Young Alumni Achievement Award

2024 YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT - Dana Wile '11, '15M

Dana Wile, a double graduate of Millersville University, earned her B.S. in Communication Studies in 2011 and an M.Ed. in School Counseling in 2015. Before attending Millersville, Dana served in AmeriCorps with City Year, exemplifying her early dedication to service and education.

As a school counselor at Penn Manor High School, Dana is deeply committed to guiding students toward achieving their full potential. She is a passionate advocate for social justice and educational equity, presenting on topics such as career advising in technology and bridging the digital divide. Dana’s work has extended into statewide initiatives, where she advocates for school counselors' roles in Pennsylvania's CS4ALL initiatives, serving on the ECEP Alliance advisory board.

Dana co-founded the Leadership Summit (2015–2018), equipping students to address cycles of societal oppression, and helped establish the local affiliate of NCWIT’s Aspirations in Computing Award at Millersville, inspiring young women and gender-queer students to pursue technology careers. A co-author of a $400,000 PASmart Grant, Dana has expanded opportunities for counselors to engage with the CS4ALL movement.

Through her advocacy and volunteerism, Dana continues to inspire and support the next generation, ensuring they have the tools to succeed and create meaningful change.

2024 YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT - Jessica Smeltz '04, PhD

Dr. Jessica Smeltz, a first-generation college student, began her academic journey at Millersville University in 2004 as a Secondary Education major with a focus on Chemistry. Under the mentorship of Dr. Rajaseelan, she discovered her passion for research, participating in a prestigious Research Experience for Undergraduates program at the University of Arizona. This transformative experience led her to pursue a PhD in Chemistry, which she earned in 2013 from North Carolina State University, specializing in organometallic chemistry and catalysis.

Following a postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. Smeltz returned to Millersville as a visiting Assistant Professor in 2013, gaining valuable teaching and research experience. She later joined the Florida Institute of Technology in 2014, where her dedication to improving student success and retention earned her rapid promotions, including becoming the Chemistry Program Chair in 2020. In 2023, she was appointed Department Head of the newly formed Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, overseeing over 20 faculty members and more than 200 students.

Dr. Smeltz’s leadership, innovative teaching, and commitment to mentoring students reflect her deep gratitude for the guidance she received as a student. Her journey from Millersville to becoming a prominent leader in higher education serves as an inspiration to first-generation college students and aspiring scientists alike.

2024 YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT - Christine Persun '17, '22M

Christine Persun, a dedicated mathematics teacher at Mechanicsburg Middle School in Mechanicsburg, PA, graduated from Millersville University in 2017 with a BSE in Middle Level Education. A member of the University Honors College, Christine was recognized early in her journey as Freshman Leader of the Year (2013) and Student Leader of the Year (2014). She returned to Millersville to earn her M.Ed. in Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction with a concentration in Integrative STEM in 2022 and later completed a graduate certificate in Instructional Coaching from Immaculata University in 2023.

Christine has actively contributed to her educational community by presenting at district and state-level conferences on best teaching practices. She has spearheaded initiatives like the STEM Girls program, encouraging middle school girls to explore STEM careers, and an after-school English Language Learner mathematics prep program. Her achievements include publishing a lesson plan on Sustainable Development Goal 14 through the United Nations and earning a grant from the University of Pennsylvania to participate in a teacher education program in India and Nepal.

Currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Policy and Social Change at the University of Pittsburgh, Christine expects to graduate in Spring 2027. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband Will, whom she met in middle school, and their chocolate Labrador retriever, Murray. Christine’s unwavering passion for education and dedication to empowering students and educators exemplify the values of Millersville University.

No recipients were chosen in 2023.

2022 YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT - Mary Kate Lowe '09

A native to Orange County, NY, Mary Kate Lowe has dedicated her professional development to building a more positive environment for the youth and families that reside in her community. Mary Kate has a bachelor's degree in social work from Millersville University (2009) and a Master of Social Work from Adelphi University (2012). In 2020, Mary Kate completed a Volunteer Management Certification.

From 2012 to 2017, Mary Kate worked as a Mentoring Manager with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, NY. Through this work, she felt a deep connection to the preventative mentoring model and found a love for nonprofit work. From 2018-2021, Mary Kate transitioned to being a Foster Care Clinician providing parenting education to birth parents who lost custody of their children. This challenging work left her yearning for something more uplifting and transformative, leading her to gain a master's degree in nonprofit management from Grace College and Theological Seminary (2021). Soon after, Mary Kate was personally invited to consider the Executive Directors position at Big Brothers Big Sisters, thus beginning a great new professional adventure in January 2022. Mary Kate is looking forward to advocating for a mission that allows youth facing adversity opportunities to achieve their potential through one-to-one mentoring relationships.

At an early age, Mary Kate’s involvement with her church and experiences of volunteering for mission trips, peer focused retreats and the completion of an AmeriCorps service year (2009-2010) ignited the curiosity of the what it means to be of service to others and set the foundation for her social work career. In her personal life, Mary Kate is an Associate Minister for the Sisters of the Presentation where she collaborates with religious sisters and community partners to bring resources to the families that are facing adversity in her community. She also volunteers with Towns 4 Troops, a family run nonprofit that provides services to active-duty military members and their families to assist in their social and emotional well-being.

