Know Your People
Connect with this campus personality who can offer valuable support and insights tailored to your current semester needs.
Christopher Robinson, D.Ed., M.S.W., L.S.W.
- Hometown: Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Bachelor of Social Work, BSW (Jackson State University) (HBCU)
- Master of Social Work, MSW (University of Pittsburgh)
- Doctor of Education. DEd (Indiana University of Pennsylvania)
- Fun fact: As a high school student, my first social work-related job was as a peer educator at Healthy Start of Kalamazoo in Michigan. I was 16 years old. This experience introduced me to the possibilities of social work. I have been in love with the profession ever since.
I currently serve as the Bachelor of Social Work program director and assistant professor of social work at Greater Allegheny. In this dual role, I aim to educate and train the future workforce of social work practitioners throughout greater Pittsburgh. I love my job and my work as a socialwork educator and leader, which is transformative.
"None of us are exempt from receiving services from a social worker at some point in our lives. A social worker assisted in supporting and transforming my life for the better through social work practice. With a BSW degree from Greater Allegheny, you can do the same by helping to empower diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in need."
Feel free to stop by and chat with me anytime. I am located in Frable, room 201F. I also encourage you to enroll in a general education social work course (SOCW 195 Intro, SOCW 205 Diversity, SOCW 215 Social Welfare, or SOCW 290 Human Behavior) to learn more about what this profession offers.
You might like Social Work if...
- You have a desire to promote social justice and social change in society.
- You enjoy engaging with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- You are enthusiastic about helping others cope effectively during challenging times.
- You are passionate about alleviating poverty and improving living conditions.
- You are interested in helping people manage acute medical conditions, chronic stress, and illnesses.
- You are fascinated about providing mental health and substance use treatment services.
- If so, Social Work may be the best profession for you.
Enroll in SOCW 195, SOCW 205, SOCW 215, or SOCW 290 to learn more.
Fernando Soto, Ph.D.
Hailing from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, my academic journey led me to earn a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering with a minor in Entrepreneurship, and a PhD specializing in Micro and Nanoscale Systems Engineering.
My advice for students is that resilience is key; life can be unpredictable, so embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.
Here's a fun fact about me: I am an avid British music fan and I have a concert story. At a Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds concert in New Orleans, back in 2015, I found myself front and center, emphatically suggesting (okay, shouting) they play "Don't Look Back in Anger." To my extreme delight, they played the song the very next moment. When Noel, the former Oasis guitarist, threw his guitar pick into the crowd, it was aimed at me. Caught up in the moment, I jumped for joy and, in the excitement, lost the pick. It is a moment I will never forget and most importantly, I don’t look back in anger at it!
“ My 'why' at Greater Allegheny is driven by a commitment to engagement. From acting as a cultural mediator during our embedded trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, to collaborating on cutting-edge research in solar cell applications and battery safety, I aim to create an educational environment where students are not just learners but active participants in a global dialogue.”
This past year, I have taught a several courses related to Energy Engineering and Computer Science/Software Engineering courses. I also enjoy teaching the EGEE 101 course-Energy and the Environment because in this course we discuss the importance of public perception in shaping the future of energy, the primacy of safety in energy endeavors, and the value of global perspectives. It is a course that allows me to have a conversation with the future leaders and help them to have comprehensive understanding of their field and its global implications. I also enjoy teaching computer science courses because it is an opportunity to help the students learn as they embarked on this interesting, but challenging world of computers and data. I did not have the best experiences when I was starting so I see this as an opportunity to create a classroom culture where all voices are valued and mistakes are seen as learning opportunities, not as faults to be judged. I am also deeply invested in enriching our academic programs with my research experience in computational materials science, energy systems, and advanced energy storage systems.
Students can get involved with what I teach/research related to Energy and Energy Systems by enrolling in the general education course EGEE 101- Energy and the Environment. Typically offered during the Fall semester each year. If students are interested in programming skills and becoming a Pythonista (or learning C++) or learning a computing environment such as MATLAB, the students can enroll in CMPSC 121/131 and CMPSC 200, respectively. These courses are typically offered during the Spring Semester. If students are interested in a research experience related to data, send me an email. Hopefully, we can have an interesting conversation and a nice cup of coffee in Frable’s Orange Room.
Students can meet with me in my office at Frable 213C. It's a place where I encourage open discussions, mentoring, and collaborative learning. We can also set up virtual meetings via Zoom. My PSU email address is [email protected]. I am available for meetings by appointment. Students can reach out to set up a time that fits within their schedule, and I make it a point to be as accommodating as possible to their needs.
