Penn State’s Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center recently announced funding of up to $2,500 to support projects by early career researchers whose work promotes the health of members of historically marginalized groups in the U.S. or abroad.
Nearly 70 domestic and international students across multiple Penn State campuses, including Abington, Brandywine, Great Valley, Lehigh Valley and Schuylkill, joined together for a series of events about mass incarceration in the United States, including a visit to Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.
After graduating summa cum laude this May with a degree in psychology, Bethany Haag will continue addictions research she started as an undergraduate at Penn State Schuylkill when she starts a five-year doctoral program in biobehavioral health in fall 2023 at Penn State’s University Park campus. There, her research will focus on neural and behavioral mechanisms in relapse rates among individuals with alcohol use disorders.
After graduating with her associate degree in human development and family studies this May, Ni’Kiyah Williams plans to continue her education at Penn State’s World Campus to earn her bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies. Concurrently, Williams will be working in the health care field to gain valuable experience as she moves toward her dream of becoming a child and family social worker.
Penn State Commonwealth Campuses offer more than a dozen shared programs. These programs, offered across campuses, are supported by a dedicated group of faculty who work together in communities with other faculty, librarians, advisers, campus registrars and student affairs to support students and their experiences in and out of the classroom.
Schuylkill County native Seth Hubler is set to graduate at Penn State Schuylkill in May with a bachelor’s degree in business. A natural-born leader, Hubler has already started a full-time position as a constituent relations specialist in the Pennsylvania State Senate, and he’s set to begin a master’s program in leadership this summer.
A new research program for students will be launched this coming fall: The Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses Undergraduate Student Research Fund aims to support student-led projects in different fields. Participants will acquire hands-on experience in research, scholarship, and artistic efforts. They will be responsible for creating their own research problems, study proposals, methodologies, and presenting their findings.
Dominique Hughes, a first-generation college student and Schuylkill County native, set out to create the college experience she was searching for upon her arrival at Penn State Schuylkill. Graduating this May with a bachelor’s degree in corporate communication and a minor in communication arts and sciences, Hughes accepted a position with Customer Value Partners based in Fairfax, Va., where she’ll work alongside the Veterans Health Administration for an annual event that highlights veterans’ stories.
Antonio Rivas came to Penn State Schuylkill with a goal in mind—to advance his career within the military. Rivas will earn his bachelor’s degree in project and supply chain management in May, and hopes to be accepted into Officer Candidate School so he can move toward his dream of being a commissioned officer.
Sophia Bates graduates this month with a bachelor’s degree in corporate communication and minors in biology and communication arts and sciences. An accomplished student, Bates has made the most of her experience at Penn State Schuylkill. As an undergraduate researcher who’s earned several accolades and co-authored papers in peer-reviewed communication journals, Bates is ready to take on her next chapter — a two-year graduate program in communication and advocacy with a concentration in health communication at James Madison University.
