association Chapters/Affiliate Groups12:55 — Working with Accenture to help organizations navigate change18:20 — Purpose behind serving Penn State19:56 — Vision as president of the Penn State Alumni Association23:41 — Passion for financial wellness and financial literacy 27:16 — Traveling around the world29:40 — Connection to the Alumni Association's FastStart Program 32:35 — Ad Read #2 - Alumni Association Travel Program33:17 — Lightning Round Q&A39:10 — Outro40:21 — Alma Mater

Hannah Mears (2020 - Bellisario) is a sports broadcaster and producer located in Pittsburgh, currently working as an on-air host for the Pirates, sports producer at KDKA-TV, betting host for Picks&Parlays and as a freelance sideline reporter for the Big Ten Network. Hannah stopped by the show for a great conversation about getting her start in broadcasting as a student at Penn State, launching her career in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, hosting her own podcast "Beers With Mears," and a  whole lot more!"Beers With Mears" has featured guests in the world of sports such as Roman Bravo-Young, Sean Clifford, Noah Eagle, Jay Bilas and Sam Coffey.Connect with Hannah on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.Follow  "Beers With Mears" on Instagram and check out its YouTube playlist. Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0:00 — Intro1:15 — Welcoming Hannah to the show1:35 — Hannah's Penn State story5:00 — Involvement as a student9:56 — Broadcasting and reporting opportunities at Penn State14:04 — Ad Read #1 - Alumni Association Chapters/Affiliate Groups15:05 — Launching a career during the COVID-19 pandemic20:17 — The importance of mentors24:27 — Meeting NFL Films Emmy winning Producer & Director, Shannon Furman27:05 — Working through barriers as a woman in sports broadcasting30:44 — Covering the sport of wrestling32:15 — The story behind "Beers With Mears"37:16 — Ad Read #2 - Alumni Association Travel Program38:00 — Lightning Round Q&A42:05 — Outro43:10 — Alma Mater

On today's episode of The People of Penn State, we're joined by Joe Nadreau (1993 - Smeal), who recently retired from his position of Managing Director of Strategy and Innovation at Wells Fargo Advisors. Joe discussed a variety of topics on the show, including being a part of the ROTC program at Penn State, the importance of mentors and mentees, driving strategy and innovation at Wells Fargo, privacy and cyber security at the company, what his retirement plans are, and much more! In addition to his core responsibilities of driving corporate strategy and ongoing innovation, Joe was responsible for the firm’s independent advisor businesses (Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, First Clearing, and the launch of the RIA model). He also lead the Digital & Automated Investing group, which consisted of the self-directed (WellsTrade) team, and the Digital Advice (Intuitive Investor®) offerings.  His group was responsible for the continued evolution of the business platforms for the company’s financial advisors and clients. He also led the Firm’s merger integration activities consisting of 12 separate integrations, including Prudential Securities, AG Edwards, and Wachovia Securities.  Joe is on multiple nonprofit boards in the St. Louis community, including serving as chairman of the American Red Cross in St. Louis, and he served as the executive sponsor of the Wells Fargo Advisors United Way campaign. Connect with Joe on Facebook and LinkedIn. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Timestamps: 0:00 — Intro1:25 — Joe's Penn State story2:32 — Being a part of ROTC at Penn State3:15 — Other student activities4:37 — Initial career goals6:08 — Ad Read #1 - Penn State Bakery7:13 — Importance of a mentor9:20 — Career progression after Penn State12:46 — Keeping up with evolving technologies 15:29 — What drives innovation?17:33 — What's next for Joe after retirement 20:35 — Privacy and cyber security at Wells Fargo22:24 — Giving back to the St. Louis community through non-profits 24:23 — Change management solutions27:00 — Ad Read #2 - Alumni Shop28:00 — Lightning Round Q&A31:10 — Outro32:21 — Alma Mater

