Distinguished Alumni Award

Jennifer “Jenny” Engle ’80 embodies the very essence of the Distinguished Alumni Award. At Millersville, Engle discovered her love for communications and writing, talents that blossomed into a lifelong career of excellence and service. She began in public relations, rose to national leadership as president of the Association for Women in Communications and eventually founded her own successful marketing and communications firm. Along the way, she earned a master’s degree in public administration, became a certified professional communicator and built a reputation as an award-winning national speaker and trainer. Engle has also been a dedicated mentor, working with high school and college students through Lancaster Chamber and community programs, and she continues to give back as a substitute teacher and tutor.

Thomas Gregory Hall, known as Greg, is a proud member of Millersville University’s Class of 1971. Majoring in secondary education for Biology, Greg earned his Bachelor of Science in Education while excelling as a four-year football player and an active member of Mu Alpha Kappa Fraternity. His journey from Millersville has been one of unwavering service, dedication, and distinction.

Greg began his career as a science teacher and coach at Lampeter-Strasburg School District, inspiring students in and out of the classroom. In 1975, he joined the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), embarking on a 28-year career marked by leadership, bravery, and excellence. Rising through the ranks, Greg served as a Trooper, Criminal Investigator, and Tactical Supervisor for the elite Special Emergency Response Team (SERT), leading over 500 high-risk operations, including hostage rescues and active shooter incidents. His expertise extended beyond Pennsylvania, where he trained law enforcement nationwide through the National Tactical Officers Association and the Department of Homeland Security.

A decorated law enforcement officer, Greg received the Pennsylvania State Police Medal of Honor for his extraordinary valor, among numerous other accolades. Beyond his professional achievements, he is a dedicated husband to Shirley Thompson Hall (MU Class of ’71) and proud father to two accomplished children, Amy and Gregory. Greg credits Millersville with teaching him perseverance and leadership, values that have guided his distinguished career.

Today, Greg enjoys training versatile hunting dogs, finding joy in this rewarding endeavor. As a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Greg exemplifies Millersville University’s commitment to service, leadership, and lifelong learning. His legacy is a testament to the transformative power of education and the enduring impact of the Millersville community.

Armenta L. Washington, M.S., is currently a Research Coordinator Senior with Penn Medicine - Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania.  In her role with the Office of Diversity and Outreach, Armenta utilizes her expertise in building community partnerships to raise awareness, educate and innovate approaches to address cancer health disparities and decreases the cancer burden in underserved communities.  In her role with the Office of Diversity and Community Outreach, Ms. Washington has co-developed a Clinical Trial Community Ambassador Program to increase African Americans' participation in cancer clinical trials.  Ms. Washington and her colleagues developed an internationally recognized drive-by colon cancer clinic to mitigate the 90% reduction of colon cancer screening during the height of COVID-19.  She served as an advisor on the President's Cancer Panel report, “Closing Gaps in Cancer Screening: Connecting People, Communities, and Systems to Improve Equity and Access."  Ms. Washington was named the Philadelphia Magazine Be Well Philly 2021 Health Hero.

Prior to her position at Abramson Cancer Center, Ms. Washington served as Program Manager at Fox Chase Cancer Center’s - Office of Community Outreach.  She has served as a Training Manager for the Family Planning Council – TRAINING 3 (now known as AccessMatters). In her role she provided technical assistance and training programs for healthcare providers throughout HHS Region III. Ms. Washington coordinated numerous training and professional development activities for local and regional healthcare provides often working collaboratively through grant projects with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Office of Population affairs (OPA).   

She currently serves as a member of Penn’s Center for AIDS Research – Community Advisory Board where she is the co-chair of the Black Men’s Health Initiative.

Ms. Washington received her Master of Science in Health Education from Saint Joseph’s University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Millersville University.

Kevin B. Mahoney is chief executive officer for the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS). He assumed this role on July 1, 2019.

Beginning in 1996, Mahoney’s leadership posts at Penn Medicine have included serving as executive vice president and chief administrative officer of UPHS, executive vice dean of the Perelman School of Medicine and senior vice president of UPHS. He also served as executive director of Phoenixville Hospital, as executive director and chief operating officer for Clinical Care Associates and as director of network development.