2022 YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT - Tara L. O'Rourke '06, O.D.

Dr. Tara L. O’Rourke graduated from Millersville University in 2006, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree under an accelerated program with an optometry focus in three years. During her undergraduate years, she had the opportunity to work with Dr. Shawn Gallagher on clinical research, which further developed her interest in eye care. Following her time at Millersville, she earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from Pennsylvania College of Optometry (aka Salus University) in May 2010, graduating summa cum laude. O’Rourke then advanced her optometric training, focusing on primary eye care and ocular disease during her residency year at the Salem, Virginia, VA Medical Center.

O’Rourke currently works at the Penn State Eye Center at the Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. She specializes in ocular disease management, specialty contact lens fitting and primary care. In addition, she co-manages with multiple ophthalmologists for consultations on patients ranging from oculoplastic, glaucoma, pediatrics and neuro ophthalmology. O’Rourke actively works with corneal specialists on post-op cataract care, research, and management with scleral contact lens fittings, among others, specialty contact lenses, for keratoconus and other corneal conditions. She is an assistant professor of ophthalmology, in which her role includes teaching lecture series for ophthalmology residents based on ophthalmic and clinical optics. 

She enjoys her time serving as a preceptor for a local high school program known as the Health Care Exploration Program (HCEP). This program allows high school students the chance to interact with healthcare providers in a real-world environment and explore a variety of health care career options. O’Rourke had the opportunity to lead several students who have been accepted or are currently at Salus University.

Currently, O’Rourke is vice president for the Central PA Optometric Society and serves on the Diabetic Eye Health Alliance committee to educate patients on the importance of diabetic eye care.

Outside of her profession, she loves spending time with her family, including her husband, Danny, and three daughters, Caleigh, Harper and Reese.

2021 YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT - Jerry Martin '11

Jerry Martin graduated from Millersville University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government and political affairs. He received a Master of Science degree in disaster medicine and management from Thomas Jefferson University in 2017 and an advanced-graduate certificate in public policy from Northwestern University in 2019.

Martin currently serves as a senior intelligence analyst with the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP), where he works with the FBI on various biotechnology-focused initiatives as well as manages NJOHSP's various analytic partnerships with external organizations. Previously, he led a team of analysts focused on international and domestic terrorist groups and threats to critical infrastructure in New Jersey. He has also provided support to national-level terrorism investigations, including the September 2016 New Jersey and New York City bombings. Additionally, he serves as NJOHSP’s liaison to military facilities and units across the state and as a certified instructor for New Jersey’s Regional Intelligence Academy.

In addition to his role with NJOHSP, Martin is a chief petty officer with the U.S. Navy Reserves and is currently assigned to the Office of Naval Intelligence in Fort Dix, New Jersey. Having most recently returned from a mobilization in support of Joint Task Force-Guantanamo, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2020, his active service includes tours of duty in Germany, the United Kingdom, Algeria, Tunisia and elsewhere in support of U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Second Fleet and the Office of Naval Intelligence.

Martin’s recognitions and personal awards include Out in National Security and New America’s 2020 LGBTQIA+ experts in national security and foreign policy, SANS Institute’s 2020 Difference Maker in cybersecurity, recognition by the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation for efforts with the FBI’s Biotechnology Threat Focus Cell, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and two Outstanding Volunteer Service Medals.

Outside of his professional career, he enjoys spending time with his family and two beagles and visiting international and historic landmarks across the globe.

 

2021 YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT - Danielle Elliot ’16, ’21M

Danielle Elliot graduated from Millersville University in 2016, receiving a bachelor’s degree with a dual major in elementary education and special education. She is pursuing a master’s degree in special education at Millersville University and will graduate in December 2021. As an undergraduate student, Elliot was active in campus activities and served as president of the Student Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and special events chair of the University Activities Board. Additionally, Elliot supported Millersville’s Sustainability Committee and was involved with the Millersville University Community Garden. She was awarded the Roy and Mary Garden Gamber – Helen L. Koontz Award in Education from nominations by her professors at Millersville University.

Elliot began her teaching career in 2017 as a long-term substitute teacher in the School District of Lancaster at Price Elementary School and Hamilton Elementary School. In 2018, she became a learning support teacher at Burrowes Elementary School for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Elliot goes above and beyond to support her students and is known for her kindness and patience and for making a positive impact in the lives of students and faculty members through her work.

Since 2017, Elliot has been a volunteer head coach with Girls on the Run for Burrowes Elementary in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, leading teams of 20 girls in third through fifth grade during 10-week fall and spring seasons every year. As a coach, she guides team members through lessons about self-esteem, character and the importance of community involvement and physical activity. In 2019, Elliot was named the Girls on the Run Lancaster Coach of the Year from nominations by fellow coaches, parents, teachers and participants. As an educator, mentor and role model, Elliot is an inspiration for her students and colleagues and exemplifies commitment, grace and dedication to making a difference.

2021 YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT - Jeff Rood ’04, Ph.D.

Dr. Jeff Rood graduated from Millersville University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He earned departmental honors and carried out undergraduate research with Dr. Edward Rajaseelan. He was also a member of the men’s cross-country and track and field teams while at Millersville University. Rood is a professor of chemistry and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the School of Science at Elizabethtown College.

After graduating from Millersville University, Rood went on to attend the University of Notre Dame where he joined the lab of Ken Henderson and received a doctorate in inorganic chemistry. While at Notre Dame, he earned several honors including a Bayer Predoctoral Fellowship and the Kaneb Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award. Upon graduating in 2009, Rood began his academic career as an assistant professor at Elizabethtown College. He was tenured and promoted in 2015 and became department chair in 2019. In 2021, he was promoted to the rank of professor.