Welcome to another episode of The People of Penn State! On today's show, we're joined by NFL Player Agent, Jim Ivler (1990 - History)! He takes us inside the world of athlete representation, breaking down what it's like to work with NFL stars of the past and present. Jim's clients include Penn State letterman Tamba Hali, Robbie Gould, and Brenton Strange, who was recently drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.Since joining Sportstar, in 1997, Jim has been instrumental in building the company into one of the largest NFL Agencies in the country, and has distinguished himself as an expert contract negotiator, one who has an excellent understanding of the NFL and its policies, and as an agent who works diligently and tirelessly for the best interests of his clients.After graduating from Penn State in 1990 with his Bachelors of Arts in History, and Widener University School of Law in Harrisburg in 1993 with his Juris Doctorate, Jim practiced for four years at the renowned law firm of Spadoro & Hilson in Woodbridge, New Jersey. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Timestamps: 0:00 — Intro2:07 — Becoming a Penn Stater2:53 — Studying history 4:27 — Ad Read - LionLink5:38 — Becoming a sports agent6:53 — Practicing law8:22 — What it was like that first year of pursuing clients to represent11:15 — The accuracies and inaccuracies of the movie "Jerry Maguire" 12:43 — Representing Penn Staters such as Tamba Hali and Robbie Gould18:19 — How  Jim measures success for his clients20:12 — The process of becoming a player's agent and working with Brenton Strange 24:35 — The influence of agent's for a player's NFL Draft stock 27:12 — Jim's advice for young professionals looking to work in the sports industry 32:20 — Lightning Round Q&A37:28 — Outro38:39 — Alma Mater

Start your weekend off with another episode of The People of Penn State! Today, we welcome alumna Dr. Ala Stanford to the program for an insightful conversation about medicine and health equity. Dr. Stanford discussed her time at Penn State, (including her days as a Lion Ambassador), her career path, transforming her private practice into a Covid-19 testing center during the height of the pandemic, what it's like to become a public figure, working with Will Smith, and disparities in healthcare. More background on Dr. Stanford:She gained national recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic using the infrastructure of her pediatric surgery practice to create a grassroots organization to focus on testing, contact tracing and vaccination in communities devoid of access to care and resources. Dr. Stanford has been a practicing physician for over 25 years. She is former director of the Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities of Temple University School of Medicine, a member of the Philadelphia Board of Health, Philadelphia Department of Health COVID19 advisory board and a trusted national leader and public health advocate. In addition to opening a Center for Health Equity to improve health outcomes in communities with the lowest life expectancy, her organization was responsible for providing over 100,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinations. She earned two degrees from Penn State — a Bachelor of Science degree from the Eberly College of Science and a doctor of medicine degree from the College of Medicine — and went on to become the first African American female pediatric surgeon trained entirely in the United States. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Follow Dr.  Stanford on social media: TwitterFacebookInstagramLearn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Timestamps: 0:00 — Intro2:30 — Becoming a Penn Stater3:17 — Attending Penn State Behrend4:30 — Involvement as a student6:25 — Early beginnings of pursuing a career in medicine 9:40 — Ad Read #1 - LionLink10:57 — Career path up until the Covid-19 pandemic13:00 — Transforming her private practice into a Covid-19 testing unit16:30 — Becoming a public figure19:55 — Meeting and working with Will Smith22:53 — Disparities in healthcare and reaching health equity26:33 —Advice to young women pursuing a career in healthcare28:40 — Lighting Round Q&A, including a story meeting Keegan-Michael Key 35:00 — Outro 37:00 — Alma Mater

