Commencement
PENN STATE ERIE, THE BEHREND COLLEGE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024
Commencement
FALL
SEMESTER 2024
WELCOME TO PENN STATE BEHREND’S FALL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY.
Commencement is a solemn but joyful recognition of students’ years of study. We ask that you respect its significance to those being honored. Please silence all mobile devices. When the Processional begins, rise to welcome the Class of 2024. Stay standing until all candidates have reached their seats and for the National Anthem. Please remain at your seat during the ceremony and throughout the Recessional until graduates exit. Thank you for your cooperation, and for joining us in this celebration.
PENN STATE ERIE, THE BEHREND COLLEGE
Program Notes
ACADEMIC PROCESSION
The mace, which symbolizes the University President’s authority, is carried in academic procession by the College Marshal. It was carved from native fiddleback maple and is engraved with the University seal and Glenhill Farmhouse.
ACADEMIC DRESS
Academic dress had its beginnings in the Middle Ages, when scholars were also clerics and adopted robes similar to those of their monastic orders. The use of academic costume in the United States was defined in the late 19th century.
The gown worn by those in the procession represents the degree held. The standard academic cap is the mortarboard. Undergraduates wear the tassel on the right side of the cap until the degree is conferred.
Hoods, worn for master’s or doctoral degree, are lined with the colors of the college or university in which the degree was granted. In tonight’s ceremony, Dr. Alicyn Rhoades, Vice Chancellor and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, drapes the hoods over the shoulders of master’s degree candidates.
SCHREYER HONORS COLLEGE
The Schreyer Scholars program is Penn State’s University-wide Honors program. Students who have completed the requirements of the program, including an Honors thesis or comprehensive examination, receive an Honors degree. Scholars graduating with an Honors degree receive a bronze medal, which is presented tonight by Dr. Greg Filbeck, Vice Chancellor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
DEGREES
Bachelor’s degrees are conferred by the University after the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 120 credits in a four-year major. The associate degree is conferred after the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 60 credits in one of the two-year majors.
SCHOLASTIC DISTINCTION
Undergraduate candidates with academic distinction are in the top 12 percent of their graduating class in their college. The 12 percent is divided into 2 percent Summa Cum Laude, 4 percent Magna Cum Laude, 6 percent Cum Laude. Distinction is subject to the candidates’ satisfaction of minimum criteria.
About Penn State Behrend
Penn State Behrend, a four-year and graduate college of Penn State, offers students the resources of a major research university in a welcoming, student-centered learning environment.
As part of Pennsylvania’s land-grant university, the college also works to advance the economic, social, and intellectual welfare of our region through research and outreach.
Penn State Behrend was established in 1948 with Mary Behrend’s gift of her 400-acre Glenhill Farm. She made the gift in memory of her husband, Ernst, co-founder with his father and brother of the Hammermill Paper Company, which later became part of International Paper.
The college now offers nearly 50 degree programs at the associate, bachelor's, and master's degree levels. From the first class of 146 students, enrollment has grown to nearly 4,400 students learning on campus and online in Behrend programs offered through World Campus. Behrend alumni now number 40,000.
Penn State Behrend’s Council of Fellows serve as advisers to the college Chancellor; as advocates for the mission, vision, and activities of the college; and as ambassadors for the college in the Erie region, across the country, and around the world. The business of the Council is managed by a Board of Directors.
For more information about Penn State Behrend, visit behrend.psu.edu.
