Alumni News

IST Alumni Identity Talks series Sept. 15, 'Celebrating Hispanic Heritage'

September 10, 2021

Members of the Penn State community are invited to join alumni of the College of Information Sciences and Technology for IST Alumni Identity Talks — Celebrating Hispanic Heritage, to be held virtually from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15.

Read more...

IST alumnus and Latinx workers in tech advocate lands dream job at Twitter

IST alumnus and Latinx workers in tech advocate lands dream job at Twitter

September 10, 2021

Growing up in Philadelphia, Noel Claudio never thought that it was possible to work for a big social media tech company unless he lived in California or New York.

Read more...

Overcoming homelessness and hardships to earn a Penn State degree

Overcoming homelessness and hardships to earn a Penn State degree

September 9, 2021

On his 18th birthday, Joel Seidel became emancipated from his parents and, in turn, homeless. He said Penn State equipped him with the tools and resources he needed to succeed, including support from scholarships.

Read more...

Alumni sisters experience IST 10 years apart, advocate for diversity in tech

Alumni sisters experience IST 10 years apart, advocate for diversity in tech

August 31, 2021

Many alumni can say that the Penn State legacy runs in their family, but few can say that they graduated from the same college as their sibling.

Read more...

Honor code established at College of IST

Honor code established at College of IST

August 20, 2021

The College of Information Sciences and Technology, in collaboration with IST student government, announced the launch of the IST Honor Code.

Read more...

World Campus IST graduate heads security engineering for Disney+

July 12, 2021

Jacob Meissner never imagined he’d work in technology after obtaining his bachelor’s degree in English from Penn State.

Read more...

IST alumnus creates scholarship to honor family legacy

IST alumnus creates scholarship to honor family legacy

July 2, 2021

As a member of the College of Information Sciences and Technology’s first graduating class and a long-time alumni volunteer, Steve Pipino has established the Pipino Family Annually Funded Scholarship in the college to benefit first-generation students and students with demonstrated need.

Read more...

IST experience leads to alumnus’ work exploring breakups in the digital age

April 30, 2021

After a romantic breakup, there are often decisions to be made regarding the partners’ shared possessions, such as who takes the house and who gets the cat, and who keeps the friends.

Read more...

After change of course, IST alumnus lands career in academics

After change of course, IST alumnus lands career in academics

April 28, 2021

When Porter Jenkins came to Penn State to pursue a doctorate in marketing, he never imagined he’d one day have a full-time career in academics, teaching and conducting research on data sciences and machine learning.

Read more...

Educational equity scholarship honors family legacy for IST alumni couple

April 2, 2021

For Angela Govila and Ankur Tarnacha, the College of Information Sciences and Technology is the foundation for everything they have. The two first met as students in 2003, and Tarnacha soon after asked Govila out for a cup of coffee. The rest, they say, is history.

Read more...

Lees establish educational equity scholarship at IST

March 15, 2021

Corey and Leteace Lee have established an educational equity scholarship in the College of Information Sciences and Technology to support students with financial need who are first-generation or from underrepresented backgrounds.

Read more...

IST Alumni Identity Talks spark dialogue on diversity between students, alumni

IST Alumni Identity Talks spark dialogue on diversity between students, alumni

March 11, 2021

“Be intentional.” “Remember your why.” “Be clear on who you are.” “You’re not alone.” Those were a few of the main takeaways shared by panelists with students during the first IST Alumni Identity Talks event, hosted virtually by the College of Information Sciences and Technology last month.

Read more...

Student organization IST Diplomats celebrate 10 years

Student organization IST Diplomats celebrate 10 years

February 26, 2021

Ten years ago, the IST Diplomats student organization was founded to serve as ambassadors for the College of Information Sciences and Technology, to represent its academic programs, career solutions and student engagement opportunities.

Read more...

Penn State IT staff inspires a future generation of professionals

Penn State IT staff inspires a future generation of professionals

February 22, 2021

Eight information technology professionals representing various domains at Penn State recently came together to educate College of Information Sciences and Technology students about their professions during the college’s IT Career Panel.

Read more...

Schreyer Scholar alumni build business based on skincare, scents, nostalgia

February 2, 2021

Asia Grant and Alejandro Cuevas began their friendship when they were members of Penn State’s Presidential Leadership Academy. After graduation, the two founded Redoux, a thriving scent and skincare company.

Read more...

Penn State alumni invited to participate in Cooking Classic

Penn State alumni invited to participate in Cooking Classic

January 12, 2021

A series of webinars will bring alumni together to learn cooking skills and raise awareness of students experiencing food insecurity.

Read more...

Alumnus Jacob Sisko makes an impact through Department of Army civilian career

January 12, 2021

When Jacob Sisko first accepted his offer from Penn State to study forensic science, he never imagined that he’d one day work for the Department of the Army and its Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center.

Read more...