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) is one of the most talked about topics in college athletics and has drastically changed the landscape of sports at the collegiate level in the United States. In a special two-part series on The People of Penn State, we take a close look at NIL, with a strong focus on its impact at Penn State. In part two of our two-part NIL series, we caught up with Penn State Football legend, Michael Mauti '12. Michael was a standout linebacker for the Nittany Lions, serving as a two-time team captain, earning a first-team All-Big Ten selection, and winning the Big Ten's Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year award in 2012.After wrapping up a five-year career in the National Football League, Michael has since transitioned into a leadership role within the NIL space, serving as the Letterman Founder of the Lions Legacy Club collective.  Lions Legacy Club is a fan-driven and alumni-led NIL program for Penn State University football student-athletes, alumni, and fans. We chatted with Michael about his playing career at Penn State, the overview of Name, Image, and Likeness in college athletics, the mission of Lions Legacy Club, and more.To get involved or learn more about Lions Legacy Club, visit https://lionslegacyclub.com. You can also follow Lions Legacy Club on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0:00 — Intro2:05 — Becoming a Penn Stater3:40 — Memories of being a student4:57 — Michael's decision to stay at Penn State during unprecedented times for the football program 8:02 — Re-recruiting teammates to stay with the program11:10 — Trusting in former head coach Bill O'Brien 13:52 — "Saving The Roar" documentary 17:32 — If NIL was around when Michael was a student-athlete18:20 — A broad overview of what NIL is21:50 — Lions Legacy Club's origins and impact23:25 — How to get involved with Lions Legacy Club25:25 — The impact alumni can have with NIL 25:50 — Ad Read - LionLink 26:52 — Lightning Round Q&A31:15 — Michael provides a shoutout for recently retired Penn State Field Hockey head coach Charlene Morett-Curtiss 32:13 — Outro 33:49 — Alma Mater

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) is one of the most talked about topics in college athletics and has drastically changed the landscape of sports at the collegiate level in the United States. In a special two part series on The People of Penn State, we take a close look at NIL, with a strong focus on its impact at Penn State.  In part one of our NIL deep-dive, we talk with Kerry Small '87,  the Executive Director of Success With Honor. Success With Honor is an NIL collective that seeks to support student-athletes for all 31 varsity sports at Penn State by helping them represent businesses, build valuable life lessons, impact charitable organizations, and more.   Kerry joined us to provide insight on the origins of NIL, its role in college athletics and at Penn State, Success With Honor's mission, what it's like working with student-athletes, and more.  To get involved or learn more about Success With Honor, visit https://successwithhonor.com. You can also follow Success With Honor on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on: Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0:00 — Intro  1:30 — Becoming a Penn Stater  2:17 — Involvement as a student  4:35 — Memories of the 1986-87 Penn State Football season  5:49 — Kerry's initial career path  6:45 — Ad Read - Penn State Bakery  7:39 — Working with small businesses9:20 — What is NIL?10:40 — NIL Collectives 12:46 — Success With Honor's Role in the NIL space16:02 — How alumni can get involved with Success With Honor18:45 — The impact NIL can have on student-athletes 22:43 — Learning more about Success With Honor23:40 — Lightning Round Q&A25:10 — Outro26:40 — Alma Mater

Captain Thomas Ulmer '96 is a commissioned Naval Officer with 27 years of experience. A Surface Warfare Officer, he has commanded two Navy warships and led diverse work forces through routine operations to crisis while circum-navigating the globe and conducting operations worldwide. Throughout his service, Tom has participated in operations that responded to natural disasters by providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, evacuated thousands from war zones, and conducted operations in support of national security.  Tom joins us to talk about his military service, missions for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, his strong family ties to Penn State and why he continues to give back to the University.  All of that and a whole lot more on this episode of The People of Penn State! Connect with Tom on LinkedInLearn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Timestamps:0:00 — Intro2:27 — Becoming a Penn Stater3:15 — Involvement as a student3:57 — Original career goals6:25 — Family connections to Penn State7:53 — Stories about Tom's brother Dave Ulmer8:58 — Being a part of the Disney College Program11:50 — The rare occasion where Tom's Penn State pride got him in trouble13:00 — "Top Gun's" influence on Navy recruitment 14:15 — Lessons from Tom's Naval service15:55 — Humanitarian missions20:53 — Tom's call sign 23:25 — What it's like commanding a ship25:05 — Responsibilities for the Tactical Training Group, Pacific27:38 — Tom's new upcoming role in education 29:00 — Service to Penn State and giving back30:23 — Ad Read - Alumni Shop31:39 — Lighting Round Q&A35:55 — Outro37:10 — Alma Mater

