UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Five Penn State New Kensington faculty and staff earned international, national, state and campus accolades during the spring semester.
Jyotsna “Josi” Kalavar, associate professor of human development and family studies, Ron Land, associate professor of engineering, Ruthann Herstek, administrative support assistant for academic affairs, Jim Shields, career services coordinator, and Karen Harlan, multimedia specialist, were honored for their extraordinary efforts in the areas of teaching, research and service to the University, campus and community.
Josi KalavarKalvar, a native of India, was interviewed May 20 by BBC World Radio for the program “The Forum.” Hosted by Bridget Kendall, the podcast presents ideas and research of some of the world's most eminent minds. Kalavar, whose research interests include the areas of diverse experiences of aging, discussed the revival of Sanskrit in India and the United States. The program was taped and will air at a yet to be determined time. The BBC website is http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p004kln9
After earning a doctorate from the University of Maryland, Kalavar spent two years as a National Institute on Aging (NIA) postdoc at the University of Michigan, where she studied ageism, homebound seniors, immigrant seniors, intergenerational relationships, and seniors residing in long-term care institutions. In 2005, Kalvar was named the campus’ first Fulbright Research Scholar, and she spent a year in the urban locales of south India examining the experiences of seniors living in ‘pay and stay’ homes.
Ron LandLand garnered the James H. McGraw Award from the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). The professional organization annually recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of engineering and engineering technology educators. By their commitment to their profession, desire to further the society’s mission, and participation in civic and community affairs, ASEE award winners exemplify the best in engineering and engineering technology education.
A resident of Washington Township, Land serves as program coordinator for the Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology degree. He began teaching at the campus in 1989, and teaches courses in electrical machinery, basic electrical circuits, and linear electronics. Prior to joining the campus faculty, he was co-founder and technical manager of an engineering consulting firm, which primarily served the electric power utility industry. His primary industrial expertise is in power plant thermal-hydraulic performance modeling, power plant safety analysis, probabilistic risk assessment, and economic value-impact analysis of power plant modifications.
Land received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the California Institute of Technology.
Ruthann HerstekHerstek received Penn State’s Outstanding Office Professional award, which annually recognizes an administrative support employee who has provided exceptional meritorious service on behalf of Penn State. She started at the New Kensington campus in the Continuing Education office in 2003, moved to the Business and Finance office in 2004, and to her present position in 2006. She earned two degrees from Penn State – associate in liberal arts and a bachelor’s in organizational leadership –while juggling job and family responsibilities.
In addition to her duties in the Academic Affairs office, Herstek is one of the leaders of the campus Green Team, a group of students, faculty and staff volunteers who are committed to reducing waste and exploring ways to use resources responsibly. Sustainability is a key initiative of Chancellor Kevin Snider’s five –year strategic plan that was unveiled last year. It cuts across several of the strategic goals and highlights the campus’ intent to become an even more important leader in the community. Sustainability, poverty initiatives and STEM programming are the main ingredients in the campus plan, and the campus is engaging the community in these critical areas.
Jim Shields and Kevin HarlanShields and Harlan were named the inaugural recipients of the campus’ Outstanding Service to Students award and Outstanding Service to Campus Community, respectively. The awards were developed to recognize campus staff members who have made a valuable impact on the campus, whether through interactions with students or faculty, or through the development of new systems, policies and programs.
The service to students citation recognizes a staff member who promotes a consistent student-centered environment. Criteria include demonstrating a positive campus experience, furthering academic achievement, helping make education more accessible and affordable, and contributing to the development of students both personally and professionally.
The service to campus community commendation is given to a staff member who demonstrates a pattern of extraordinary dedication and goes above and beyond assigned job responsibilities in an effort to serve the needs of members of the New Kensington campus. The award recipient is honored for providing excellent service to meet the needs and expectations of members of the campus community, exhibiting a willingness to help others, impacting the campus community when taking action, setting policies or carrying out tasks, improving services that may increase efficiency, demonstrating positive interpersonal relationships that support diversity, and building partnerships with other departments for the sake of improvements
Shields, who received a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University and a master’s degree in student affairs in higher education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, has been at the campus since 1999. As coordinator, he is responsible for career planning, education, and job search support services for students and alumni of Penn State. Shields works with students and employers on internships and job fairs.
One of the events Shields helped develop is the annual Alle-Kiski Job Fair every October. Sponsored by the campus and Pennsylvania CareerLink of Alle-Kiski, the fair is free to the public, as well as to Penn State students and alumni. More than 50 recruiters are available to provide career options for those beginning a career or those seeking a change in vocation. Local job-seekers can interview with regional companies regarding employment opportunities in a variety of fields, including health care, finance, retail and manufacturing. Last year, nearly 600 prospective employees attended the event, which features full- and part-time employment, internships and co-op opportunities with employers in the local region.
The next job fair is set from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, in the campus Athletics Center. For more about Career Services, visit http://nk.psu.edu/StudentServices/CareerServices/careers.htm
As media specialist, Harlan is responsible for a variety of campus programs, including building and maintaining the online reputation of the campus through the website and social media content. She also provides design support for the web, print and other media.
For April Fools Day, she attracted national attention to the Penn State New Kensington website by changing the GREAT (Growing Regional Excellence through Experience, Academics and Training) program, which establishes internships at local companies for engineering and information sciences and technology students. Whereas most internships are geared to juniors and seniors, GREAT interns can begin as soon as their first year in college. Harlan changed GREAT to GRATE and created internships for the “Cheese” industry. The spoof was picked up by CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) blog.
Harlan is a two-time Penn State alumna, with a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations and a newly-minted MBA, which she received in May.
To peruse the campus website, visit www.nk.psu.edu