MCKEESPORT, Pa. — The Journey, an ongoing speaker series about career goals and personal experiences, began at Penn State Greater Allegheny last year. Created by Student Affairs, the Division of Undergraduate Studies, and Career Services at the campus, the series is designed to help students who, upon entering the University, are confused about selecting a major and/or their career path.
Some years ago, many Penn State Greater Allegheny faculty and staff members had those same questions and anxieties. Many of them, in an effort to ease student anxieties, have volunteered to disclose their personal experiences in their educational and career journeys.
Last year, students heard from a math professor about her journey from Taiwan to the United States and an engineering instructor about her education and career in the science field, just to name a few.
The series is set to begin again this year, with Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Andrew Egan as the first speaker on Thursday, Sept. 8. Each speaker in the series will present from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. in the Ostermayer Room in the Student Community Center during Common Hour (see dates below).
The Journey sessions will be informal, with speakers addressing such questions as: What were your goals when you graduated from high school? And, what were the most eye-opening experiences from your first job?
Students are invited to come and interact with the speakers, and hopefully, gain some insight into their own journeys.
The Journey presenters and program dates:
Sept. 8 — Andrew Egan, chancellor and chief academic officer
Oct. 13 — Beth Lindsey, associate professor of physics
Nov. 10 — Kimberly McKean, regional human resources director
Dec. 1 — Eric Lipsky, associate professor of engineering
Jan. 19 — Kristin Sciulli, assistant director of academic affairs and senior instructor in mathematics
Feb. 9 — Shelly Brown, academic counselor
March 16 - Stephen Sherwin, director of information technology
April 6 — April Belback, coordinator, Division of Undergraduate Studies