Penn State Harrisburg announces fall 2024 student marshals

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. -- Penn State Harrisburg has selected six graduates to serve as student marshals at the fall 2024 commencement ceremony. The graduates will bear the banners representing each academic school and, together with the faculty marshals, lead the graduating students during the ceremony processional.

Student marshals were selected based on their GPAs from among students eligible to graduate. Other criteria considered included engagement with the academic school and the college, involvement in research, involvement in leadership activities, and faculty recommendations.

The fall 2024 student marshals are:

School of Behavioral Sciences and Education

Allison Ishler, bachelor of elementary education in elementary education

Activities/Achievements: Worked as a certified lifeguard and swim instructor; completed student teaching with distinction with the Middletown Area School District; member of Kappa Delta Pi, national education honor society

What was your most memorable experience while at Penn State Harrisburg?
"Probably my student teaching (that started in January 2024). I had such an amazing mentor, and the third-grade classroom I was put in was amazing. I just really liked how much I was able to connect with my kids. My mentor pushes me a lot."

Ishler will be escorted by faculty marshals Mary Napoli, associate professor of reading and children's literature, and Daniel Lidstone, assistant professor of kinesiology.

School of Business Administration

Willow Marsh, bachelor of science in marketing

Achievements/Activities: Beta Gamma Sigma, international business honor society; Mu Kappa Tau, national marketing honor society; F. Blair Business Excellence Scholarship; Bihl Family Award; Internships, including with Governor Josh Shapiro's office

What's your most memorable experience at Penn State Harrisburg?

"Getting to know all the professors and connect with them on a more individualized level. When I was attending another university, it was a much larger environment, making it harder to connect with the professors. Essentially being able to get to know people one-on-one (like Amy Sauertieg, assistant teaching professor emerita of communications and public relations, and the late Sheela Pandey, associate professor of management). In the classroom, they were very realistic. They weren't teaching by the textbook, and they made an effort to get to know each and every single one of their students."

Marsh will be escorted by faculty marshals Siddharth Bhatt, assistant professor of marketing, and Joseph Oberto, lecturer in information sciences and technology.

School of Humanities

Elise Heilman, bachelor of science in communication sciences and disorders

Achievements/Activities: First president of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association club, Dean's list, presentation at American Speech and Hearing Association convention

What was your biggest accomplishment while at Penn State Harrisburg?

"While presenting a research project in Boston was a major accomplishment, I am most proud of being able to say that I am graduating a semester early. In the beginning of my college career, I set a goal for myself to take on more course work than usual in order to graduate early, which I have been able to fulfill. I pushed myself to work harder than I ever have, and it has paid off. I am so proud of myself and cannot wait to see what the future has in store."

Heilman will be escorted by faculty marshals Tara McCarty, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, and Paul Evitts, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders.

School of Public Affairs

Erin Merced, bachelor of science in health policy and administration

Achievements/Activities: THON, National Society of Leadership and Success, Central PA HFMA Scholarship for Healthcare Administration, internship at Toivoa

What was your most memorable experience at Penn State Harrisburg?

"My most memorable experience at Penn State Harrisburg was probably going to THON in 2023. Being able to experience that in person was overwhelming in a good way. There were a lot of emotions, and we had a great time. I think it's important that we're able to help [THON] families while their children are going through treatment and other things. They shouldn't have to worry about how they're going to pay for that or how they're going to continue going to work."

Merced will be escorted by faculty marshals Sujeong Park, assistant professor of health policy and addiction studies, and Chris Dolan, assistant teaching professor of homeland security and public policy.

School of Science, Engineering, and Technology

Chunyu Lu, bachelor of science in mathematical sciences

Achievements/Activities: Pi Mu Epsilon, the national mathematics honor society, participation in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards project

What was your favorite class at Penn State Harrisburg?

"Because I'm a math major … most classes I studied were all related to numbers. Every time I solve a problem, I go through the process and after I get the answer, I'm really excited that I finally got it. The most interesting for me is mathematics history because in that class, you're learning about [people in the past] and how they created some theorems … and how they influenced math now. I think that class was most interesting for me. I want to know how people (in the past) studied for math and how they discovered something new."

Lu will be escorted by faculty marshals Ronald Walker, associate professor of mathematics, and Dariush Khezrimotlagh, associate professor of mathematical sciences.

J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School

Victoria Williams, doctor of philosophy in public administration

Dissertation: Williams' dissertation examined the impact of behavioral health policy in the Steelton-Highspire School District.

Achievements/Activities: Awards include Penn State's Presidential Public Impact Research Award; the Irving and Mildred Hand Award for State, Urban, and Regional Affairs; the Graduate Research Experience and Training award; and the Ph.D. Research Award from the Keystone State Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration. Worked as a graduate assistant in Dan Mallinson's Policy Lab and at the Douglas W. Pollock Center for Addiction Research and Outreach. Secretary for the Public Administration Doctoral Student Organization.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at Penn State Harrisburg?

"I think the biggest lesson I've learned is if you have the right support, if you have the right people's voices in your head telling you that you can do this, it makes a difference. I had such an amazing group of professors who were able to encourage me, support me, and give me feedback … it was just so helpful because I wasn't doing this alone. I think that was the main takeaway from my experience here. It was so affirming because up until that point, I didn't think I would even be able to do this."

Williams will be escorted by faculty marshals Daniel Mallinson, associate professor of public policy and administration, and Younhee Kim, associate professor of public administration.