Four Penn State alumni were elected as members of the College of Communications Alumni Society Board during the group’s meeting this week.
The four alumni -- Clara Benice, Thomas Loebig, Robert McKinnon and Alyson Rotz -- will serve three-year terms with the group that supports the mission of college through activities, fundraising and programming.
Benice, who earned her degree in film-video in 2002, is a writer, producer and director at Luluh, LLC. She also has worked as a producer at Discovery and worked on an upcoming film with Department of Film-Video and Media Studies faculty members Rod Bingaman and Maura Shea.
“My motivation to serve is to give something back to the school that gave me so much,” Benice said. “I serve and stay in contact because I want to help shape the future of the school and the students.”
Loebig, who earned his journalism degree in 1980, is the director of digital media content and operations at AccuWeather.com in State College, Pa. He oversees the digital media content of the website, which is distributed globally.
At AccuWeather, Loebig has established two internships, which are primarily staffed with Penn State students. He also has hired a number of communications graduates for full-time positions.
“I have always found time to give back to the University and the College of Communications,” he said. “Since moving to State College in 2007, I have made the college part of my life -- participating in on-campus career fairs, resume reviews and information sessions.”
McKinnon, who earned his advertising degree in 1990, is the founder and president of YellowBrickRoad, a company that designs social change through programming, communications, advocacy and action. YellowBrickRoad has covered issues ranging from childhood obesity to climate change and works with organizations to help Americans live a happier and healthier life.
McKinnon created and edited “Actions Speak Loudest: Keeping Our Promise for a Better World.” The book is collection of ideas, images and actions featuring more than 130 organizations and 30 contributors, including Penn State football coach Joe Paterno. The book was created to inspire people and to remind them of the generational promise to leave the world a better place than the one they inherited.
Rotz, who earned her degree public relations degree in 2010, works at Mullen Advertising in Pittsburgh as the public relations/social influence connector. Rotz was previously an intern for the College of Communications Office of External Relations.
“I am a College of Communications success story,” she said. “I have great motivation to give back to the college because the people on the Alumni Society Board helped to get me where I am today.”