Marcus Roberson, M.Ed.
I am originally from Beaufort, South Carolina, and more recently, Washington, DC; I studied sociology and psychology. I have a Master's in Education, Special Education, and that I'm currently working toward my doctorate in Educational Leadership. Outside of work, I'm an artist who draws, paints, and creates music. A piece of advice for students is: "Don’t be afraid to ask questions; you shouldn't be expected to have all the answers, no one does, until they ask.
I am the Student Success Specialist/Adviser. I engage with students to help them achieve their academic goals and to help provide a positive learning atmosphere. I also identify academic resources for students. I collaborate with a variety of students through workshops, developing a student success plan, organizing course materials, discussing study skills and habits, and conducting syllabus reviews.
“ I got into this work because I enjoy working within education and with people. I also got into this work because of my own experiences in K-12 and post-secondary education. Immediately after starting my college career, I started to gain a greater sense of ownership over my education and the possibilities the path of a college degree could present to me. "
Use these timely reminders to stay on track with dates, activities, and other valuable academic information around Penn State Greater Allegheny.
LINK UP event at University Park April 6
Contact Kenneth “JA” Williams ([email protected]) for details!
Are you a student interested in exploring the possibility of changing campus to UP? Travel with your fellow GA students on April 6 to attend LINK UP. Registration deadline is Wednesday, March 27th.
Link UP is a day long program where you will learn more about:
- The details of the change of campus process
- Academic and Financial Planning as a COC student
- Campus Resources and Services available at UP
You will also participate in:
- A bus tour of UP
- Panels and conversations with current UP students and staff
- A college meeting with faculty and academic advisers
To register, go to https://changeofcampus.psu.edu/linkup .
100 Days until Graduation
As we approach the last 100 days to graduation, we've been thinking about the many unique experiences that Penn State and the surrounding Pittsburgh area has to offer, some small and some life-changing. We’ve started a Graduation Bucket List of the top 100 things that you should do before graduation this spring. Each issue of our FYI Newsletter, we will add items to the list.
View the Graduation Bucket List
Shopping Carts and Registration Dates
Students, do you know when you can schedule summer and/or fall courses?
Late February is a great time to ask yourself that question. Most students will schedule in late March to mid-April except for priority (early) registration for some (including veterans, athletes, honors students and students with disabilities).
As of February 21st, your summer and fall shopping carts were made available in LionPATH. You may be asking, “what’s so important about a shopping cart?” This means that now is the time to contact your assigned academic advisor to review and clear any holds you may have on your account and load your shopping cart to prepare for your registration date.
How to determine your registration date:
- Typically, students with more credits register first; registration dates are determined by adding your total credits earned to the credits on your current schedule.
- There are two ways to look up your date to register, in the Registration Timetable and in LionPATH, where you can look at your Student Center for "Enrollment Dates."
- You can begin enrolling in classes at 12:00 am EST on your assigned day to schedule.
For more information about shopping carts, enrollment dates or spring courses, contact your assigned academic adviser via email or during office hours.
Final Exam Conflict Period Reminder
As a reminder, Final exam week for the Spring 2024 semester is scheduled for Monday, April 29 through Friday, May 3. Students can view their individual final exam schedule in LionPath. On your main Home Base page, you'll see a section for Final Exams.
Students who have three or more finals on the same day are considered to have an overload conflict. If you have an overload conflict or a time conflict between more than one of your finals, you should discuss this with your instructors as soon as possible to determine which exam can be taken at an alternate time. A student with an overload conflict can choose to take all exams as scheduled if they feel it is more beneficial. The final exam conflict period ends on Sunday, March 3, therefore any discussions and arrangements made with your instructors needs to be resolved by that deadline.
Fall 2024 Schedule Available Now!
Visit LionPATH (lionpath.psu.edu) for details!
The schedule of courses has been released for the Fall 2024 semester. Please note that the Fall schedule may change up through the beginning of registration, with new courses or adjustments to the days and times a course is being offered.
The Registration Timetable is now available, and individual “Enrollment Appointments” will soon be posted on the home screen in a student’s LionPath, displaying the date where registering for the Fall semester can begin. Once you determine when you can register, be sure to meet with your advisor to discuss the scheduling of your classes and resolve any pending holds or “TO DO”s including the Fall 2024 Financial Responsibility Agreement in LionPath. An email will be sent out to students when enrollment appointments are set so that students can begin planning.
Please also continue to monitor the Registrar Website for all other important upcoming dates and deadlines for the current Spring semester and future semesters.