Academics

College of Health and Human Development names program marshals

Student marshals will represent each department for spring 2020 commencement

Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn StateCreative Commons

Athletic Training

Lauren Cianci, daughter of Linda and Angelo Cianci of Wayne, New Jersey, worked with Penn State Football, Men’s and Women’s Rugby, Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving, Women’s Lacrosse, and Women’s Basketball during her time at the University. She was also a supervisor for Campus Recreation competitive sports and a member of the Athletic Training Club and the Pre-Physical Therapy Club.

She interned with the Pittsburgh Steelers and had a clinical case abstract published in “Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.” Cianci was named to the Dean’s List seven times and was the recipient of the Sayers J. “Bud” Miller, Jr. Memorial Award.

Following graduation, she will complete an internship with the New York Jets during the summer of 2020 and then attend Columbia University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in the fall.

Biobehavioral Health

Hannah Supplee, daughter of Robert and Dana Supplee of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, was an undergraduate research assistant in the Laboratory for the Study of Human Ingestive Behavior and served as an undergraduate teaching intern and learning assistant. Supplee volunteered for LifeLink PSU and worked as an Emergency Medical Technician for Centre LifeLink EMS. She was also a member of the Lymphatic Filariasis Haiti Program and the Penn State Global Medical Brigades.

Supplee served Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) as a Family Relations THON Captain in 2020 and in the Futures THON organization. She received the Evan Pugh Senior Scholar Award, the Provost Four-year Award, the Academic Excellence Scholar Award, the Smith Scholarship in Health and Human Development, and the J.W. Van Dyke Memorial Scholarship, and was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society. As a Schreyer Honors Scholar, she conducted a thesis project, “An Examination of Individual Eating Behavior Characteristics Related to the Portion Size Effect.”

Following graduation, Supplee will attend DeSales University as a student in the Physician Assistant Program.

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Rileigh O’Brien, daughter of Jill and Geoffrey O’Brien of Zionsville, Pennsylvania, was a volunteer in the Speech-Language Cognition Lab, and a member of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and Changing Health Attitudes and Actions to Recreate Girls (CHAARG).

She was a member of the Oriana Singers, a women’s audition choir at Penn State, and was the primary chair for Oriana Singers Benefitting THON in 2020. She was a Donor and Alumni Committee Member for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON), and she was involved with Penn State Homecoming, serving as a Talent Relations Captain and a Pride Events Committee member. She was also named to the Dean’s List every semester and received the President’s Freshman Award and the Evan Pugh Scholar Junior and Senior Award.

Following graduation, O’Brien will attend the University of Pittsburgh in the fall for the graduate program in speech-language pathology.

Health Policy and Administration

Brendan Granahan, son of Sue Elias of Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania, and Joe Granahan of Media, Pennsylvania, was the recipient of the Penn State Provost Scholarship, the Society of Distinguished Alumni Trustee Scholarship, and the College of Health and Human Development Dave McClung Award. He was a member of the Health and Human Development Honors Society and was recognized on the Dean’s List every semester.

As a Schreyer Honors Scholar, Granahan conducted a thesis project, “A Quantitative Analysis of Subjective Measures of Well-being Among Uninsured and Insured Cancer Patients and Cancer Survivors.” He was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, serving as president for two years.

Following graduation, Granahan will be working for Catalent Pharma Solutions as an operations management associate in the Global Organization Leadership Development Program.

Hospitality Management

Alexis Lorenc, daughter of Deborah Lorenc of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, was a research lab assistant in the Food Decisions Research Laboratory, conducting research that measured how healthy food offerings in campus dining halls affect college students’ food decisions. She was president of Eta Sigma Delta, the International Hospitality & Tourism Management Student Honor Society.

Lorenc completed a food and beverage internship at The Reeds at Shelter Haven in Stone Harbor, New Jersey and Legends Hospitality at Yankee Stadium. She also participated in the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) and was named to the Dean’s List every semester.

Following graduation, Lorenc will attend graduate school to become a health coach and holistic nutritionist.

Hospitality Management

Diana Sam Liang, daughter of Hansong Shen and Jieling Liang of Lima, Peru, was a research assistant who most recently studied the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the hospitality industry. She will graduate with three minors in Information Sciences and Technology, Labor and Employment Relations, and Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and completed internships at the Nittany Lion Inn, the Kingdom Hotel, and Four Points by Sheraton.

Liang was a student member of the American Hotel and Lodging Association and the Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society. She also participated in the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON). She was named to the Dean’s List every semester.

Following graduation, she will pursue a career as a revenue analyst.

Human Development and Family Studies

Tiffany Renninger, a Penn State World Campus student, completed internships at Buttonwood Campground as an assistant activity director and Juniata County Head Start as a classroom assistant. She participated in the spring World Campus Internship Panel, sharing her experience with other World Campus students pursuing a degree in human development and family studies. She was named to the Dean’s List in 2019.

Following graduation, Renninger will continue working as the lead stylist at the Spartan Styles Shop at the Milton Hershey School, where she manages a team of licensed professionals who provide haircare services for students at the school. She also plans to pursue a career teaching early childhood education.

Kinesiology

Jacob Corey, son of Lesley and Joseph Corey of Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania, was a research assistant in Team Lab, studying the psychology of physical activity, with a focus on health disparities tied to physical disabilities. He volunteered with LifeLink PSU, establishing two weekly group exercise classes for the program. He was also the first undergraduate member of the Department of Kinesiology’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and was an undergraduate learning assistant for multiple kinesiology classes.

As a Schreyer Honors Scholar, Corey completed a thesis project, “The Role of Physical Therapists in Physical Activity Promotion.” He also conducted research in exercise psychology and motor control, contributing to several conference presentations and co-authoring a journal article. He was a recipient of the 2020 American Kinesiology Association Undergraduate Award and the College of Health and Human Development Raymond E. and Erin Stuart Schultz Endowment.

Following graduation, Corey will attend the University of Delaware to pursue a dual doctorate of physical therapy and a doctorate in biomechanics and movement science.

Nutritional Sciences

Marisa Langton, daughter of Karen and William Langton of Pine Grove Mills, Pennsylvania, founded and served as president of Phi Epsilon Kappa, Penn State’s first professional fraternity for students in the health field. She volunteered in Mount Nittany Medical Center’s Radiation Oncology Department and worked as a front desk representative and certified personal trainer at East Coast Health & Fitness. She was also a teaching assistant for multiple nutritional sciences courses.

Langton was the recipient of the John E. Smith Outstanding Senior in Nutrition Award, the Evan Pugh Scholar Senior Award, the Lilian Vandyke Scholarship in Nutrition, the Ruth L. Pike Scholarship in Nutrition, and was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Delta National Pre-Health Professional Honor Society.

Following graduation, she will take a gap year to gain additional clinical experience before attending medical school in 2021 to pursue a career advocating for nutrition education in the medical field.

Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management

Michaela Wandrisco, daughter of John and Melissa Wandrisco of State College, Pennsylvania, was a backpacking trip leader for Penn State Aurora Outdoor Recreation Program, a student manager for the Penn State Varsity Field Hockey team, an outdoor school counselor for Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, and a volunteer at Hands on Therapeutic Riding Program.

She also studied abroad with the New Zealand and Australia Ecotourism Study Abroad Program and interned at the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana and Millbrook Marsh Nature Center in Centre County.

After graduating Cum Laude, Wandrisco will return to the Yellowstone Club as an outdoor guide.

Last Updated May 6, 2020

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