Christopher Navin photo.
In this issue, we discuss a few of PSU’s successful young alumni, who are creating engaging careers and making a difference. These dynamic alumni have graduated between 2000 and 2013.
Among alumni of the Department of Health and Human Performance, PSU’s third largest department with 12 varied undergraduate and graduate options, are Ichiro Kitano ’03G, a manual therapy specialist for the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team; Keith Belmore ’05, a faculty member and clinical coordinator at the University of Missouri School of Health; and Eric Wilson ’07, an entrepreneur with a growing business focused on corrective exercise and personal training. All have careers reflective of strong opportunities provided at PSU, and all three are employing their PSU degrees to improve others’ health and wellness.
PSU’s meteorology program is unique in New Hampshire and is developing data used in analyses worldwide. Katie Laro ’12, ’13G, participated in both NASA and state-funded research as an undergraduate and presented her research on predicting surface winds at an event on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. Her graduate research, now extending beyond graduation, involves data analysis for a New Hampshire company producing a prototype of a lightning sensor that could allow businesses such as golf courses to keep people safer.
The Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance is proud of its strong job placement. Cassandra Marcella ’00 is a music educator and recent recipient of a Yale Educators Award for inspiring young people; Jake Josef ’08 is the technical director at the Glimmerglass Festival; Kathleen Pantos ’08, a dancer and choreographer, has her own dance company called the Pantos Project; and Daniel Brevik ’11, is singing with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. These alumni with emphases in music education, theatre, dance, and voice enjoy professional careers bringing to others their passion for the arts.
The feature on the Department of Criminal Justice highlights one of PSU’s newest and fastest-growing programs, preparing students for a wide range of careers in criminology, criminal justice, and law. Already Amanda Johnson ’08 has achieved a long-held goal of becoming a New Hampshire state trooper; and Penina Wallace ’13 has entered law school.
These are samples. Recently, Joseph “Joey” Lee ’06 was chosen the 2014 New Hampshire Teacher of the Year; a social studies teacher at Pinkerton Academy, he will be New Hampshire’s candidate for the national award. Catherine Dwinal ’10 has just been named by the Technology Institute for Music Educators (TI:ME) as the recipient of the national 2014 Mike Kovins TI:ME Teacher of the Year Award for outstanding educators who have introduced technology into their classrooms.
In upcoming issues we will present the stories of other alumni as well, and we hope that those of you who are alumni will stay in touch with the PSU Alumni Association and your departments. For faculty and staff members, there is nothing more rewarding than continuing to watch the progress of former students, now friends. As PSU makes its case for the power of a PSU education, we will be asking alumni for information; you will be helping PSU in providing it. The more we know of our alumni and friends, the richer is the picture of the PSU community.
Sara Jayne Steen, President
