Alumni News

There’s an old adage that goes if you can instill in someone a piece of advice, a bit of knowledge, then through them that lives forever. What you started passes on through generations.

Penn State alumna Elana Chapman, senior fuels and biofuels engineer at General Motors (GM), has been recognized for her impacts within the fuel industry. 

In its first weeks on Mars, NASA’s Perseverance rover has captured dazzling highlights, from video of its own dramatic landing to the first audio recordings from the red planet, the sounds of wind blowing and the rover’s laser zapping rocks.

For Joel Burcat, retired environmental lawyer turned novelist, the first step on his career path was a physical geography course.

Penn State alumna Professor Judi Wakhungu, currently Kenya’s ambassador to France, Portugal, Serbia, Monaco and the Holy See, always knew deep down that she would make a great impact on the world. 

Jon Nese, host of Penn State’s “Weather World,” says you can trace the roots of a longtime partnership with the astronomy and astrophysics department to the ancient Greek meaning of the word “meteorology.”

Kelly Cui is president of the PSAA Beijing Alumni Chapter. She graduated from Penn State in 2015 with a degree in Environmental Systems Engineering from the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Most recently she participated as an alumni panelist on a panel titled “The Global Impact of Penn State Alumni."

 Doing what you love while helping others sounds like a good deal – especially if what you love is watching Penn State football.

David Payne, who has seen countless young professionals enter the petroleum and natural gas field, said Penn State graduates tend to stand out. They love to travel, advance in their careers and take on new challenges.

The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) will be raising money to support the Millennium Scholars Program on Giving Tuesday, slated to begin at 6:55 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 30, and lasting through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1.