Thirteen alumni will begin three-year terms on the Penn State Alumni Association’s governing body, Alumni Council.
New members elected to serve on Alumni Council, along with their vote totals, are Kristen McMullen (3,449), Lisa Todd Hart (3,407), Deborah Casamassa Beidel (3,287), Karen Kalenak Sweeney (2,923), Kathleen G. Hume (2,601), Randolph B. Houston Jr. (2,484), Martin R. Cepeda Jr. (2,304), Whitney Stringer (2,207), Thomas E. Kapelewski (2,078) and Michael F. Catino (2,006). Each of these 10 alumni will serve a three-year term from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2017.
Three additional alumni have been appointed by Alumni Association President Kay Salvino ’69 to serve on Alumni Council, as required by the Alumni Association's bylaws. The three appointees are Shawn Manderson, Ivan Santos and Brad Simpson. They also will serve three-year terms beginning July 1.
Alumni Council is an all-volunteer governing body that advises and guides the Penn State Alumni Association. The council advises on strategies and programs to be carried out by the Alumni Association staff and is also responsible for electing the Alumni Association president and vice president. The Alumni Council election is conducted entirely online. Alumni members of the Penn State Alumni Association are eligible to vote. Of the 134,780 eligible voters, 7,152 voted, for a voting percentage of 5.31 percent. The turnout this year is a slight decrease from last year’s participation of 7.07 percent. The election was administered and results were certified by Votenet Solutions Inc., of Washington, D.C.
Following is a brief biography about each newly elected and appointed Alumni Council member:
Deborah Casamassa Beidel, Orlando, Fla.; A 1976 graduate in the College of the Liberal Arts, Beidel is a Pegasus Professor and professor of psychology and medical education at the University of Central Florida. This is her first elected term.
Michael F. Catino, Shamokin, Pa.; A 1970 graduate in the College of Engineering, Catino is president of Catino Associates Inc. This is his first elected term.
Martin R. Cepeda Jr., Conshohocken, Pa.; A 2005 graduate in the College of Business, Cepeda is manager of human resources for Johnson & Johnson. This is his second elected term. He previously served on the executive board and as chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Lisa Todd Hart, Sewickley, Pa.; A 1997 graduate of the College of Engineering, Hart is vice president and a commercial real estate relationship manager of Huntington National Bank. This is her second elected term. She previously served on the executive board and as chair of the Budget and Finance Committee.
Randolph B. Houston Jr., Stamford, Conn.; A 1991 graduate in the College of the Liberal Arts, Houston works as senior counsel for NBC Sports Group. This is his first elected term. He represented the College of the Liberal Arts Alumni Society and served on the Communications Committee.
Kathleen G. Hume, South Coventry, Pa.; A 1996 graduate in the College of Business, Hume is the executive director of Reading-Berks Physical Therapy LLC. This is her second elected term. She previously served on the executive board and as chair of the Program Development Committee.
Thomas E. Kapelewski, Mount Pleasant, Pa.; A 1982 graduate in the College of Engineering, Kapelewski is the environmental, health and safety manager for KYDEX, LLC. This is his first elected term.
Shawn Manderson, Philadelphia; A 2003 graduate in the College of Information Sciences and Technology, Manderson is a senior IT auditor with FMC Corporation. This is his first appointed term on Alumni Council.
Kristen McMullen, New Castle, Del.; A 1989 graduate of the College of Health and Human Development, McMullen is the director of alumni relations at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. This is her first elected term.
Ivan Santos, Puerto Rico; A 1990 graduate in the Smeal College of Business, Santos is a general manager at Young & Rubicam. This is his second appointed term on Alumni Council.
Brad Simpson, Harrisburg, Pa.; A 2003 graduate in the College of the Liberal Arts and a 2006 graduate of Penn State Harrisburg, Simpson is a chief financial officer at Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association/MANSI Media. This is his first appointed term on Alumni Council.
Whitney Stringer, Washington, D.C.; A 2007 graduate in the College of the Liberal Arts, Stringer is director for Whitney Stringer PR & Events. This is her first elected term.
Karen Kalenak Sweeney, West Friendship, Md,; A 1980 graduate in the College of Engineering, Sweeney is vice president of Turner Construction Co. This is her first elected term. She previously represented the College of Engineering Alumni Society and served as vice chair of the Awards Committee. She was also named a 2014 Alumni Fellow.
For more information about the Alumni Association or its Alumni Council governing board, visit alumni.psu.edu/council.