World Campus graduate overcomes three decades of challenges to get degree

World Campus graduate overcomes three decades of challenges to get degree

December 11, 2020

Ryan DeGrendel, 45, first enrolled in college classes while he was still in high school and playing junior hockey in Detroit. Three decades, 17 surgeries and one near-death experience later, he is earning a degree in security and risk analysis through Penn State World Campus.

Read more...

Alumnus' software gift to help train Penn State cybersecurity students

December 10, 2020

Mark Viglione, a 2015 graduate and founder of Enigma Networkz, has finalized a software licensing agreement with the University to make his company’s security information and event management platform, Enigma Glass, available to students at all Penn State campuses.

Read more...

IST alumna aims to impact social justice issues through video game design

IST alumna aims to impact social justice issues through video game design

October 30, 2020

With the video game industry expected to near $200 billion in revenue by 2022, game designers have expanded their reach to interest different types of players.

Read more...

New app aims to help bring community to underrepresented students

New app aims to help bring community to underrepresented students

October 30, 2020

Penn State students now have an easier way to connect with campus organizations that match their backgrounds and interests through a new app designed by a team of students, Vybrnt, which was launched to help students from underrepresented backgrounds to build community on campus.

Read more...

IST cybersecurity program helps meet a global security demand

IST cybersecurity program helps meet a global security demand

October 7, 2020

The College of IST is helping to fill a global demand through the cybersecurity analytics and operations bachelor’s degree program, launched in 2017.

Read more...

Six educational equity scholarships established at the College of IST

Six educational equity scholarships established at the College of IST

October 5, 2020

Six educational equity scholarships have recently been established to benefit students in the College of Information Sciences and Technology.

Read more...

Researchers aim to motivate family conversations about health

Researchers aim to motivate family conversations about health

September 29, 2020

If you haven’t recently talked with your family about health topics like sleep or medication, you’re not alone, according to a study by researchers in Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology.

Read more...

IST alumnus helps drive a major city's data during COVID-19

IST alumnus helps drive a major city's data during COVID-19

September 18, 2020

As chief data officer for the City and County of San Francisco, Jason Lally carries the daily responsibility to help each of the city’s approximately 50 departments make the best use of its data. And that responsibility becomes especially critical in the middle of a global pandemic.

Read more...

IST alumna Isabella Webster named 2020-21 Young Alumni Ambassador

IST alumna Isabella Webster named 2020-21 Young Alumni Ambassador

September 7, 2020

Isabella Webster, a 2020 graduate of the College of Information Sciences and Technology, was heavily engaged on campus during her time at Penn State — with leadership roles in Homecoming, Movin’ On, and the University Park Undergraduate Association.

Read more...

Summer Founders program showcases record number of teams

September 1, 2020

Invent Penn State’s 2020 Summer Founders program, a 13-week student startup accelerator, wrapped up Aug. 12 in a virtual showcase after funding seven student-startup teams with $15,000 each to work on their startup, nonprofit, or social good full time over the summer.

Read more...

Alumna works behind the scenes at fast-food company on third-party integration

August 31, 2020

The last few months of pandemic-stricken quarantine have been anything but monotonous for 2013 Penn State alumna Lindsay Langley, as she has been staying busy with two new roles: working virtually in a new position at a new company and becoming a first-time mother.

Read more...

The symbol of our best: Penn State Nittany Lion mascot revealed

August 26, 2020

For three years, Class of 2020 graduate Zach Sowa lived a double life: He was a College of Information Sciences and Technology student and the face of Penn State — the Nittany Lion mascot. How did he balance his time and manage to keep one of the University's best-kept secrets?

Read more...

IST alumnus, student partner for virtual pet-adoption-internship experience

IST alumnus, student partner for virtual pet-adoption-internship experience

July 30, 2020

When College of Information Sciences and Technology alumnus Kurt Heslop needed to update the website for an Oregon-based animal shelter, for which he serves on the board, he sought out a Penn State student to help complete the task.

Read more...

Building an image classifier to aid in disaster response

Building an image classifier to aid in disaster response

July 28, 2020

This spring, students in the data sciences capstone course at the College of Information Sciences and Technology worked with a team of MIT Lincoln Laboratory Beaver Works researchers to make real-world contributions toward improving image classifiers for disaster response.

Read more...

Nonprofit provides STEAM education to underserved youth in Atlanta

July 28, 2020

Joe Lewis, a 2010 graduate of the College of Information Sciences and Technology, created a nonprofit organization to give children in underserved communities in Atlanta the opportunity to learn about and experience technology after noticing disparities that existed in the city's school syst

Read more...

Project-based learning leads to leadership role for College of IST alumna

Project-based learning leads to leadership role for College of IST alumna

July 22, 2020

Shara Beach Ryan’s list of career experiences is quite extensive — she has worked as an advertising campaign manager, front-end developer, business analyst, project and product manager, marketer and user-interface designer.