Mahoney’s operational portfolio at Penn Medicine has included information technology, strategic planning, the primary care network, human resources and capital planning. He has led several transformative construction projects which have expanded and enhanced Penn Medicine’s clinical care, teaching and research missions, including the Smilow Center for Translational Research and the Henry A. Jordan M'62 Medical Education Center. Mahoney directs the development and construction of The Pavilion, Penn Medicine’s new $1.5 billion hospital on its West Philadelphia campus, set to open later this year. He also oversaw the implementation of a common electronic health record platform across five hospitals, numerous outpatient clinics and home care – the only comprehensive system of its kind in the Philadelphia region.

He is a graduate of Millersville State College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1981. During his time at Millersville, Mahoney played intercollegiate lacrosse, participated in the search committee for the university president and made the dean’s list. He found mentors in professors Clarence Jefferson Randolph, David Ostrovsky, Paul Nichols and Terry Madonna. Professor Randolph spent hours counseling and mentoring Mahoney and the pair stayed in touch until Randolph’s passing. Mahoney met his wife, Pam Kane ’82, during their sophomore year and they celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary in August.

Mahoney also holds an MBA and a doctorate from the Fox School of Business at Temple University.

Michael Panarella graduated from Millersville University in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in social studies education. As a student, he wrestled and played football throughout his four years at Millersville University. Panarella was named to the all-conference PSAC for football and received All-American recognition in both sports. Outside of sports, he was a member of the Mu Alpha Kappa Fraternity and volunteered in the Big Brothers Association.  

After graduating from Millersville University, Panarella taught at Pennsylvania School for the Deaf for three years, where he was both a teacher and a coach. Panarella was then hired at Shawnee High School in Medford, New Jersey, where he taught psychology and history for 32 years. He was an extraordinary teacher and continued to inspire future generations to follow their dreams. Following his retirement, Panarella returned to the classroom to teach American Sign Language at Eastern High School and Haddonfield Memorial High School for a combined six years.

Panarella is passionate about the need for people to give back, which is reflected though his volunteer work with Special Olympics, Child Placement Review Board, Community Emergency Response Team, Camden Boys and Girls Club, Dr. James Still Educational Center, Diversity in Schools Program, and Drug Free Schools. He has recorded stories from World War II veterans and created a series named “Bridging the Generation Through Oral History.” He also started a program called Project Graduation, which helps veterans to get their diplomas after having to leave school to fight in a war. 

In recognition of his years of dedication and hard work, Panarella has received many honors for his community service. In his accomplishments as an athlete and as a coach, Panarella is a member of six athletic halls of fame, including the Millersville University Athletics Hall of Fame. Recognized as a local hero, Panarella was bestowed the Medford VFW Award, named the Medford Town Council Citizen of the Year, and was named Man of the Year by the Medford Lumberton Rotary Club and Burlington County. 

Panarella considers his crowning achievement to be his marriage of 45 years to his wife, Elizabeth, his three children that followed his professional path to become educators, and his eight grandchildren.

A Lancaster native, Ronald Cary Burger graduated from Millersville in 1970 with a BS in Education. Millersville has remained a foundation stone in Burger’s work as he applied what he learned on campus to a 50-year career in education, public health, and emergency preparedness and response.

After graduation, Burger became a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana and taught science at Winneba Training College. During the first holiday break from classes, a severe outbreak of cholera, a devastating gastro-intestinal disease, spread around Winneba. Thanks to his training with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Burger was assigned to lead the Ministry of Health team in controlling the outbreak and realized that he had found his life’s work. Upon returning from Ghana, he taught at Downingtown Senior High School for a few years, turning his biology classroom into a representation of a cell.

Thanks to persistence, patience, and teaching experience, Burger became an Epidemiologist and Disease Control Program Coordinator with the CDC. Burger’s assignments took him throughout the US and in 1975, he was sent to Bangladesh through the World Health Organization’s Smallpox Eradication Program where he identified cases, traced outbreaks, and administered vaccinations for smallpox. In 1976, while assigned to the Pennsylvania Department of Health in Tuberculosis Control, Burger was a central expert identifier of Legionnaires’ Disease and provided his expertise during the Swine Flu National Immunization Program.