Rood teaches a variety of courses at Elizabethtown College, including general chemistry and inorganic chemistry. He is also active in the First Year Seminar program where he teaches a course about energy. He has developed an active research program in inorganic materials that involves undergraduate students and has served as a mentor to more than 30 student projects at Elizabethtown College. Rood has published 20 peer-reviewed papers in areas such as synthetic inorganic chemistry, inorganic materials and crystallography. During his time at Elizabethtown, he has received grant funding from Research Corporation and the National Science Foundation. His work at Elizabethtown College has earned several merit awards for teaching, research and service and in 2021 he was awarded the Elizabethtown College Honors Program Outstanding Professor Award. Rood resides in Maytown, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Liz ’04, and daughters Kella and Kaceley.   

2020 YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT - Representative Jordan Harris '06

State Representative Jordan Harris graduated from Millersville University in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in government and political affairs and a minor in African-American studies. On campus at Millersville, he trained for public service as a member of Student Senate, a student representative of the Millersville University Foundation Board, and as a residential assistant. He also holds a master’s degree in education from Cabrini College and is currently a doctoral candidate in educational leadership at Neumann University. Before pursuing a career in public service, he worked as an educator in the Philadelphia Public School System for several years.

First chosen to represent the 186th Legislative District on Nov. 6, 2012, Harris was most recently selected by his colleagues to serve as the Democratic Caucus Whip for the 2019-20 legislative session. Harris is only the second African-American to hold the position of Whip for the Democratic Caucus and the youngest member of leadership in either the House or the Senate. Harris previously served as chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus.

Prior to being elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Harris focused on his passion for helping children and young adults as he was appointed as the executive director of Philadelphia's Youth Commission where he advised the mayor, city council and other key decision-makers on issues relating to the city's youth and young adults.

Harris has become a national leader on the topic of criminal justice reform. He has helped author Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Law, which was signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf in June 2018 and was hailed as a national model for the automatic sealing of certain criminal records. Harris has been instrumental in the work against gun violence in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, including working with fellow legislators to bring funding to Gun Violence Task Force. This program aims to target gun traffickers and get illegal guns off the street in Philadelphia.

In 2016, Harris was appointed to the Millersville University Council of Trustees where he serves as secretary and is a member of the Council of Trustees Resources Committee. Harris is a strong advocate for public education for his alma mater and for the PASSHE system. His work was essential in creating a partnership between Cheyney University and Starbucks aimed at improving access to higher education for African-Americans and promoting the school's legacy as the nation's oldest historically Black college and the only HBCU in the PASSHE system.

 

2020 YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT - Jonathan Shue ’13, DMD

Dr. Jonathan Shue graduated summa cum laude from Millersville University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry along with departmental and university honors. Shue received numerous University awards and honors, culminating in Millersville University’s nomination for the Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence.

Shue’s academic mentor at Millersville University, Dr. Edward Rajaseelan, took the time to understand his personal and career goals and his plan to pursue dentistry, and contrived a way to condense Shue’s undergraduate education to three years. While attending Millersville University, Shue was exposed to dental research through Long Orthodontic Associates (LOA), where he was challenged with developing a comprehensive mathematical model to quantify the difference that perspective induces on the perceived smile line (arc).

In his last year at Millersville University, Shue was granted a four-year Health Professions Scholarship Program position with the United States Air Force and admission to the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, acquiring his DMD along with departmental honors in dental radiology in May 2017. During his final year in the program, Shue applied for a one-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD-1) program through the Air Force and matriculated into the Air Force Dental Corps.

Upon graduating from dental school, Shue participated in Commissioned Officer Training (COT) with the United States Air Force. After completing the training program, Shue traveled to Travis Air Force Base where he dedicated himself to furthering his dental education and received additional training in dental specialties under the direct supervision of specialists. While at Travis Air Force Base, Shue received numerous awards, including the Major General Arthur J. Sachsel Award, and a 60th Dental Squadron Commander Coin.

In 2018, Shue graduated from the program and was assigned to Vandenberg Air Force Base, where he continues to serve in many capacities and primarily as a general dentist. During his time in the Air Force, Shue delivered presentations on “Pain Management via Battlefield Acupuncture,” “Orthodontic Molar Uprighting Techniques and Theory” and “TMD Diagnosis and Treatment.” Shue’s accomplishments and honors throughout his professional career have made a valuable contribution to many patients, the United States Air Force and the field of dentistry.

2020 YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT - Danielle Farabaugh ’02, Psy.D.

Dr. Danielle Farabaugh graduated magna cum laude with departmental honors in psychology with a minor in sociology from Millersville University in 2002. At Millersville, Farabaugh received an invitation to participate in the Psychology Honors Program by Dr. Susan P. Luek and Dr. Alfred Forsyth. Eventually choosing social anxiety as the focus of her honors thesis, it is here where her clinical and research interests in anxiety were born.

Farabaugh went on to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology at La Salle University, developing additional interests in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, other forms of anxiety, and trauma. She then pursued a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, under the mentorship and direct supervision of Dr. Aaron T. Beck, where she received Beck’s specialized training in Cognitive Therapy, aided in research that would inform future Cognitive Therapy training materials, and co-authored a published manuscript on a training model for evidence-based treatments in public mental health settings. 

