UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As part of our regular “We Are!” feature, we recognize 20 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:

• Mindy Bennett, administrative support assistant at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, whose nominator wrote: " Mindy leads with her heart. Always conscious of others’ needs, she navigates changing conditions with sincerity and grace. She often extends much time, effort and energy to the needs of our campus. Mindy’s openheartedness brightens and unifies our community."
• Nathan Carter, financial coordinator at Penn State Behrend, whose nominator wrote: "I would like to recognize Nate for his outstanding support during the Finance OST transition. He is a quick learner, a dedicated team player, and an invaluable resource for faculty and staff. Nate consistently goes above and beyond to help others by finding solutions, providing clear explanations, and improving the experience for students, faculty and staff. His innovative problem-solving skills and willingness to take on new challenges have made a significant difference during a difficult transition. No matter the situation, Nate is always willing to help, and his dedication is truly appreciated."
• Amber DeCosmo, academic adviser in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS), whose nominator wrote: " Amber has stepped into her new role gracefully and with intentional leadership, taking on her first New Student Orientation (NSO) cycle exceptionally! She has made the process seamless for incoming students and her colleagues. We can't wait to see how she grows in this role!"
• Erica Fleming, assistant teaching professor and faculty lead for Teaching and Learning with Technology in the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), whose nominator wrote: "Dr. Fleming faces every challenge with a smile. She has a wonderful ability to motivate and educate while making you feel heard and respected. She is dedicated to making our college a better place for everyone. Staff, students and faculty are lucky to have her in their corner."
• Christy Healey, financial planning analyst at Penn State's Scranton, Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre campuses, whose nominator wrote: " Christy is the rock of the Northeast Region's finance team. Despite taking on two additional campuses before OST and helping new staff learn the ins and outs of the region, she didn't complain or stress. Her knowledge is invaluable and we are so lucky to have her."
• Heidi Lewis, academic adviser in the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), whose nominator wrote: Heidi creates innovative tools that improve adviser efficiency and she develops projects to better support our team and students. She puts students first every day, even showing up after pulling a muscle teaching a morning Pilates class. Her dedication and resilience inspire us all."
• Lauren Hassinger, marketing strategist at Berkey Creamery, whose nominator wrote: " Lauren leads with kindness, positivity and unwavering professionalism. She elevates everyone around her, champions the Creamery and the College of Agricultural Sciences with pride, and makes our workplace stronger. Her character, dedication and genuine care for others embody the very best of Penn State."
• Jay Johnson, graduate enrollment services coordinator in Fox Graduate School, whose nominator wrote: "Jay is dedicated to his work and will work very hard to ensure it is done to the highest standards. Anyone who has been in contact with Jay will know he is the epitome of professionalism."
• Brittany Lesko, academic adviser at Penn State Greater Allegheny and Penn State Fayette, whose nominator wrote: " Brittany has gone above and beyond to support both campuses. She is a problem solver and cares deeply about the work she is doing to help students reach their full potential."
• Jessica Michaels, financial shared services associate in Central Procurement, whose nominator wrote: " Jessica is hardworking, dependable and always willing to help. She consistently goes above and beyond and answers my financial questions with kindness and profession. Her cheerful attitude and positivity create a welcoming environment, even during the busiest times."
• Carrie Orlofski, administrative assistant at Penn State Scranton, whose nominator wrote: " Carrie has been instrumental with helping me transition from the Wilkes-Barre to the Scranton campus. I have new job responsibilities that she helped prepare me for. Carrie is also an outstanding employee when it comes to student engagement. Kudos to Carrie!"
• Amanda Phile, nutrition education adviser in Penn State Extension, whose nominator wrote: " In addition to Amanda’s day-to-day work providing community nutrition education to limited-resource adults and youth, she developed and delivers supplemental training and follow-up meetings to new hires, and she co-chairs a statewide workgroup focused on professional and personal development."
• Brooks Raup, veterans program coordinator at Penn State World Campus, whose nominator wrote: " Brooks consistently goes above and beyond for military students, anticipating their needs and making complicated processes easier. He is proactive, reliable and genuinely service minded. His support has made a meaningful difference for students and colleagues."
• Greg Ritter, mail clerk in Auxiliary and Business Services, whose nominator wrote: " Greg went above and beyond to help me ship a laptop computer. He responded quickly, proactively checked on my pickup status and even followed up the next day to make sure everything went smoothly. Greg exceeded expectations with his exemplary customer service and professionalism!"
• Sarah Rivaud, patent coordinator in the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT), whose nominator wrote: " Technology transfer is an incredible compendium of philosophy, science and practical experience. Sarah finds new ways to support and guide my success every day. Whether it's through OTT's internship and fellowship programs, patent prosecution or something else, I couldn't be more grateful for her."
• Chris Rock, maintenance worker at Penn State Abington, whose nominator wrote: " Chris’s contributions go far beyond his laborer role. He consistently takes on tasks with little notice, maintains a positive attitude and is always willing to help. His reliability and mindset have positively influenced the culture at Abington and reflect exactly what the campus needs."
• Beth Sawyer, education program specialist at Penn State DuBois, whose nominator wrote: "While there are many people at closing campuses working extremely hard, no one exemplifies the 'never give up' attitude like Beth. She's responsible for maintaining Continuing and Community Education programming at both DuBois and Altoona and has also been our main recruiter for the DuBois LPN program. Thank you, Beth!"
• Morgan Sewack, marketing and communications specialist and adjunct lecturer at Penn State Scranton, whose nominator wrote: " Morgan embodies the spirit of 'We Are!' through her dedication, positivity and unwavering willingness to support those around her. Whether she's capturing photos and videos at campus events or creating social media content, Morgan helps tell the story of our campus with authenticity and enthusiasm!"
• Rose Sharp, administrative assistant in Penn State Global, whose nominator wrote: " Rose has taken special care to guide her teammates through the OST transition. She thinks proactively about how our budget model can work well for programs and vendors. She never hesitates to help with events, and she's a truly gifted resource working with calls from our students and their parents."
• Bing Zhu, accounting associate supervisor in the Office of Budget and Finance, whose nominator wrote: " Bing has been an incredible leader for the new OST Colleges and Campuses JE Finance Team. She has created an environment that is warm, welcoming and friendly. Our team has quickly developed a work family bond, and we genuinely enjoy each other. Thank you, Bing, for all you do and all you have taught us!"

Thank you to these individuals and everyone across the University who contributes to making 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.