Burger was assigned to the CDC headquarters in Atlanta as the Senior Emergency Response Coordinator in 1989. In the decades that followed, Burger responded to numerous public health emergencies and disasters, including: 38 hurricanes, the Mt. St. Helens volcano eruption, the Northridge Earthquakes, the Midwest floods, the 2002 anthrax attacks, and on September 11, 2001, he led the CDC response team at Ground Zero—dedicating his efforts to support the first responders and New York Fire Department.

Burger generously volunteers his time to numerous efforts, often serving as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and firefighter. He enjoyed many years as an avid Red Cross Volunteer and Advisory Committee Member with the Metro Atlanta Chapter, where he was honored with the Clara Barton Volunteer of the Year Award in 2004. Burger also served on the Boards of the American Lung Association of Atlanta and the Georgia Public Health Association and was named the Local Public Health Volunteer of the Year Award in 2005.

Upon retiring from CDC after 35 years, Burger became a volunteer member of the National Disaster Medical System within the Department of Health and Human Services and continues to respond to major public health incidents. He is also a full-time contractor with the Department of Homeland Security as the Jurisdictional Coordinator for the BioWatch Program in Florida, which safeguards our country from biological attacks.

Burger and his family reside in Tallahassee, Florida.

Colonel William J. Davis ’72, USA Ret. earned a bachelors degree in secondary education from Millersville in 1972, a master’s degree in international relations from Salve Regina University, and the title Master Faculty from the National Defense University. On November 11, 1971—Veteran’s Day—he enlisted in the Army.

Colonel Davis has served in a significant number of highly sensitive, joint, interagency and multinational operations, including the full range of Special Forces Missions in the United States and abroad in Asia, Central America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He is a Combat Diver, Master Parachutist, Ranger and Special Forces qualified and has been decorated with the Combat Infantryman Badge and numerous other United States and foreign awards. During the Gulf War, then LTC Davis commanded the 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group. At the time, no unit of this size in the history of the United States Army had ever replicated the magnitude of tasks and combat missions as were executed by this battalion.

Even though Colonel Davis’s combat service rendered him seriously disabled, he continues to serve as a positive role model and is heavily involved as a research patient for Gulf War Illness. In 2005, the Colonel Bill Davis Fund for Research on Gulf War Illness was established at one of the key medical centers for Gulf War Illness and Chemical Agent Exposure, UT Southwestern at Dallas, Texas. In November 2012, the program’s Research Director Dr. Robert Haley, commented that “Bill has made a profound contribution to medical research that will improve the lives of tens of thousands of Gulf War veterans…thus will go down in the history of medicine for his unique and crucial contribution to solving the mystery of a newly recognized medical condition...and one of the greatest importance to our men and women in uniform…both those who served in Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield and those who will face chemical weapons in future conflicts.”

After nearly 34 years of active duty, Colonel Davis retired in 2005. He continues to support and mentor current active-duty members as Adjunct Faculty at Joint Forces Staff College and as an Editorial Consultant for “The Journal of Special Operations Medicine.” Each year, he honors his fallen Special Operations brothers by having memorial masses celebrated on the anniversaries of their passing and by remaining in contact with their family members. This is a mission that he considers a life-long commitment. Despite his physical challenges, Colonel Davis also inspires others by pursuing his life-long love of surfing with close friends at Freedom Surf Shop, Pungo Board House and Sandbridge Beach – “Stoked and Forever Young”. 

Dr. David Hoffa graduated from Millersville University’s Industrial Technology program in 2001 and went on to earn both his master’s and doctoral degrees. Following his graduate work, Hoffa made many significant contributions in both industry and academia. He developed a “people first” management style and became focused on continual improvement of himself and others. Hoffa applied his advanced training in teaching, statistics, and manufacturing technologies to his career path, advancing him from technical roles in Quality and research & development to a Regional Master Black Belt at Cameron International Corporation in 2012. His focus on development allowed David to not only excel in corporate management, but also become a conduit of growth for the people with whom he has worked. Investing in others is his deepest passion.