Commencement Program
PRESENTATION OF COLORS | Pride of Pennsylvania Army ROTC Battalion Color Guard
ACADEMIC PROCESSIONAL | Behrend Ceremonial Brass and Percussion Ensemble, Tess Jones, Conductor Excerpts, Pomp and Circumstance, Edward Elgar; March of the Priests, W.A. Mozart; Hail the Conquering Hero, G.F. Handel
NATIONAL ANTHEM Please stand
GREETINGS | Dr. Ralph M. Ford, Chancellor and Dean
WELCOME | Mallory Causer ’24
FACULTY ADDRESS | Dr. Lena Surzhko Harned, Associate Teaching Professor of Political Science
GREETINGS FROM THE COUNCIL OF FELLOWS | Tesha Nesbit ’93, Chair, Council of Fellows
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS | Matthew W. Totzke ’96, President and CEO, Big Ideas Learning, a Larson Texts Company
PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES
Schreyer Honors College | Dr. Greg Filbeck ’13, Vice Chancellor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs School of Science | Dr. Alicyn Rhoades ’01, Vice Chancellor and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies and Interim Director, School of Science School of Humanities and Social Sciences | Dr. Melanie Hetzel-Riggin, Director, School of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Engineering | Dr. Timothy Kurzweg ’94, James R. Meehl Director, School of Engineering Black School of Business | Dr. Ozgun Demirag, Director, Black School of Business Graduate School | Dr. Alicyn Rhoades ’01, Vice Chancellor and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies and Interim Director, School of Science
Reader: Andrea Konkol ’00, ’03, Director of Enrollment Management
INTERLUDE | Behrend Ceremonial Brass and Percussion Ensemble In the Bleak Midwinter, Gustav Holst
CONFERRAL OF DEGREES | Dr. Ralph M. Ford, Chancellor and Dean
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION INDUCTION | Kimberly Kaercher ’99, Penn State Behrend Alumni Society
ALMA MATER Please stand and join | Emma Burkett, Susan Copus, Kayla Johnson, Sean Solt, and Elliot Swanson
FAREWELL | Tyler Shearer ’24
RECESSIONAL | Behrend Ceremonial Brass and Percussion Ensemble Selections from LaDanserye, Tilman Susato
Commencement Marshals
COLLEGE MARSHAL
Dr. Ashutosh Deshmukh, Distinguished Professor of Accounting and Management Information Systems
FACULTY MARSHALS
Dr. Chuck Yeung, Professor of Physics
Dr. Michael Campbell, Distinguished Professor of Biology
Dr. Charisse Nixon, Professor of Psychology
Dr. Thomas Noyes, Professor of English and Creative Writing
Dr. Jun Zhou, Professor of Mechanical Engineering
STUDENT MARSHALS
Zachary Babb, Graduate School
Schneider Fils, Black School of Business
Katherine Kinney, School of Engineering
Nathan Murarik, School of Science
Abbygale Walter, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Student Speakers
MALLORY CAUSER | Welcome
Mallory Causer, of Port Allegany, Pennsylvania, is graduating with an honors degree in Biology. At Behrend, she participated in Lion Ambassadors, Biology Club, Tri-Beta, and Alternative Spring Break. She also was president of the Behrend Honors Student Association and a Welcome Week leader. She plans to attend medical school to become a family medicine physician.
Student Marshals
ZACHARY BABB | Graduate School
Zachary Babb, of Indianapolis, Indiana, is receiving a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. His research activities included work at the Susan Hirt Hagen CORE, and he currently serves as a psychological technician at the Achievement Center of LECOM Health, where he conducts psychological testing and assessment with children. He is pursuing doctoral programs.
KATHERINE KINNEY | School of Engineering
Katherine Kinney, of Clarks Mills, Pennsylvania, is graduating with a degree in Industrial Engineering. She was active in the Society of Women Engineers, Tau Beta Pi, and the Materials and Manufacturing Group. She also worked as a peer tutor and participated in the Behrend Concert Band. She is pursuing opportunities in the region.
ABBYGALE WALTER | School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Abbygale Walter, of Franklin, Pennsylvania, is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. While at Behrend, she received Dean’s List honors. After graduation, she plans to pursue graduate school to continue her creative writing education.
TYLER SHEARER | Farewell
Tyler Shearer, of Guys Mills, Pennsylvania, is graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has served as a Resident Assistant, participated in undergraduate research, and spoke on a student panel at the 2024 Manufacturing PA Innovation Program Expo in Harrisburg. After graduation, he will join Parker Lord as a tooling engineer, beginning his career as a tool designer.
SCHNEIDER FILS | Black School of Business
Schneider Fils, of Terrytown, Louisiana, is graduating with dual degrees in Business Economics and International Business. He has been active in Cru and Delta Sigma Pi, and he studied abroad at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea. He plans to return to Louisiana and pursue work overseas to begin building his career network.
NATHAN MURARIK | School of Science
Nathan Murarik, of Karthaus, Pennsylvania, is graduating with an honors degree in Mathematics. He was active in Behrend Mathematics Club, GASE, and Alternative Spring Break, and received awards from the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments. He plans to pursue a doctorate in applied mathematics.
Faculty Speaker
DR. LENA SURZHKO HARNED
Associate Teaching Professor of Political Science
Dr. Lena Surzhko Harned is an associate teaching professor of political science and associate director of the Public Policy Initiative at Penn State Behrend.
Her research focuses on Ukraine and Russia, including the dynamics of decolonization in Ukraine; politics and religion in Ukraine and Russia; and nationalism and identity in Ukrainian society, particularly among self-described Russian speakers. Her commentaries on Russia and Ukraine have been featured in national media, including The Atlantic and NPR, as well as internationally.