After completing her fellowship, Farabaugh obtained her license and began a career with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Currently, she is a psychologist and team leader of a nationally recognized residential Posttraumatic Stress Disorder program for combat veterans at the Coatesville VA Medical Center. Straddling both clinical and administrative domains of the field, her work focuses on diagnostic interviewing, aiding in the management of veteran admissions and referrals, overseeing therapeutic programming, heading a multidisciplinary treatment team, and delivering individual and group evidenced-based treatments for PTSD. She is also involved in the selection, training, and supervision of pre-doctoral psychology interns. 

In her non-psychologist life, she enjoys traveling, snorkeling, exploring sea and animal life, and spending quality time with her husband and daughter.    

 

2019 YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT - Jaime Kurtz ’00, Ph.D.

Dr. Jaime Kurtz graduated summa cum laude from Millersville University in 2000 with a B.A. in psychology, earning both university and departmental honors. While at Millersville, Kurtz’s passion for psychology and academia was first sparked by her dedicated and inspiring professors who encouraged and mentored her, particularly Drs. Tae Woo, Al Forsyth, Susan Luek and John Osborne. Kurtz was active in the University Honors Program, the All-Campus Musical Organization, University Choir, Psi Chi and the Psychology Club.

Currently, Kurtz is an associate professor of psychology at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and was the recipient of a research grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, as well as numerous departmental teaching awards and fellowships. Over the course of her career, her research on strategies for sustainable happiness has been published in top academic journals and has received media attention from outlets such as “Time,” “Forbes,” “The Wall Street Journal,” “Conde Nast Traveler,” “CBS News,” and the “Today” show.

Kurtz considers one of her greatest strengths to be explaining psychological research to the public in a compelling and useful way. Since 2013, she has worked with the Institute for Brain Potential, offering seminars on mental health to thousands of health-care professionals nationwide. In addition, she writes the popular Happy Trails online column for “Psychology Today.” In 2017, she published her first book, “The Happy Traveler,” which focuses on research-based tips for designing better vacations. An enthusiastic traveler herself, she is the creator and director of a study abroad program, Exploring the Good Life in Scandinavia, in which university students visit two of the world’s happiest countries, Denmark and Sweden, to study cross-cultural differences in well-being.

When not teaching or traveling, she is an avid long-distance runner and has completed 12 marathons, including the Boston Marathon twice. She also enjoys performing in musical theatre productions in her hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia.

 

2019 YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT - Clifford Stains ’02, Ph.D.

Dr. Clifford Stains earned a BS in chemistry with a biochemistry option and a minor in biology from Millersville University in 2002. During this time, the thesis work he conducted with Dr. Sandra Turchi set him on a course for a career in academia dedicated to scholarly research. Stains continued his studies at the University of Arizona where his PhD work in chemistry was conducted under the guidance of Indraneel Ghosh. At the University of Arizona, his work with Carl S. Marvel was recognized with the most outstanding chemistry graduate student award. He was a NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellow at MIT with Professor Barbara Imperiali in 2011, where he began learning ways to design cellular therapies that can target specific aspects of a person’s biology without affecting other necessary functions. His independent career began as a professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from 2011 to 2019. During this time, he published an impressive 32 papers and was awarded more than $2 million in funding.

In summer 2019 his lab moved to the Department of Chemistry at the University of Virginia, where Stains became an associate professor of chemistry. As a chemical biologist, he has continued to build upon his interest in cell-signaling, or the communication within and between cells. Stains’ approach to understanding cell signaling at the molecular level is cutting-edge scientific discovery and has already made real world implications on the development of treatments for diseases such as cancer and diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and Alzheimer’s.

Stains and his lab have designed completely new cellular communication components to better understand how these systems function and their role in human disease, redesigned proteins to understand signaling pathways in diseases, and developed new ways to accurately detect very small levels of a variety of signaling molecules in living cells; including a method that aims to detect early signs of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, which both possess proteins that are so small that they are currently only detectable posthumously. Stains’ work has significantly contributed to the understanding of cellular communication and ultimately the fundamental processes that lead to human disease. His research is extensive and impactful, and he has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and the Elsa U. Pardee Foundation.

Beyond his own research, Stains has served as an advisor and mentor to countless undergraduate and post-graduate students and conducted outreach to provide high school students with access to STEM education.

 

2019 YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT - Nikanor I. Volkov ’05, ’07M, Ph.D., CVA

Dr. Nikanor Volkov received his bachelor’s degree in International Studies with honors in 2005 and a Master of Business Administration degree in 2007 from Millersville University. He received his Ph.D. in finance from Florida Atlantic University in 2015 and he holds a Certified Valuation Analyst designation by the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. Volkov is currently an Assistant Professor of Finance at Mercer University, where he teaches classes in corporate finance, financial analytics, international finance, investments, mergers and acquisitions, capital budgeting, and venture funding at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Volkov’s research interests are in the area of information disclosure, investments, investor behavior, corporate diversification, mergers and acquisitions, and forensic economics and finance. His research is published in the "Journal of Banking and Finance," “Journal of Corporate Finance,” “Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance,” “Global Finance Journal” and the “Journal of Forensic Economics.” Volkov’s most recent research interest is in the area of career and education choice and its effect on the long-term wealth of an individual. Volkov has developed an online application that helps young adults make better career choices and ensure that their investment in education is a value-creating endeavor.