Nathan Wich, Operations Lead at Johnson & Johnson said, “I grew more as a professional and a leader in the year that David Hoffa led me than in the nine preceding years. David’s goal was obvious – to ensure everyone on the team had a chance to develop their skills.  He constantly drove me, and others, to be better. My Green Belt Certification was made possible because of his direct influence.” 

In his current role as a Process Engineering Manager at Johnson & Johnson, Hoffa leans on his education in process improvement, quality, and operations management every day.  To date, he has helped companies save more than $31 million using Lean and Six Sigma, and has supported the careers of dozens of his coworkers by helping them to close improvement projects, earn certifications, and secure promotions.  In addition to the many awards, honors, published works, grants, and certifications that he has amassed since his graduation from Millersville, Hoffa was recognized in 2017 with the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering’s second highest service distinction, the Dr. Alvin Rudisill Exemplary Service Award. Hoffa was the 26th recipient in the 52-year old professional association.

Dr. Duane Hagelgans always puts public safety first. With 30 years of experience in emergency management, he has become an expert on natural and manmade disasters and is continually looked to for his expertise.

He brings all of that knowledge and experience into the classroom as a professor of emergency management and within his duties at the Center for Disaster Research & Education at Millersville University. He also keeps the local community safe as the governor-appointed Emergency Management Coordinator for Millersville Borough and Manor Township, through the Blue Rock Regional Emergency Management Agency, which he formed for the municipalities in 2012. He also serves as the fire commissioner for the Blue Rock Regional Fire District.

Hagelgans worked as a member of the Lancaster City Fire Department while pursuing his undergraduate degree at Millersville University in occupational safety and hygiene management. He graduated in 1998 and continued to serve the fire department and worked with several other volunteer fire and emergency organizations. After retiring from the fire department and earning his juris doctorate at Widener University in 2003, he jumped into two new, exciting careers—as a professor and a public servant.

Hagelgans returned to teach at Millersville University in 2007 where he is a newly tenured professor in emergency management with courses that cover topics including disaster management, terrorism and homeland security. In 2015, he received the distinguished Student Ally of the Year award from the International Association of Emergency Managers-USA (IAEM.)

“Dr. Hagelgans tireless endeavors to educate, promote public safety and engage students are a clear representation of his dedication to Millersville University and the surrounding community,” Marianne Souders explained in her nomination of Hagelgans for the Distinguished Alumnus Award. “He enhances the educational experience of his students by involving them in the processes of emergency management within the region. He engages students in assisting with campus safety initiatives; assisting with the writing of emergency operations plans and programs for the university; and conducting training and exercises for the university, the borough, and the regional South Central Task Force. His involvement and associations in local and international organizations bring honor to the University and are deserving of accolade.”

Lt. Col. Paul MacNamara has been described as a compassionate warrior, who selflessly serves his country, his community and Millersville University.

His focus is on serving others, whether offering healing hope to struggling teens, mentoring the brotherhood and service mission of his college fraternity Sigma Tau Gamma or displaying unparalleled courage as an U.S. Army Special Forces Commander in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America.

MacNamara graduated from Millersville University in 1984. He grew up in North Carolina, where his father served in the U.S. Army at Ft. Bragg. His father was a Major in the Special Forces, who died in the Vietnam War, when his son was just four years old. In 1984, MacNamara earned his Army commission from Millersville University’s ROTC program, where he held the highest positions of Cadet Commander and Ranger Commander. He served as an infantry officer with the 101st Airborne Division and completed Special Services training to become a Green Beret. In a military career that spanned more than 20 years, MacNamara commanded two In-Extremes Forces, supporting Theatre Commanders-in-Chiefs with Special Operations rapid response forces in Asia, Europe and Africa. He served as operations officer of the Advanced Skills Training Battalion for Special Forces, then as Chief of Training for all Army Special Operations Forces, including Green Berets, Rangers and Task Force 160 Aviation Regiment. MacNamara then served as Commander of the Golden Knights U.S. Army Parachute Team.