She has published on topics of nationalism, identity politics, politics and religion, trade policy, European integration, and mass political behavior in Eastern Europe. Her work has appeared in such journals as International Research Quarterly, Journal of Common Market Studies, and European Political Science Review
Her co-authored book Post-Soviet Legacies and Conflicting Values in Europe: Generation WhY? was published in 2017 and examines the inter-generational conflict and its consequences for modern Ukraine and Russia.
Commencement Speaker
MATTHEW W. TOTZKE ’96
President and CEO of Big Ideas Learning, a Larson Texts Company
Matthew W. Totzke is president and chief executive of Big Ideas Learning, a Larson Texts Company. He joined Larson Texts in 1993 while a student at Penn State Behrend and has held positions in software development, information technology, process improvement, project management, and product development for the company, which develops and publishes market-leading mathematics curriculum and educational materials.
Totzke managed the successful launch of Big Ideas Learning’s first product line, Big Ideas Math Middle School, prior to his appointment as CEO. During Totzke’s tenure, the company evolved from solely creating educational materials for third parties to becoming one of the nation’s most successful mathematics education publishers from kindergarten through college. Under Totzke’s management, Big Ideas Learning established tuition reimbursement programs and scholarships that benefit Behrend students. The company also supports Behrend’s state-wide Best Practices in Teaching and Learning Mathematics Conference.
Totzke graduated from Behrend in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a concentration in Computer Science. He serves on Penn State Behrend’s Council of Fellows Board of Directors and is co-chair of the Development and Alumni Relations Committee. He also serves on the Center for Family Business Advisory Board and its Sponsorship Committee. He received Penn State’s Alumni Fellow award in 2021 and is a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association.
In 2021, Totzke and his wife, Rebecca, established the Matthew W. and Rebecca L. Totzke Scholarship for Nursing Excellence to support students majoring in Nursing at Behrend. They reside in Erie.
Class of 2024 Candidates for Degrees
SCHOOL OF SCIENCE
BACHELOR’S DEGREES
Biology, B.S.
Hannah Barnes
Michal BosekSU
Mallory Ann Causer††
Holden Hayne Cooper
Nathaniel John Craft
Ashley Nicole GodfreySU
Nicholas S. Henson
Natalie Lazan**
Kayla Lynette Salvini
Chemistry, B.S.
Kristin Michele Reiland
Environmental Science, B.S.
Jacob R. Weiler
Mathematics, B.S.
Rachael Nicole Buhl
Margaret Colegado Dobell
Kayleen Granahan
Jordyn Hetz
Erica Lynn Jasinski
Hayden Kennerup
Nathan Murarik††***
Nayla Marie Pons Gomez
John West
Nursing, B.S.N.
Alexis N. KertulisSU
Arjun Naupaney
Marissa Katherine NellisSU
Quityn Dupree RodgersSU
Emily Elaine VollmerSU
Seth Ryan Willis
Secondary Education in Mathematics, B.S.
Rachael Nicole Buhl
Jordyn Hetz
Erica Lynn Jasinski
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
BACHELOR’S DEGREES
Communication, B.A.
Kevin Edward Bozek
Kade CallanderSU
Amory Charles ColemanReevesSU
Ava Renee Miller
Samantha Marie Sommer
Creative Writing, B.F.A.
Iris Anahi Avila - Ramirez
Abbygale Rose Walter
Digital Media, Arts, and Technology, B.A.
Harrison James LilleySU
Mistie Marie McColm
Zachary Brian SchlegerSU
General Arts and Sciences, B.A.
Emma J. GalbraithSU
Vanity Latisha Lomax
History, B.A.
Samuel Tate HetrickSU
Molly MalachowSU
Political Science, B.A.
Sydney C. DunnSU
Autumn Elaine Groves
Kenneth Adrian Zambrzycki
Psychology, B.A.
Kerryn Marie Brochey
Jaaziniah PruzenskiSU
Haobo Zhi
Psychology, B.S.
Michal BosekSU
John Lester Hamill Jr.
Angela KovalevichSU
Jada Martin
A’Jiaha Redar
DeseRai Sweat
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
ASSOCIATE DEGREES
Electrical Engineering Technology, A.ENGT.
Matthew A. DushSU*
Marina Gabriella NovotnakSU
Mechanical Engineering Technology, A.ENGT
Michael Thomas Bleil
BACHELOR’S DEGREES
Computer Engineering, B.S.
James Marshall Pierce
Jeremy M. Tucciarelli
Computer Science, B.S.
Colin A. Barry
Quincy NguyenSU
Jace Anthony Sidorchuk
Joseph Anthony Smith
Nathan James ToddSU
Rashad Weathers
Tong Wu
Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology, B.S.