In 2019, Volkov was selected to the 40 under 40 list by the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, an honor that recognizes the next generation of business valuation industry mavericks. Also in 2019, Volkov was included in the “Journal of Banking and Finance,” one of the top academic publications in the field. Volkov is a recipient of the 2017 Exemplary Faculty Award from Mercer University and the Florida Atlantic University Presidential Doctoral Fellowship Award in 2011 and 2012. His research on the effect of Exchange Traded Funds on the return and volatility of underlying securities has been awarded an ETF Research Academy Grant sponsored by the Paris-Dauphine House of Finance and Lyxor Asset Management.

In addition to his academic research, Volkov has a consulting practice that focuses on litigation support in the area of forensic economics and finance, primarily for cases involving commercial damages and damages resulting from personal injury. He has also developed a one-of-a-kind software that computes economic damages in personal injury cases that have not yet reached the trial stage.

Volkov is also actively involved in the community. He sits on the School Governance Board of Barnwell Elementary School in Johns Creek, Georgia, where he is a Chair of the Finance Committee.

T. Joseph Dennes III ’04, Ph.D.

Dr. Joseph Dennes graduated with departmental honors from Millersville University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry.  During his time at Millersville, he received the American Chemical Society Southeastern PA Section Award, the American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry, a National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Fellowship, the Gerald S. Weiss Inorganic Chemistry Scholarship, and the Millersville University Search for Excellence Scholarship.

Dennes earned his Ph.D. in materials chemistry from Princeton University in 2008, where he was recognized with the Hubert Alyea Teaching Award and Miles Pickering Teaching Award for outstanding service as a teaching assistant. He also received the Princeton University Wyeth Seminar Series Award – a fellowship given to the best graduate student seminar to teach attendees about his or her research. Dennes’ Princeton thesis work has been further advanced by two startup companies: Orthobond, Inc. in Princeton, NJ, and Aculon, Inc. in San Diego, CA. 

Dr. Ed Rajaseelan, professor and chair of chemistry at Millersville University, said of Dennes, “I always appreciated his exemplary character. He has participated in events organized by the MU Career Services, and I am confident he will be a great asset to the MU Alumni Association.”

Dennes is in his tenth year of service at DuPont Central Research & Development. In 2013, he was appointed manager of the Soft Matter R&D group, where he led more than 40 Ph.D. and bachelor’s-level researchers.  In 2016, he was appointed R&D Manager for the DuPont^TM Tyvek® business, where he led the R&D, applications development, and technical service teams.  Most recently in 2017, Dennes was appointed to lead the Kevlar® and Nomex® Mass Transportation and Composites businesses for DuPont where he is responsible for developing and executing the growth strategy and is responsible for the overall financial performance of the business.  In his career at DuPont, he has authored more than 30 patents, and his work has resulted in the commercialization of new products in the fields of energy storage, food pathogen detection, textiles, filtration, consumer products, and medical device packaging.

 

Leslie Gates ’03, Ph.D.

Dr. Leslie Gates graduated from Millersville University in 2003 with a BSE in Art Education. Following graduation, Gates taught art in the York City and Greencastle-Antrim School Districts. She earned her MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Shepherd University (Shepherdstown, WV) and her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Maryland College Park.

In 2012, Gates returned to Millersville as a faculty member in the Department of Art & Design, where she currently serves as an Associate Professor of Art Education. Gates coordinates the undergraduate and graduate programs in art education and finds deep joy in mentoring and supporting students as they enact their new visions for art education.

Kelly Davis ’95 nominated Gates for this award because, “Dr. Gates is a wonderful example of what makes Millersville University an outstanding learning institution. She is a much-respected voice on campus and a well-known collaborator whose work benefits her students, colleagues, department, the community and University as a whole.”

Gates was named Pennsylvania Art Education Association’s Art Educator of the Year in 2017-18, PAEA’s highest honor.  As a result of her commitment and work, Millersville University has partnered with the PAEA to offer many workshops for local educators. Focused on expanding arts education in the community, last year Gates re-launched Saturday Art School, in which K-8th grade students from the community take art courses from undergraduate art education majors at the University. In 2018, the National Art Education Foundation awarded Gates the Mary McMullan Grant for her work with Saturday Art School. 

Her commitment extends to educators state-wide; Gates has served on PAEA’s Board of Directors from 2009-2017 and has been involved in planning PAEA’s annual Conference since 2010. Gates initiated the Legacy Breakfast series, which annually honors one art educator whose career has had significant impact on art education in the state of Pennsylvania, and she was honored by PAEA as the Elementary Art Educator of the Year in 2007.

Gates actively engages in art education at the national level, having presented many times at the National Art Education Association’s (NAEA) annual conference. She is in her second term of service on the editorial review board for the NAEA’s Art Education journal. Gates lives in Lancaster, PA with her husband Sam (’01) and their two daughters.

 

Michelle Kaufman ’03, Ph.D.

Dr. Michelle R. Kaufman is an assistant professor in the Department of Health, Behavior & Society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. As a social psychologist, she studies how interpersonal relationships and social factors contribute to health disparities, and how behavior change interventions can mitigate these factors. Her work focuses primarily on how gender roles, sexuality and social status put individuals at risk for poor health outcomes. She uses mixed methodologies to design, implement and evaluate health interventions.