Read more...

Alumnus-driven startup aids IST students seeking internship experiences

July 20, 2020

When the novel coronavirus pandemic struck, and many College of Information Sciences and Technology students faced challenges in securing summer internships due to public health guidelines, an IST alumnus rose to the occasion to help students get the experience they needed.

Read more...

Hacker bootcamp: Alumnus creates cybersecurity experience for IST students

Hacker bootcamp: Alumnus creates cybersecurity experience for IST students

June 29, 2020

With students in the College of Information Sciences and Technology having offers rescinded from their internship placements, one alumnus launched an eight-week virtual hacker bootcamp to give a group of students professional experiences this summer.

Read more...

Alumni Association announces 2020-21 Young Alumni Ambassadors

Alumni Association announces 2020-21 Young Alumni Ambassadors

May 18, 2020

The Penn State Alumni Association has selected 11 recent graduates as 2020-21 Young Alumni Ambassadors. These young alumni will share a yearlong experience aimed at developing their skills to become the University's future volunteer leaders.

Read more...

Mentorship program strengthens professional network for IST students

Mentorship program strengthens professional network for IST students

May 14, 2020

Sometimes, the greatest lessons come from someone who has lived them. That’s why the College of IST has revitalized its alumni mentorship program — to give students meaningful, real-world and professional guidance from alumni who have experience in the industry.

Read more...

IST student creates app to help underrepresented students find community

IST student creates app to help underrepresented students find community

May 11, 2020

A College of Information Sciences and Technology student has created a way to help new students, particularly those who are underrepresented, discover community on campus at the touch of a button.

Read more...

Using data to maximize hospital resources

May 1, 2020

As a student in Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology, Steve Ney learned critical skills, from coding to data design and architecture.

Read more...

College of IST announces spring 2020 student marshals

College of IST announces spring 2020 student marshals

April 22, 2020

The College of Information Sciences and Technology will honor two graduates as student marshals at spring 2020 commencement.

Read more...

Following footsteps on the IST path

April 21, 2020

Being apart from family is a tough part of college for many students, but Kelly and Kevin Costello are two Penn Staters who were able to spend two years in Happy Valley together — not only on the Penn State campus, but in the College of Information Sciences and Technology.

Read more...

Additional details announced on virtual commencement for the Class of 2020

Additional details announced on virtual commencement for the Class of 2020

April 16, 2020

At 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, Penn State will host its first virtual commencement. The ceremony will be livestreamed, and available internationally, at https://spring2020.commencement.psu.edu/.

Read more...

'Ahead-of-the-trend' College of IST prepared security adviser for his career

April 15, 2020

The experiences that Chris Eggerman, a 2017 graduate, had while at Penn State gave him a glimpse of the challenges and rewards he would enjoy in a career, and, paired with his education in the College of Information Sciences and Technology, equipped him with the skills he uses in his current prof

Read more...

Penn State to recognize class of 2020 with virtual commencement ceremony

Penn State to recognize class of 2020 with virtual commencement ceremony

April 6, 2020

In response to the growing coronavirus pandemic, orders from the state government and recommendations from global public health organizations, Penn State will hold its spring 2020 commencement ceremony via livestream on May 9.

Read more...

Women across IST at Penn State are creating a 'culture of empowerment'

Women across IST at Penn State are creating a 'culture of empowerment'

March 2, 2020

The Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology recently hosted a “Sit With Me” initiative, which was held as part of the global campaign powered by the National Center for Women & Information Technology to recognize and validate the important role women play in creating future

Read more...

Making drones a part of everyday life

Making drones a part of everyday life

February 28, 2020

As a staff research associate in the Homeland Protection and Air Traffic Control Division at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Penn State alumnus Andrew Weinert focuses on enabling drones to be safely and efficiently integrated into national airspace.

Read more...

Profit-prediction system may lower suicide rates among indebted Indian farmers

Profit-prediction system may lower suicide rates among indebted Indian farmers

February 27, 2020

Researchers from the College of Information Sciences and Technology are taking steps to address the alarming rate of suicides among indebted farmers in India, by developing a deep-learning algorithm as the first step in a decision-support system that could predict future market values of crops.

Read more...

Disrupting the sleep market was all in a day's work for alumnus JT Marino

Disrupting the sleep market was all in a day's work for alumnus JT Marino

February 20, 2020

Every parent knows college students like sleep.

Read more...

Former Marine awakens entrepreneurial spirit through Penn State's Online MBA

Former Marine awakens entrepreneurial spirit through Penn State's Online MBA

February 4, 2020

In May 2018, former Marine Robert Bussey enrolled in the Penn State Online MBA program, led by the Penn State Smeal College of Business and delivered by Penn State World Campus, to ultimately build a company from scratch after taking courses in the corporate innovation and entrepreneurship concen

Read more...