Robert A. Baldwin
David Thomas Motkowski
Electrical Engineering, B.S.
Jervis Thomas LynchSU
Industrial Engineering, B.S.
Ahmed Osman Abdelaziz
AbobakerSU
Bruno CastagnetoSU
Katherine Grace Kinney***
Michael Ulizzi
Class of 2024 Candidates for Degrees
Mechanical Engineering, B.S.
Joseph Anthony Alberta
Matthew Lee Balint
Mark Barton
Theodore Stephen Boehm
Madeline Jane Fadale
Christopher James Frenn
Paul HessSU
Angelina Fortunato HofrichterSU
Taewan Ku
Dylan Barton Norris
Vincent Joseph Pettinato
Connor R. RosseySU
Jacob James Savko
Devon SchmittSU
Tyler J. Shearer
Jonathan Michael Wonderling
Mechanical Engineering Technology, B.S.
Joseph K. Anderson
Alex John Armanini
Chase Cordon
Caden James Jacobs
Nathan KalkowskiSU
Samantha Elizabeth MacDonald
Payden John Ordos
Corey Davis Smith
Olivia A. Sorg
Dillan Williams
Plastics Engineering Technology, B.S.
Gregory Coleman Conley
Matthew Brennan Ferko
Troy Allan Johnson*
Kyle William Trim
Polymer Engineering and Science, B.S.
Hailey Lynn DesatoffSU
LaeKynn Lee ProctorSU
Software Engineering, B.S.
Saif Ahmed Saeed Saif Alkaabi
Sebastian Paige Darrah
Ana Diru
Elizabeth Olczak Eury
Cameron Mathew HossSU
Tushaar Khurana
Dustin Lynn KnowltonSU
Andrew Tyler Kuziel
Ethan Luis McDonough
Stefan MilinkovicSU
Daniel Edward Molnar
Chibuike Osemeke OdibeliSU
Christopher J. Pereira
Maximus Alexander Smith
Michael Brandon StanleySU
Stuart Edward WaltersSU
Anthony ZigerelliSU
BLACK SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
ASSOCIATE DEGREES
General Business, A.S.
Natthanan Nithithanatchinnapat
BACHELOR’S DEGREES
Accounting, B.S.
Jack T. Elliott
Business Economics, B.S.
Bryan Gordon Bostic
Aahzasia Capers
Jameson Maxwell Douvlos
Schneider A. Fils
Economics, B.A.
Bruno CastagnetoSU
Economics (World Campus), B.S.
John A. Cox
Finance, B.S.
Dalton Joseph AlmondSU
Yonari Mehari Asgedom
Bryan Gordon Bostic
Gracie Marie Brewer
Nathanael Young BurdickSU
Yu Shan Chen
Zachary J. ColfordSU
Louis ColombritaSU
Chase Nilsson ColquittSU
Haylie Coombs
John Stuart Davidson
Luis Patricio De Leon Tovar
Colin Joseph Dehaas
Michael Doll
Brittnie Alissa Encinas
David Fair
Seth Austin Faulkner
Kristoffer Ake Featheringham***
Alejandro Flores
Evelyn Teresa FloresSU
Thad FrankSU
Troy FuhrmanSU*
Mary Elizabeth Goodsel
David F. Gottwald
Jason Cowan GrantSU
Chelsea Grucza
Jeneve M. HenrieSU
Robert James HobsonSU
Oliver William HusbandSU
Adam James KaweckiSU**
Kimberly Hannah Kazi
Brant Keefer
Annie Li**
Richard L. Liddick III***
Shaun Theodore Martinez
Daniel Frank Mazzeo Jr.
Kristine Carrina Meneses
Lukas Granville MetcalfeSU
Arooba Mir
Ha Nhat Nguyen
Matthew Daniel Owens
Priyanka OzorneaSU
Sanju Pandey
Damian Agustin Pereira Nunez
Wendy Marie PettySU***
Roberto Pineda
Rupal Randhawa
Sebienne Quintana Rauto**
Andrew John Duncan Reed
Teddy Leonardo Rodriguez
Gabriel Santosusso
Lee Byron Schaaf
Walter K. Soriano
Mikael Creston SpenceSU*
Matthew Tauscher
Ethan Joseph TomkoSU
Zachary Kyle WhiteSU
Christopher Lee Wilson IISU
Nicole Yip
Huina Zhang
Class of 2024 Candidates for Degrees
Interdisciplinary Business with Engineering Studies, B.S.