While at Millersville, Kaufman’s aptitude for research shined. MU professor emeritus, Dr. G. Alfred Forsyth and wife, Peggy (retired MU professor) nominated Kaufman for this award to recognize both her achievements and her personhood. “She applied her outstanding critical thinking abilities to multiple research problems and carried each project through to conference presentations. She has blended together perfectly her scholarly research interests and her caring human behavior social action interests into a single powerhouse career,” remarked Alfred Forsyth.

Kaufman has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications tackling difficult issues such as sexual violence and sex trafficking. She has four manuscripts under review focusing on sexual violence and has presented at more than 60 scientific meetings. Beyond the classroom, Kaufman sits on an advisory panel for the National Mentoring Research Board and is an executive board member of the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative. She has also invested her time and talent supporting New Choices and New Beginnings programs for at-risk females in Lancaster, PA.

Kaufman’s immense influence spans several continents, with current and past projects in the U.S., Nepal, South Africa, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire and Indonesia. Her most recent work focuses on how mentoring can contribute to better health outcomes for urban adolescents, a project that was granted nearly $900,000. Peggy Forsyth noted that Kaufman’s “domestic research will have a similar impact to that of her global research. Her ability to integrate two views promises to make major breakthroughs in addressing the health and social behavior issues of at-risk youth, just as she has blended biological and social psychology fields to improve the lives of women.”

Erin L. Baker '03

Since graduating from Millersville University, Erin Baker has risen through the ranks to be named the vice president and director of PNC’s Line of Business Development Programs and Campus Recruiting. After earning a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from MU, Baker went on to earn her master’s degree in corporate communications from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

A rising star as a mentor and civic engagement figure in the industry, Baker received Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 under 40 award in 2009. She strives to ensure that young people find a balance between being successful in their professional and civic lives. She has also devoted time to advisory boards such as Millvale Franciscan Volunteer Program, National Student Partnerships, City Theatre Greenroom Advisory Board, Connect Greenfield, Pitt’s CPLE Mentoring Program, New Pittsburgh Collaborative and serves as board secretary of the Get Involved, Inc.

Baker regularly speaks with groups of young leaders throughout the region. She also oversees programs and opportunities for all of PNC’s young talent and manages a team of more than 30 people.

“Erin positively influences hundreds of lives for young professionals at PNC. She empowers and inspires college students to get involved and give back in the region through PNC and as an active volunteer,” says John Held ’02, who nominated Baker and was a 2015 recipient of the award.

Prior to joining PNC in September 2007, Baker held several positions within the Coro Center for Civic Leadership, Pittsburgh’s branch of the national leadership training organization. She was the Director of Recruitment and Outreach, and previously held the position of University Relations Associate for the Regional Internship Center.

In her free time, Baker is a mentor with the Mentor 2.0 program for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh. In her past roles, she has served on employer advisory boards at regional colleges and universities as well as planning commissions for local career services sponsored events. She was also previously active on advisory or fiduciary boards for Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project and Junior League of Pittsburgh. Baker has been honored with the Pittsburgh Business Times Fast Tracker award and a Pittsburgh Circle of Courage award.

 

Ashlea Rineer-Hershey ’03, Ph.D.

Dr. Rineer-Hershey received a bachelor’s degree from Millersville University in 2003 with a dual certificate in special and elementary education and went on to earn her master’s in Special Education with a teaching certificate in English as a Second Language from Eastern Mennonite University in 2006. She has dedicated her life to teaching.

Early in her career, she joined the faculty at Slippery Rock University while she completed her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership & Instructional Management at Robert Morris University. Rineer-Hershey took on numerous leadership roles and volunteered her time to Slippery Rock sponsored events such as “Care Break,” a community service program to help those across the country.

She went on to work at California University of Pennsylvania as an assistant professor in the Early, Middle and Special Education Department. She also worked for the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), where she worked on various state initiatives such as Autism & Inclusive Practices.  In this position, she trained many teachers and administrators across the state on effective instructional strategies and approaches.

Rineer-Hershey returned to Slippery Rock in 2013 as a full-time tenured faculty member of the Special Education Department. She has assisted with the implementation of the university’s new Education Doctorate in Special Education, been involved in grants writing that has brought in more than $365,000, serves on many committees and volunteers her time with student activities. She also serves as the acting Special Education Director for the Plum Borough School District in Pittsburgh in which she is responsible for the education programs and placements for over 500 students.

Rineer-Hershey has authored a textbook which focuses on her research in the areas of transition services, inclusive practices, co-teaching and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She presents at conferences across the state and country and has written numerous articles for peer-reviewed journals.

A wife and mother of three, she is active in her community and church and shares her time and expertise with numerous organizations including Best Buddies, Embrace Grace, and the Pennsylvania Council for Exceptional Children where she serves as a regional director.

 

Michael Zdilla ’00, Ph.D.

Dr. Michael Zdilla graduated magna cum laude from Millersville University in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a biochemistry option. He is making his mark in the field of chemistry by focusing on the use of multi-metal systems for various applications including green catalysis, materials precursors, solid electrolytes, energetic materials and biological model systems.

As an undergraduate, he was the recipient of numerous awards including the Freshman Chemistry award, Gerald Weiss Inorganic prize, Polymer Education award and the American Institute of Chemist award. Zdilla was the first chemistry graduate to receive the Breidenstine Scholarship for his outstanding honors thesis which focused on synthesis of biologically inspired molybdenum complexes. He was also the first chemistry student from Millersville to get admitted to Princeton University where he earned his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry, performing inorganic synthesis of iron-nitrogen cluster mimics of the nitrogenase iron-molybdenum cofactor.