Through her work in video and film production, alumna Dawn L. Manning '00 has worked with some of the biggest names in the entertainment and music industry. Some of the stars she has worked with include Will & Jada Smith, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Terrell Owens, Common, Jason Derulo, Nicki Minaj, and more. On this episode of The People of Penn State, Dawn takes us through her passion for entertainment, music and sports, the projects she's worked on in her career,  the challenges she's faced in production as a black woman, advice to new producers, and more. Dawn is currently working as an EP/EIC over numerous projects at Westbrook Media -- Will and Jada Smith’s production company -- with projects ranging from documentary, scripted, VR and branded content.Her previous work is highlighted by being EIC of "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air Reunion," Line Producer of Showtime’s three-part sports documentary series “Shut up and Dribble,” Production Manager of Beyoncé’s Visual Grammy performance 2017 and “Vice World of Sports," Vineland’s PGA award winning series for Best Produced Sports Programing. Her Film Producing credits include “LUV” starring Common, “Dysfunctional Friends” starring Terrell Owens and Stacy Dash and “Eden” starring Nate Parker. Connect with Dawn on social media: TwitterInstagramLinkedInLearn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Timestamps:0:00 — Alma Mater Open0:20 — Intro2:50 — Becoming a Penn Stater3:30 — Involvement as a student4:40 — Initial career goals6:40 — Getting a start in the entertainment industry 11:56 — Being a cheerleader for the Washington Wizards13:21 — Sports, entertainment and music16:03 — Working with Terrell Owens17:00 — Overcoming challenges in the workplace as a black female producer21:43 — The impact of Westbrook Media24:40 — Working on Will Smith's audio book 26:00 — Big and small budgets of production28:50 — Using the resources you have29:53 — Ad Read - Alumni Shop31:02 — Lightning Round Q&A 35:30 — Outro

Ever received one of those pesky phishing emails or phone calls from someone trying to scam you by pretending to be someone else? Then you'll find this episode of The People of Penn State to be pretty insightful!In Episode 31 of the podcast, we're joined by Dr. John N. Just '01, the Chief Learning Officer at KnowBe4, the world's largest cybersecurity awareness training organization. John talks about his role at KnowBe4, how the organization is aiming to provide cybersecurity education with companies, and what everyone can be doing to combat phishing and other forms of online scams. Connect with John on social media:TwitterLinkedInLearn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Timestamps:0:00 — Alma Mater Open0:20 — Intro2:15 — John's Penn State story4:04 — Initial career goals 7:47 — Ad Read - LionLink9:10 — Experiences with Fortune 500 listed companies12:15 — KnowBe4 14:54 — Email phishing 19:10 — Education on cyber security 21:30 — How John stays connected to Penn State 23:55 — Being the parent of a first-year Penn State student 24:30 — Lightning Round Q&A27:00 — Outro28:10 — Alma Mater Close 

Shadé Olasimbo (2012 - Broadcast Journalism) is an Emmy-nominated video producer, editor, and videographer based in Atlanta where she runs FCOlasimbo Productions, LLC. She is also a Senior Video Producer at HubSpot, where she's the lead producer behind the newly launched Hustle YouTube Channel. In our 30th episode, Shadé joined the show to talk about her role with HubSpot, why she has such a big passion for telling the stories of others, her work with our African American Alumni Organizations, and how she's been inspired by Black Penn Staters of the past and the present. Connect with Shadé on social media: TwitterInstagramLinkedInLearn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Timestamps:0:00 — Alma Mater Open0:19 — Intro2:50 — Becoming a Penn Stater4:40 — Being involved as a student8:14 — Experience as a tour guide with the The Student Minority Advisory and Recruitment Team (SMART) 10:35 — Initial career goals13:50 — Ad Read #1 - Penn State Bakery 14:50 — Shadé's career path 17:53 — Overcoming life's challenges 21:50 — Role with HubSpot25:57 — Staying involved with Penn State / Working with our African American Alumni Organizations28:45 — Helping other people share their stories31:22 — Being inspired by Black Penn Staters of the past and the present33:57 — Lightning Round Q&A38:35 — Outro39:43 — Alma Mater Close