Michael Francis Boyle
Collin David Faulkner
Justin Gavio
Chelsea Grucza
Alec Christian Kliem
Michael Louis MathisSU
Nikolai Alexander Osborne
Natalia Rose SantilliSU
Daniel John SprumontSU
International Business, B.S.
Schneider A. Fils
Management Information Systems, B.S.
Ethan A. Bertges
Jeffrey David Franz
Emma Marie Martin
Marketing, B.S.
Robert David Briggs
Jacob Ryland Fischer
Connor Garret Lee McQuiston
Jake Christopher NiziolSU
Paul Alexander Pudimat
Garrett Michael UnderwoodSU
Brandon Weiskopf
Project and Supply Chain Management, B.S.
Michael Francis Boyle
Evan Fair
Justin Gavio
Alec Christian Kliem
Mwendwa Mwathime Ndambuki
Abbey Jeanne PalmerSU
Matthew Rose
Aiden Alexander Walsh
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
MASTER’S DEGREES
Clinical Psychology, M.A.
Zachary Allen Babb
Cole A CavanaughSU
Hetvi Rajesh DesaiSU
Shwetha Varshini GottumukkalaSU
Alexander Thomas
George Hazuda
Yutian JiangSU
Maggie Lynn VandrielSU
Ashley Michelle McFaulSU
Angel E. Mora
Marcella PugliaSU
Bobur RakhmatullaevSU
Quality and Manufacturing Management, M.M.M.
Brennon M. AndersonHeinemannSU
Justin Michael Fox HockenbergerSU
Benjamin Joseph KuvshinikovSU
Justin LeDonneSU
Business Administration, M.B.A.
Michael Joseph Carlotti
Diane A. Dallos
Paul FeightnerSU
Benjamin Arthur ForingerSU
Josh M. GildeaSU
Dylan L. HetrickSU
Ryan Marvin Le GrandSU
Connor Lewis MaustSU
Andrew Seth Neal
Carley Marie Popoff
Michael J. RomeoSU
Bradley Charles SchommerSU
Melika SharifironiziSU
Matthew Leonard StrupczewskiSU
Adam Wisniewski
Project Management, M.P.M.
Christopher David Albores
Rafid AlimSU
Zachary Thomas Anderson
Kyle Gregory BentonSU
Ryan Christopher Bertrand
Vialta Mercedes Carvajal LopezSU
Susan Chyczewski
Cody Roy Couch
Laurie A. Crawford
Samer De Silva
Kristopher DevitoSU
Jessica Nichole EdwardsSU
Casey Jenkins
Andrew KennedySU
Sean Michael Maddux
James Lukas Malec Jr.SU
Jeffrey Roderick Nii
Addo Malm-Annan
Ann Marie Parker Masland
Halley Clay MaxinSU
Kaitlynne Margaret McPhersonSU
Carrie P. Parrie
Brian Taylor Powell Jr.
Brian Joseph Quinn Jr.
Lori Ann RoyerSU
Danielle Salerno
Vilma ShuSU
Paul Daniel SutkowskiSU
Julie R. WhitingSU
Faisal Arafat Ghaleb YousefSU
Jason Albert Zambriczki
HOW TO ORDER PHOTOS OF GRADUATES
To commemorate this milestone, a professional photograph is taken of each graduate. This photo may be purchased online from Lifetouch. To opt in to view commencement photos, scan the QR code at left or text the ordering code 448511GY24 to 90738.
VISION OF A BEHREND GRADUATE
Penn State Behrend has a history and future of developing thinkers, creators, and innovators who build opportunities out of challenges, competence out of curiosity, and proficiency out of potential.
We produce graduates who are prepared for success in their professions, passionate about their work, and committed to lifelong learning; who are open to new experiences and diverse perspectives; and who possess interdisciplinary knowledge and a global and ethical outlook—all critical to thriving in an ever-changing world.
We empower our students through highly engaged instruction, research, and out-of-class opportunities, combined with a distinctive Open Laboratory model of learning and discovery that connects students to business, industry, alumni, and community partners— giving them real-world experiences while benefitting these partners.
With purpose, we develop graduates who are widely recognized for the contributions they make to their professions, to their communities, and to the world around them.
PENN STATE ALMA MATER
By Fred Lewis Pattee
For the glory of old State, For her founders, strong and great, For the future that we wait, Raise the song, raise the song.
Sing our love and loyalty, Sing our hopes that, bright and free, Rest, O Mother dear, with thee. All with thee, all with thee.
When we stood at childhood’s gate, Shapeless in the hands of fate, Thou didst mold us, dear old State, Dear old State, dear old State.
May no act of ours bring shame, To one heart that loves thy name, May our lives but swell thy fame, Dear old State, dear old State!