As a postdoctoral fellow, Zdilla studied catalysis and mechanistic bioinorganic chemistry on the chlorite dismutase enzyme and on synthetic models of metalloporphyrin redox enzymes. He is currently a Robert L. Smith Early Career Professor and associate professor of chemistry at Temple University in Philadelphia.

During his time at Temple, Zdilla has truly excelled and is the recipient of the prestigious Camille Dreyfus Teacher Scholar award, a program that supports the research and teaching careers of talented young faculty in the chemical sciences. He has also been the recipient of the National Science Foundation Career award and the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator award.

Zdilla has published 48 papers in prestigious journals on the topics of synthetic and mechanistic inorganic chemistry, catalysis, materials science, nanoscience, energy science and crystallography. He has also given more than 50 invited talks and presentations at regional, national, and international meetings and major universities. Currently, there are three Millersville chemistry graduates doing their Ph.D.’s under his direction.

Dr. Thomas Bernhardt '96

Less than 20 years since graduating from Millersville University with a B.S. degree in chemistry  with  biochemistry option,  Dr. Thomas Bernhardt has made his mark as one the world’s leading microbiologists, focusing his expertise on the urgent threat of antibiotic resistance.

Dr. Bernhardt’s four years at Millersville hinted at what he would achieve later in life. As an undergraduate student, he was honored with the Freshman Chemistry Award, Organic Chemistry Award, Richard Sasin Endowed Scholarship in Chemistry, and Southeastern Pennsylvania Section of the American Chemical Society Award.  He received his doctorate in biochemistry and biophysics at Texas A&M University, where he was mentored by Dr. Ryland Young in researching how simple bacteria viruses destroy bacterial cells when they replicate. For his work at A&M, Dr. Bernhardt received the prestigious Nat Sternberg Thesis Prize, administered by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, for the most outstanding Ph.D. thesis in bacterial molecular biology. At Case Western Reserve University, he was awarded the Krampitz Award for excellence in Postdoctoral Research for his work in the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial cell division.

A rising star at Harvard Medical School’s internationally acclaimed Microbiology and Immunobiology Department, Dr. Bernhardt was promoted to full professor with tenure in just nine years. His research laboratory’s groundbreaking work on bacterial cell wall assembly is funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health. The process of cell wall assembly is the target of many of our most effective antibiotics, including penicillin and related drugs. However, resistance to these drugs is on the rise. “Antibiotic resistance is a major threat to our healthcare system, jeopardizing medical advancements such as chemotherapy, organ transplants and joint replacement surgery,” says Dr. Bernhardt. He is the recipient of many fellowships and awards at the Harvard Medical School, including the Mentoring Award from the Harvard Biological and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program.

To help combat antibiotic resistance, Dr. Bernhardt collaborates with researchers in Harvard’s Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, as well as the Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department, to understand the fundamental mechanisms by which bacteria build their cell wall. The insights gained from these studies promise to facilitate the development of antibiotics that can save lives throughout the world.  

 

Dr. Kristin Albright Waters '05

In less than a dozen years since graduating from Millersville University in 2005, Kristin Waters has unwaveringly strived to reach her goals.

With a bachelor of arts in psychology from Millersville, she went on to earn her master of arts in education, educational leadership and policy studies at Virginia Tech in 2007, then her master of business administration at Capitol College in 2011. Earlier this year, she received her doctor of educational leadership from Frostburg State University in Maryland.

Dr. Waters has been associate director of operations for undergraduate admissions for the University of Maryland in Baltimore County for three years and previously served at UMBC’s office of the registrar.  To say she is accomplished is an understatement.

“Kristin is a true leader in her community and within the institutions she serves,” says John Held ’02, who nominated Waters and was the recipient of the 2015 Young Alumni Achievement Award. “It has been a joy to watch her learn and grow in her career. She embodies all that makes Millersville University and its alumni the best in the world.”

Among Kristin Waters’ achievements are serving on the MUAA Board of Directors for seven years and as secretary for two years. She is a member of the formation group for the regional association for collegiate registrars and admissions officers, serving as vice president and secretary. She has presented three times at the Middle States Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, published articles on higher education in the national journal C&U (College & University), been selected as featured speaker for Baker Leadership and served on the Professional Staff Senate at UMBC.

Her energy is impressive, especially when she uses it for charity. An avid marathon runner, Kristin has raised more than $2,000 for the charity First Descents. To date, she has already completed 48 marathons, but she’s not done yet. “My goal is to complete 100 marathons before my 40^th birthday,” she says. We’ll be cheering her on. 

 

Greg Pizzoli '05

Greg Pizzoli graduated from Millersville University in 2005 with a B.A. in English and a minor in studio art. Pizzoli used his talents as a writer and an artist to become a popular children’s author and illustrator.

His whimsical picture books capture a world of imagination, where a cute lime green croc with not very sharp teeth becomes alarmed after he accidentally swallows a watermelon seed in the aptly titled “The Watermelon Seed.”  The delightfully rendered tale was published by Disney Hyperion Books and won the 2014 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award (aka Dr. Seuss).

In just three years, Pizzoli has created and/or illustrated more than a dozen children’s picture books. They include “Tricky Vic,” the true story of the con man who sold the Eiffel Tower; “Number One Sam,” the daring race car dog who must be #1; “Templeton Gets His Wish,” about a ginger cat who dreams of a life on his own; “Good Night, Owl” for his art school mentor; “Just Itzy,” the not terribly frightening spider of nursery rhyme fame; and “Dragon was Terrible,” the badly behaved dragon no one could tame.