Settling in Mechanicsburg, he discovered that the Millersville chapter of his beloved fraternity Sigma Tau Gamma was struggling both financially and in its mission of service. He and his alumni brothers worked to restore the standing of the fraternity, establishing an alumni chapter of Sigma Tau Gamma. As Executive Vice President of the board, he mentors the chapter as an advisor. He personally established the Sigma Tau Gamma H. Craig Lewis Memorial Award as an endowment meant to foster the brotherhood in improving their GPAs and serving their community.

Active in the Gold Star Teen Adventure, he supports the team-building outdoor adventure program for children of fallen Special Operations service members. As an entrepreneur, MacNamara is a partner and CEO of the start-up investment firm Strategic Investment Partners LLC.

Rodney S. Loose served his country as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a member of the U.S. Marine Corps and as a civilian working for the U.S. Department of Defense.

During his sophomore year, Loose enrolled in the Marine Corps’ Platoon Leaders Course and attended Officer Candidates School during his summer breaks. After 18 years of service in the Marine Corps Reserve, he retired with the rank of Major.

Following his release from active duty with the Marines, Loose worked as a civilian employee of the Department of Defense as an industrial security specialist and a criminal investigator. In 1984, he was appointed as a special agent for the FBI in Richmond. He was assigned to the “reactive squad” to investigate domestic terrorism incidents, bank robberies, truck hijackings and kidnappings.

Special Agent Loose was trained and certified as a hostage negotiator and police instructor, and was a member of the SWAT Team. After three years in Richmond, he was transferred to the New York City Field Office, where he worked Soviet counterintelligence and investigated Colombian drug trafficking, and domestic and international terrorism.

In 2003, he was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent and transferred to the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. He was assigned to the Investigative Training Unit, responsible for teaching domestic and international terrorism, Islam and Arabic culture, and inter-agency cooperation to new agents. He retired from the FBI in 2007, after 22 years as an agent.

Loose returned home to Pennsylvania, where he is an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Alvernia University in Reading. He is in demand as a speaker, giving presentations to various libraries and civic groups on his experiences as an FBI agent in New York City on 9/11 and the issue of domestic terrorism today.

Associate Professor, Media Arts and Sciences
Associate Professor, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology

Hugh Herr directs the Biomechatronics group at The MIT Media Lab.

His research program seeks to advance technologies that promise to accelerate the merging of body and machine, including device architectures that resemble the body’s musculoskeletal design, actuator technologies that behave like muscle, and control methodologies that exploit principles of biological movement. His methods encompass a diverse set of scientific and technological disciplines, from the science of biomechanics and biological movement control to the design of biomedical devices for the treatment of human physical disability.

His research accomplishments in science and technology have already made a significant impact on physically challenged people. The Transfemoral Quasipassive Knee Prosthesis has been commercialized by Össur Inc., and is now benefiting amputees throughout the world. In 2006, he founded the company iWalk Inc. to commercialize the Powered Ankle-Foot Prosthesis and other bionic leg devices.

Professor Herr’s work impacts a number of academic communities. He has given numerous invited and plenary lectures at international conferences and colloquia, including the IVth World Congress of Biomechanics, the International Conference on Advanced Prosthetics, the National Assembly of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, World Economic Forum, Google Zeitgeist, Digital Life Design, and the TEDMED Conference.

He is Associate Editor for the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, and has served as a reviewer for the Journal of Experimental Biology, the International Journal of Robotics Research, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, and the Proceedings of the Royal Society: Biological Sciences. He has been invited to participate in joint funding proposals from other universities and corporations, and has served on research review panels including the National Institute of Health, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In 2007, He was presented with the 13th Annual Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy and Employment. His work has been featured by various national and international media, including Scientific American Frontiers, Technology Review, National Geographic, the History Channel, and CNN. He continues to stay involved at Millersville by conducting a class for math/physics students and faculty and was the Key Note Speaker at May 6, 2011 Commencement.