Let's hear a 'We Are!' for these Penn Staters — Nov. 5

As part of our regular "We Are!" feature, we recognize 19 Penn Staters who have gone above and beyond what's asked of them in their work at the University.

This week, on behalf of the entire Penn State community, we'd like to say thank you to:

• Becky Barton, administrative support assistant in Intercollegiate Athletics, whose nominator wrote: "Becky is the go-to person for everyone's needs, all while taking on more responsibility in the department. She goes above and beyond and is now the IT guru, party planner and overall biggest helper. We couldn't do it without her!"
• Brandy Beeman, academic program coordinator at Penn State World Campus, whose nominator wrote: "Brandy recently transitioned from our office to her new position as an academic program coordinator. Because of the vacancy, she offered to work with us during her off time so that we could tackle the huge influx of emails and phone calls that we receive during this very busy time. We could not have been as successful without her assistance and her knowledge of our office. We are all extremely grateful to her. Brandy proved that she is the very definition of a team player!"
• Ryan DiSanto, instructional production specialist in the College of Health and Human Development (HHD), whose nominator wrote: "Ryan has taken the lead on helping HHD faculty make progress on accessibility in Canvas. His calm, professional and helpful guidance is making a challenging and important task more manageable for everyone."
• Gunner Eble, talent acquisition specialist in Penn State Human Resources, whose nominator wrote: "Gunner recently assisted a department within our college in making what seemed like an impossible situation possible. He handled this sensitive situation with grace, making sure there was a plan in place and collaborating with all parties involved in a timely manner. Thank you so much, Gunner!"
• Jeanne Ferrara, financial assistant in the Nese College of Nursing, whose nominator wrote: "Jeanne is customer service-focused, helpful and responsive. She goes above and beyond to solve problems and has recently assisted Commonwealth Campuses through the Finance OST transition. Her dedication truly makes her an invaluable resource."
• Megan Gilpin, education program specialist at Penn State University Libraries, whose nominator wrote: "Huge thanks to Megan for her hard work and skills which contribute to an amazing open house at the Libraries year after year! It's an event that welcomes more than 2,000 students and showcases the best of our library resources and services. Megan, we truly appreciate your dedication in making this a success!"
• Megan Hutchinson, student success specialist in the Smeal College of Business, whose nominator wrote: "Megan is incredible. She takes great pride and care in her work. She has a passion for wellness programs and has initiated many wellness events not only for our students but also for the staff. Her work helps build a positive environment for everyone."
• Amanda Kamens, lead communicator in the College of Health and Human Development (HHD), whose nominator wrote: "Amanda excels at communicating the impactful work that happens in the Health Policy and Administration and Communication Sciences and Disorders departments. Her thoughtful approach, organization and strong communications skills make her a trusted voice for both departments and a key part of our team."
• Ty Kephart, IT support specialist in the College of the Liberal Arts, whose nominator wrote: "Ty is always helpful when we need IT support. He is always calm and never gets frustrated with our requests. He never complains and does whatever it takes to help with any IT problem. He deserves to be appreciated and recognized."
• Christopher Lawrence, maintenance mechanic at Penn State Berks, whose nominator wrote: "Chris worked tirelessly all summer and fall, juggling several projects simultaneously at Penn State Berks. What impresses me the most about Chris is how he radiates positivity and expresses a 'can-do' attitude that is contagious. We are so grateful for Chris and our exemplary maintenance and operations team."
• Morgann McAfee, director of strategic communications and recruitment in the Nese College of Nursing, whose nominator wrote: "Morgann is an asset to our college. Our nursing programs are spread across the commonwealth, and she has collaborated with her strategic communications colleagues to develop a style guide for all campuses to utilize when promoting the Nese College of Nursing."
• Kassidy McElwee, project manager for the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network in the Social Science Research Institute, whose nominator wrote: "Kassidy's attention to detail and consistent integrity is a cornerstone of our team's success. Her analytical skills help us make better decisions. And, she has a great sense of humor that ensures we're enjoying the work we do together."
• Chris Ortiz, education program manager at Shaver's Creek, whose nominator wrote: "Chris brings energy, humor and creativity to our annual staff retreats. His content delivery is always engaging, and we find ourselves learning while laughing. He makes our retreats feel like a celebration. They are fun, memorable and truly impactful."
• Barry Pawloski, assistant director of Student Affairs at Penn State Fayette, whose nominator wrote: "Barry's passion for Penn State is unmatched. Though working on a single campus, he creates unity by organizing trips to sporting events in Pittsburgh for students from the western Penn State campuses. His quiet, selfless efforts go far beyond his regular duties to foster collaboration and community for students!"
• Walter Payne, maintenance worker utility in the Office of Physical Plant, whose nominator wrote: "Walt goes above and beyond to keep Deike Building spotless. His energy, kindness and welcoming smile brighten everyone's day. He treats everyone - students, faculty and staff - with respect and care. He's a true behind-the-scenes hero!"
• Amy Pick, graduate enrollment coordinator in Fox Graduate School, whose nominator wrote: "Amy stepped up to support the graduate admissions team during our new ECRM rollout. She took on tasks outside her comfort zone, handling them with courage and a willingness to stretch herself. Her effort kept things moving forward and made a real impact on the team."
• Jennifer Wagner, instructional designer and accessibility specialist at Penn State Altoona and in the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses, whose nominator wrote: "Jen is a passionate leader and champion for Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and accessibility. Her support of faculty and instructional designers across the campuses is making a real impact on the inclusivity and accessibility of Penn State courses."
• Bei "Sarah" Wang, financial associate supervisor in the Eberly College of Science, whose nominator wrote: "Sarah joined our team at the end of the fiscal year and to say it was crazy was an understatement. Before she came on board, I was trying to manage the office and all of the departmental finances. She quickly proved to be a wizard with our budget, meaning I can focus on my job and know that our budget is in good hands."
• Joel Waters, coordinator of education abroad and international programs in Eberly College of Science, whose nominator wrote: "Joel strives to bring new and engaging opportunities to our college. He communicates these opportunities across Eberly and helps students locate funding. He is a huge asset to our programs."

Thank you Becky, Brandy, Ryan, Gunner, Jeanne, Megan, Megan, Amanda, Ty, Christopher, Morgann, Kassidy, Chris, Barry, Walter, Amy, Jennifer, Sarah and Joel - and to everyone who helps make Penn State such an incredible community!

Do you know someone who deserves a shout out? If you do, consider nominating that person by filling out a short online form.