UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Sharon Qi, daughter of Shan Dong and Jining Qi of Wallingford, Pa., was named the Penn State College of Health and Human Development's student marshal for the August 2015 commencement ceremony, where she received a bachelor’s degree in health policy and administration.
As an undergraduate, Qi worked as a research assistant at the Center for Healthy Aging Laboratory at Penn State. At the center, Qi served as a team member of an ongoing study known as the Effects of Stress on Cognitive Aging, Physiology, and Emotion, which measured the severity of chronic conditions in adults.
Qi served as vice president of the Health Policy and Administration Club, through which she participated in various events for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. Qi also served as president of the Gerontology Club at Penn State, where she tutored older adults in using new technology and social media.
She was the winner of the national Francis G. Caro Student Paper Award competition at the undergraduate level with her literature review, "The Effects of Social Isolation on Chronic Illness among Older Adults.” Qi also presented a poster as the lead author of the research findings that used regression analysis to The Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Qi was selected as one of eight undergraduate Penn State student teams to present research to state legislators in Harrisburg and received the Alumni Recognition for Student Excellence Award.
Qi will be entering into the Master of Accounting program in the Penn State Smeal College of Business after graduation. Upon completion of her master's degree, she hopes to work as a healthcare financial consultant or auditor for a major accounting firm.