Pizzoli grew up in York and after graduating from Millersville, he served in AmeriCORPS for two years, working with children, which influenced his interest in writing and illustrating books for kids. He went on to earn his Master of Fine Arts in book arts and printmaking at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Pizzoli is now a senior lector at University of the Arts.

“In my books I look at themes that are common to children, like anxiety about things in life, the powerlessness of being a kid and, of course, exciting adventure,” says Pizzoli, adding that his upcoming book is a true story about an intrepid explorer in the Amazon. 

This versatile alumnus is an author, illustrator and screen printmaker. He has a gift for color, creating bold vibrant images that charm kids and grown-ups alike. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Communication Arts and 3X3 Magazine. He has also garnered two Portfolio Honor Awards from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

John Held '02

John Held is director of communications for the ABIM (Advancing Medical Professionalism to Improve Health Care) Foundation where he develops strategic communications initiatives to advance the Foundation’s organizational goals. This includes leading the Choosing Wisely campaign aimed at reducing unnecessary medical interventions and improving health care. Prior to joining ABIM, Held was Director of Communications for the American Cancer Society, where he implemented communications strategies to support the organization’s fundraising, mission delivery and advocacy. While there, he earned the Pepperpot for Excellence in Communication award numerous times from the Philadelphia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

The Millersville Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) named Held the Alumnus of the Year in 2009 and he received recognition from the Children’s Oncology Camping Association International for Video of the Year in 2009. He has been an active community volunteer as a mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization and currently serves on the Millersville University Alumni Association Board of Directors where he chairs the Technology Committee.

 

Matthew Stoltzfus '02

Dr. Matthew Stoltzfus, or “Dr. Fus” as he is known to his students, is an accomplished chemistry lecturer and Digital First Faculty Fellow at The Ohio State University, where he has taught general and advanced inorganic chemistry. He is experimenting with the “flipping the classroom” lecture approach, which has recently been featured on ESPN and NPR mainly due to his iTunes U General Chemistry course, which has an enrollment of more than 162,000 students.

Tom Baker '02

County Councilman Tom Baker was elected on November 5, 2013 to represent District 1 in Allegheny County. He previously served as a School Director in the North Hills School District. Councilman Baker is the Chief Community Affairs Officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh and President of the BBBS Pennsylvania State Association. He is the President of Baker Leadership, the author of three books: Get Involved! Making the Most of Your 20s and 30s (released 2008) Give Our Passion (released 2010), and Empowered in Pittsburgh (released 2012), and is the Founder and Chief Program Officer of Get Involved!, Inc., a 501c3 public charity non-profit organization that educates and empowers young leaders.

Since February 2008, Councilman Baker has spoken with over 40,000 students, young professionals, and community leaders at over 350 colleges, corporations, professional associations, and civic groups across the country. Councilman Baker completed two terms as President of the Pittsburgh East Rotary Club and served as Assistant District Governor for Rotary District 7300. He is also Past President of the National Speakers Association Pittsburgh, Past President of the Coro Pittsburgh Alumni Council, Past President of the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project, Co-Chair of the United States Army Advisory Board and currently serves on the boards of North Hills Community Outreach, the Baierl Family YMCA, and Special Olympics of PA. Councilman Baker was Student Body President while earning his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Millersville University and served as President of the Associates for Student Development during his graduate studies in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Indiana University of PA.

He has received several honors for his service and leadership. In 2009, he received the Distinguished Civic Leadership Award from Millersville University and the Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce selected him as the 2011 Young Business Leader of the Year at their Monroeville ROCs event. Tom was named a 2010 Jefferson Award for Public Service honoree by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, received the Public Sector Leader Award at the 2011 RISE Changemaker Awards, was one of the 2011 “Faces” of Gilda’s Club, and was recognized as a 2013 Fast Tracker honoree by the Pittsburgh Business Times. Councilman Baker and his wife, Erin, live in Ross Township and were selected as one of the "Couples for a Cure" in 2012 by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

 

Patrick Leahy '97

Patrick Leahy, is an advocator and creator of documentary, “Blind Lifter.” While attending Millersville University, Patrick wrestled for the school’s nationally recognized Division I program and served as President of Student Senate. He graduated with honors from Millersville University with majors in Political Science and History. Professionally, Patrick’s career encompasses service under Members of Congress, a Cabinet Secretary, and currently the U.S. federal government. His drive to impact the lives of people with disabilities led him to his current position as Senior Advisor at the United States Election Assistance Commission. There he helps state and local governments improve election conditions for all people.

Patrick began to focus on his body and become a competitive body builder and created a documentary called “Blind Lifter.” He uses bodybuilding to inspire people. Patrick has been featured in the Washington Post and was a guest on NBC’s Today Show. Patrick currently serves as a board of director for the Millersville University Alumni Association. During his free time, Patrick enjoys helping our nation’s wounded warriors, amateur bodybuilding, swimming, reading and being an avid baseball fan. Often asked about the impact that blindness has had on his life, Patrick responds “As a social guy, I love engaging people, answering their questions and discussing all topics – including my own challenges. Life presents all of us with challenges, but I strongly believe there is always a way to overcome them.”

2013 Dr. Keith Mellinger '96