Saint Rocco’s Treats aims to foster freshness, quality, and transparency in the dog food and treat industry. Founded by alumnus Kolby Rush (2021 - Finance) and his brother Kaleb, Saint Rocco's is striving to put furry friends' long-term health and happiness first.Kolby appears on episode 29 of our podcast to talk about the origin story of Saint Rocco's, the growth of the company, what makes it stand out in the industry, and more. Connect with Saint Rocco's Treats on social media:Website FacebookInstagramLinkedInYouTubeTikTokLearn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Timestamps:0:00 — Alma Mater Open0:20 — Intro1:25 — Kolby's Penn State story2:05 — Philadelphia Eagles talk2:31 — Involvement as a student4:39 — Career trajectory 5:55 — Starting Saint Rocco's Treats10:27 — What makes Saint Rocco's stand out13:11 — Growth of the company 16:07 — Kolby's passion for dogs18:10 — Entrepreneur advice 21:07 — Ad Read - LionLink22:06 — Lightning Round Q&A25:50 — More information on Saint Rocco's 26:39 — Outro27:54 —Alma Mater Close

Welcome to another episode of The People of Penn State -- a podcast by the Penn State Alumni Association. In this episode we're joined by Katie Kemmerer (2018 - Bellisario), Executive Project Manager for the Kansas City Chiefs. In her fifth season with the club, Katie manages the international expansion of the Chiefs brand as well as oversees brand activations in the Kansas City area. Previous and ongoing projects within the Chiefs organization include Super Bowl Championship Rings, Chiefs Fit, Chiefs Style Lounge, and Chiefs Charity Game. Prior to her current position, Katie interned in the Community Outreach department.On the show, Katie discusses her career path working in sports, her day-to-day responsibilities in Kansas City, the work expanding the brand of the Chiefs internationally, how Penn Staters have helped her throughout her career, and more. Follow Katie on Twitter: @katie_kemmerer. Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Timestamps:0:00 — Alma Mater Open0:20 — Intro2:15 — Becoming a Penn Stater3:46 — Involvement as a student 8:40 — Launching a career in sports11:13 — Ad Read #1 - LionLink12:15 — Day-To-Day Responsibilities with the Kansas City Chiefs14:28 —International expansion of the Chiefs brand21:02 —Marketing strategies in the U.S. 23:42 — Aligning other brands with the Chiefs 25:00 — Working with Tamba Hali at an event25:57 — Building a career with the Chiefs29:20 — The role of the Penn State network in professional growth 33:51 — Lightning Round Q&A 37:03 — Outro38:00 — Alma Mater Close 

Our first episode of 2023 is a fun one, as we talk with Maddy Pryor '13, a Social Media Specialist at Princeton University! Joined by our host, Paul Clifford '20g, Maddy discusses her extensive experience in content creation, crisis communications and community management. Maddy and Paul also talk about her time as a student, her love for Penn State basketball, what it was like running the Nittany Lion's Twitter account and her involvement with THON's Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group. In addition to her Penn State degree in AD/PR, Maddy also holds a master’s in PR from Kent State. She could hold an entire conversation using just GIFs and will live-tweet about pretty much anything. She loves stand-up comedy, college hoops, and the New York Mets.Follow/Connect with Maddy on Social Media:TwitterInstagramGet involved with the Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group (DMAIG): https://www.dmaig.orgTimestamps:0:00 — Alma Mater Open0:20 — Intro2:25 — How Maddy became a Penn Stater4:15 — Involvement as a student6:45 — THON memories9:20 — Areas of study in school13:05 —  Ad Read #114:08 — Experiences as a student in 201118:20 — Crisis communications 18:57 — Giving back to Penn State20:37 — Handling the Nittany Lion's official Twitter account 25:00 — What a career in social media is like28:15 — Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group31:35 — Maddy's connection with former Penn State men's basketball head coach Pat Chambers34:05 — Penn State men's basketball head coach Micah Shrewsberry Giving Tuesday Story35:55 — Lightning Round Q&A40:10 — Outro41:26 — Alma Mater Close----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn