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Alumni & Friends - Penn State College of Arts and Architecture

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Be involved & connected!

Support the arts and design

Alumni and friends are an integral part of the College of Arts and Architecture family. Thanks to your involvement, we are able to support students and faculty in their studies and in their creative and research pursuits. Graduating does not take you out of the equation – it just means there are new ways for you to stay involved and connected.


Tell us your interests on our Volunteer Interest Form!

A&A Alumni Society

WE ARE…award-winning actors, architects, graphic designers, artists, musicians, lighting designers, set designers, stage managers, photographers, landscape architects, art historians, art, music and museum educators, and more. Nearly 20,000 Penn State alumni call the College of Arts and Architecture home!

If you are a College of Arts and Architecture graduate and you join the Penn State Alumni Association, you automatically become a member of the Arts and Architecture Alumni Society. We benefit from annual funding from the Penn State Alumni Association based on membership. Some of this funding is used to support alumni events, and a portion of it is made available to departmental alumni groups (APGs) for activities specific to the department’s alumni base. The Arts and Architecture Alumni Society is governed by a board of directors that meets quarterly. There are occasional openings for new members. For more information about a position on the Alumni Society Board, please get in touch!


Contacts

Kelsey Knight, director of alumni relations & stewardship
Email: kms468@psu.edu
Phone: 814-863-2143

Ashley Hardison, assistant director of alumni relations
Email: amb1045@psu.edu
Phone: 814-863-0622


College of Arts and Architecture alumni and friends gather together for a picture during a tailgate party on blue and white weekend.

We love our alumni volunteers!

The Arts and Architecture Alumni Society and departmental alumni groups serve as vital resources for students and fellow alumni. Networking, mentoring, connecting across disciplines – these are just a few ways you can be involved.

A&A Alumni Society Leadership

As the governing body of the Arts and Architecture Alumni Society, the members of the board serve as a resource for the College of Arts and Architecture by promoting ongoing communication and relationships among alumni, students, faculty, administration, and affiliated groups.

Board Members

Frank Dittenhafer

Frank Dittenhafer – ’78 Architecture

President
President, Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects; York, PA | fed@murphdittarch.com


Mike Fisher

Mike Fisher – ’79 Landscape Architecture

Principal, Site Resources, Inc.; Phoenix, MD | mfisher@siteresourcesinc.com


Michael Fratangelo

Michael Fratangelo – ’01 Visual Arts

Visual Arts Alumni Group Representative
Artist and Art Educator; Pittsburgh, PA | michael@fratangelo.com | http://fratangelo.com


Mark Hackenburg

Mark Hackenburg – ’88 B.S. Landscape Architecture

Vice President/President-Elect
Principal, RGS Associates, Inc.; Lancaster, PA | mhackenburg@rgsassociates.com


Brian Kappel

Brian Kappel – ’98 B.A. Visual Arts

Artist/Owner, Spacemonkey Designs; Beaverton, OR | bk@spacemonkeydesigns.com


Michael C. Karns

Michael C. Karns – ’11 BFA Theatre (Stage Management)

CEO, Marathon Digital; New York, NY | mike@marathondgtl.com


Allison Keilman

Allison Keilman – ’09 Bachelor of Arts

Exhibition Program Specialist, National Portrait Gallery; Washington, DC | alli.keilman@gmail.com


John Kovalchik

John Kovalchik – ’71 Music Education

Alumni Bands Alumni Group Representative
Retired Music Educator; State College, PA | jkt6tuba@aol.com


Peter Margittai

Peter Margittai – ’93 Architecture

Immediate Past President
Architect; Pittsburgh, PA | peter@margittai.com


Jared Edgar McKnight

Jared Edgar McKnight – ’11 B.Arch.

Associate, WRT Design | mckjared@gmail.com


Brendan Michels

Brendan Michels – ’18 B.A. Music Education

Music Alumni Group Representative
Music Teacher, Pocono Mountain School District; Swiftwater, PA | bfmichels@gmail.com


Richard Nasto, Ed.D.

Dr. Richard Nasto, Ed.D. – ’96 B.S. Music Education, ’99 M.Mus.

Music Educator at Merrick Union Free School District; New York | jazzersaxman@gmail.com


Katherine O'Hara

Katherine O’Hara – ’92 B.A. Graphic Design


Doug Patt

Doug Patt – ’91 B.Arch.

Architect, Creator, Author, Teacher; Allentown, PA | dpatt@mac.com


Sarah Pettit

Sarah Pettit – ’09 B.A. Architecture

Architecture Alumni Group Representative
Associate, MGA Partners Architects; Philadelphia, PA | stpettit@gmail.com


Morgan Pierce

Morgan Pierce – ’89 B.S. Landscape Architecture

Principal, 3 North; San Francisco, CA | mpierce@3north.com


Michael Smanko

Michael Smanko – ’77 MFA Theatre

Theatre Alumni Group Representative
(Retired) Production Props Supervisor; New Jersey | michaelsmanko@gmail.com


Lisa Thomas

Lisa Thomas – ’81 Landscape Architecture

Principal, Glackin Thomas Panzak, Inc.; Paoli, PA | lthomas@glackinplan.com

Affiliate Program Groups

APGs are groups of alumni who share a common interest in a particular academic unit or department. There are no dues to join the department-based groups – by being a graduate, all alumni are automatically members. The APGs in the College of Arts and Architecture are focused on issues that are uniquely valued by their own departments, and each is governed by its own board of directors. The College of Arts and Architecture is also home to the Alumni Blue Band Association APG, because of its unique relationship with the School of Music.

To become actively involved in an APG, contact Kelsey Knight (kms468@psu.edu) or Ashley Hardison (amb1045@psu.edu) in the Arts and Architecture Alumni Office or get in touch directly with the group’s current contact person listed below.


Architecture

Membership in the Architecture Alumni (AAG) is automatic for all graduates of Penn State Architecture with no dues. The group exists to help provide a connection with alumni, and the board of directors acts as an informal advisory group to the department. By expanding the participation of alumni relationships, the group hopes to promote interaction between alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends for the benefit and ongoing improvement of the department.

Connect

Board

Members Position
Matthew Graham (2012) President
Alex Donahue (2013) Vice President
Carla Bonacci (1982) Secretary-Treasurer
Sara Pettit (2009) Immediate Past President and A&A Rep
Andrew Phillips (1988) Member
Xavier King (2020) DEI Committee Chair
Bob Krieger (1980) Member
Edwina Jean-Louis (2007) Member
Andrew Barnett (2018) Mentoring Committee Co-Chair
Paige Geldrich (2018) Communications Committee Chair
Shewtanc Bothra (2021) Recent Graduate
Kelsey Knight (2006) Director of Alumni Relations & Stewardship
Ashley Hardison (2015) Assistant Director of Alumni Relations

VERTICES Career Journeys, Projects, Inspiration and Insights

Issue 1 (Class of 1981-82)
Issue 2 (Mid 1990s alumni)

Art History

The Art History Alumni Circle was established to help foster the alumni community and promote interaction between alumni and the department by communicating alumni achievements, departmental news and events; and supporting mentoring and networking opportunities for alumni, students, and faculty.

This group is seeking some leadership! Meeting in person is not required; arrangements for occasional Zoom or Teams meetings can be arranged. A mix of art history undergrad and graduate alumni would be desirable; relatively recent (past 10-15 years) alumni are particularly encouraged to consider how you might support the department through your service. If interested in the Art History Alumni Circle, please contact contact Kelsey Knight (kms468@psu.edu) or Ashley Hardison (amb1045@psu.edu) in the A&A Alumni Office.

Connect


Graphic Design

The Graphic Design Alumni Group connects alumni to each other, the program, and current students. The group encourages and supports education and career opportunities through a variety of programs including professional mentorship, virtual portfolio reviews, and more. Membership in the alumni group is open to all graduates of the program.

Connect

Join the Graphic Design Alumni Listserv by contacting the Arts and Architecture Alumni Office.

Board

Members Position
Karin Satrom (2001) President
Lisa Hopey (2005) Vice President
Katherine O’Hara (1992) Secretary/A&A Alumni Liaison
Eric Yeamans (2010) Mentoring Coordinator
Gabe Kean (1995) Member
Adam Cohn (1993) Member
Jason Giles (2009) Member
Madison Urich (2020) Member
Aniekan Udo (2006) Member
Lucas Sterrett (2022) Member
Kelsey Knight (2006) Director of Alumni Relations & Stewardship
Ashley Hardison (2015) Assistant Director of Alumni Relations

Landscape Architecture

Membership in the Landscape Architecture Alumni Group (L.Arch. APG) is automatic for all graduates of the program with no dues. The group exists to provide a connection with alumni, and the board of directors acts as an informal advisory group to the department. The L.Arch. APG was the first academic department-based alumni group in the College of Arts and Architecture, and the group provides strong support to current students in numerous ways, including a mentorship program. The group has also established a program endowment that will provide funds in perpetuity to be used to benefit students.

Connect

Board

Members Position
Terrie Brightman (2004) President
Stacy Fisher (1979) Vice President
Lisa Thomas (1981) Immediate Past President/ A&A Liaison
Katie Kovalchik (2015) Secretary
Christopher Maurer (2014) Treasurer
Roxi Thoren Department Head
Eliza Pennypacker Faculty Representative
Mallika Bose Interim Director of Stuckeman School
Julie Cantola Kirsch (2009) Member
Kelly Gutshall (1984) Member
Ashley Feitel (2014) Member
Jim DeTuerk (1960) Member
Evan Stone (1986) Member
Kelsey Knight Director of Alumni Relations & Stewardship
Ashley Hardison Assistant Director of Alumni Relations

Music

The Penn State School of Music Affiliate Program Group was founded with the purpose of providing a forum by which all School of Music alumni can grow professionally and personally and stay connected with each other and to the School. The group works with the Director of the School of Music in remaining informed about the affairs of the School, encourages and supports educational and career opportunities for students in the field of music, and helps foster a sense of pride in the School of Music while enhancing its reputation and prestige.

Connect

Board

Members Position
Brendan Michels (2018) President
Russell Bloom Faculty Representative
RJ David Frego Director of the School of Music
Julia Grossman (2017) Member
Olivia Dowd (2018) Member
Carol Poblete (2008) Member
Theresa Hoover (2002) Member
Kelsey Knight Director of Alumni Relations & Stewardship
Ashley Hardison Assistant Director of Alumni Relations

Theatre

Membership in the Theatre Alumni Group is automatic for all graduates of the Penn State School of Theatre with no dues. The group exists to help provide connections between alumni, and between alumni and current students. The board of directors meets by Zoom regularly, to discuss the group’s initiatives. In its relatively short time of existence, the Theatre Alumni Group has already been recognized by the Penn State Alumni Association for its exceptional alumni/student interaction programming. The group is currently governed by the board of directors listed below.

Connect

Board

Members Position
Allison Lee (1995) President
Rick Lombardo Director, SoT
Steve Snyder SoT Faculty Representative
Jonah Schwartz Student Representative
Georgia Wood Student Representative
Benjamin Nissen (2018) Member
Carolyn Quinn (2016) Member/IPP
Christina Talley (2008) Member
Dan Walker (1994) Member
Heather Augustine (2012) Member
Laura Matey (2011) Member
Leslie A. Jones (1985) Member
Paul-Jordan Jansen (2012) Member
Kelsey Knight Director of Alumni Relations & Stewardship
Ashley Hardison Assistant Director of Alumni Relations

Visual Arts/Art Education

The School of Visual Alumni Group was founded with the purpose of providing a forum in which alumni of the Penn State School of Visual Arts (SoVA) can stay connected to each other and to the School, remain informed about the affairs of the School and the College. The group hopes to assist the School, as appropriate, in the recruitment of students, and to support and encourage educational and career opportunties for students in the fields of visual arts and art education.

Connect

Board

Members Position
Vincente Ortiz Cortez (2014) President
Nicole Packard (2014) Vice President
Emilee Taylor (1974) Secretary
Rebecca Poarch (2020) Social Media Coordinator
Greta Miller Incoming Student Representative
Michael Frantangelo (2001) SoVA APG Representative to A&A Society Board
Vagner Mendonça- Whitehead SoVA Director
Kaylie Maines (2018) Faculty Representative
Yang Deng Student Representative
Jeremy Dennis (2016) Member
Heather Bhandari (1999) Member
Jason Lahr (1999) Member
Kelsey Knight Director of Alumni Relations & Stewardship
Ashley Hardison Assistant Director of Alumni Relations

Blue Band

As an alum of Penn State University and the Blue Band, you have three opportunities to join the Alumni Blue Band Association and support the alumni and current members of the Penn State Marching Blue Band! Complete details about the Alumni Blue Band Association (ABBA) can be found at the ABBA website.

Connect

Woskob gallery showcasing interactive light painting by a participant.

Your gifts truly make a difference!

Scholarships help give students financial security so they can focus on their studies. Program endowments support faculty endeavors that raise the profile of their creative work, their research, and their interdisciplinary initiatives. Your gift could allow an undergraduate to take an unpaid internship, or a faculty member to conduct on-site research for her next book.


Learn about ways that you can make a gift

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The Penn State Alumni Association

The mission of the Alumni Association is to connect alumni to the University and to each other, to provide valued services to members, and to support the University’s mission of teaching, research, and service.

Learn more about alumni events, groups, travel, career opportunities, giving, leadership, and so much more. The opportunities are endless.


Visit the Alumni Association website

Overhead view of alumni association reception at the Hintz Alumni Center on the Penn State university Park campus

We are...

Penn State Arts and Architecture is stronger for all of the students, alumni, and friends who are engaged and active contributors to our community!

Keeping in Touch!

We want to keep in touch with you! As you move through life – taking on new roles and marking new achievements – we hope that you will reach out and let us know so that we can celebrate your successes. Feel free to provide updates via the Alumni Association update form. If you have professional news that might be of interest to the larger community of Arts and Architecture alumni and students, please reach out to us.

Similarly, we love to share student, faculty, alumni, and school news, events, and happenings. Units across the college send out e-news publications that help to keep you abreast of the latest from your alma mater. Please complete the form below to indicate the information you’d like to receive.

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