Author: Behrend Blog

Nature of Behrend: Summer Beds Begin in Late Winter

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By JoLayne Green
Contributing writer

annuals3
Mother Nature can put on spectacular displays all on her own, but others take human help. Behrend’s hardworking grounds crew plant and tend to a whole bunch of flower beds that bring bursts of color to Behrend’s beautiful campus each year.

About this time of year, Keven Engle, grounds and landscape supervisor, and members of Behrend’s landscaping crew work on cultivating areas for annual flower beds that will brighten campus from mid-to-late May until mid-October – or however long Mother Nature will allow. Annual flowers were introduced to campus in about 2017, Engle said.

The planning process for summer color begins in mid-to-late winter — well before signs of spring emerge — when Engle chooses the plants, flowers and locations. He concentrates on key areas on campus that get the most traffic volume.

“Every place would look nicer with flowers, but we focus on a few for financial and labor reasons,” Engle said.

Selecting areas with water close by, or that the water truck can get to easily, also is key. The crew amends the soil as much as possible and adds moisture to help keep the water molecules in the soil longer for the plantings to take root.

“It’s hard to have flops with flowers, but I would say some plantings were less successful because of site conditions,” Engle said. For example, an area near Aquarius Drive would not allow flowers to thrive, and beds have been lost to disease before.

Once locations are chosen, Engle and the staff determine which plants will do best in each space and compile an order from local nurseries. Last year, they ordered fifty-two hanging baskets and 147 flats of flowers.

Hardy annuals with a variety of colors that don’t require a lot of attention are the goal. Reliable picks are begonias, petunias, pansies, marigolds and potato vines.

Of course, Penn State blue and white selections might be ideal, but that can be tricky because there are no truly blue flowers, only purple ones that can appear blue to different people, Engle said. Sky blue and purple petunias get the job done, though.

Throughout the season, the crew tills and adds compost, fertilizer and soil additives to the beds. The plantings require a lot of water at the start of the season and during the heat of summer when they often need daily watering.

It is worthwhile work.

“We enjoy planting and having the annuals on campus. They add a much-needed splash of color to the grounds,” Engle said.

NATURE OF BEHREND is an ongoing series highlighting Behrend’s unique environment, beautiful campus, and outdoor learning opportunities.

Do you have question about something you’ve seen outdoors— trees, plants, animals, insects, paths, artifacts, etc.? Email hjc13@psu.edu and we may cover it in a “Nature of Behrend” post, story, or video.

“Unissued Diplomas” Exhibition Urges Viewers To Bear Witness

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By Heather Cass, Publications Manager, Penn State Behrend

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Ivanna Obodzinska, 19, was the mother of twins and a Garden Design student at Polissia National University. She planned to be a landscape designer.

Serhii Molchanov, 19, was a student at the Ukrainian Leadership Academy who volunteered to fight for his country. While serving, he collected stories and photos for a book he hoped to write.

Oleksandra Borivska, 18, was an International Relations student at Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University. She dreamed of a diplomatic career, traveling the world, and seeing the Grand Canyon.

None of them achieved their goals. They were killed in Ukraine, including Obodzinska’s twins–victims of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Obodzinska, Molchanov, and Borivska are three of forty Ukrainian students whose stories and photos are highlighted in “Unissued Diplomas,” an exhibition in Penn State Behrend’s Lilley Library that honors the memory of Ukrainian students who will never graduate.

The exhibition is one of dozens installed at institutions worldwide to remind people about the ongoing war and the price Ukrainians are paying daily in their fight for freedom. The exhibits were erected on February 24, the second anniversary of the invasion, which has resulted in the deaths of an estimated 70,000 Ukrainians to date.

While no one would wish a real-world trauma experience to affect their students, the course instructor of PSYCH 442: Trauma and Resiliency, Dr. Melanie Hetzel-Riggin, director of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and a professor of psychology, saw “Unissued Diplomas” as an opportunity put lessons into practice.

Her class visited the exhibit last week.

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“We talk a lot about how important it is for those who study trauma to bear witness to horrible events,” Hetzel-Riggin said. “Hearing and seeing the impact, elevating victim voices, and keeping space for those people affected by it is at the core of what trauma-informed work is.”

Hetzel-Riggin said the exhibit was particularly moving for Behrend students as they could see parts of  themselves in the Ukrainian students featured.

“The subjects of the exhibition were about the same age and might have had similar hobbies or majors or dreams and aspirations,” she said. “It brings the lessons from the course from abstract theory to affecting real people.”

Dr. Lena Surzhko-Harned, an associate teaching professor of political science, associate director of Behrend’s Public Policy Initiative, and a Ukrainian native, worked with Lilley Library to present the exhibition.

“The Russian full-scale invasion is also a war on Ukraine’s future,” Surzhko-Harned said. “The lives of the young Ukrainians, their future, their hopes and dreams were turned upside down on February 24, 2022. Many young people are losing their lives at the front lines and many more are dying as civilians targeted by artillery and drone strikes. With this exhibit, I hope we can honor this brave generation and remember to live our own lives to the fullest because your entire world can change in a moment.”

The “Unissued Diplomas” exhibition is located on the first floor of Lilley Library and is accessible during library hours. The exhibit will run through the end May.

Learn more at unissueddiplomas.org.

Nature of Behrend: Freezing Frogs

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The fascinating science of frogs in winter

frogs in winter

Behrend is home to a wide variety of frogs and toads, but have you ever wondered where they go in winter?

They don’t migrate or hibernate; they brumate.

Brumation is to amphibians what hibernation is to mammals. When temperatures drop and the days get shorter, amphibians seek out a warm, safe hiding place where their metabolism slows to the bare minimum, and they rest until spring.

“Amphibians brumate differently depending on the species,” said Dr. Lynne Beaty, assistant professor of biology.  “Some, like pickerel frogs and bullfrogs, brumate underwater; some, like American toads, brumate on land underground below the frost line; and some, like spring peepers, gray treefrogs, and wood frogs, brumate in the freezing zone.”

If “the freezing zone” sounds like a frigid place to spend the winter at Behrend, be assured that it is. Not only is it cold, but it’s very cool in a nature-is-so-amazing way.

“All frog species that overwinter in the freezing zone exhibit some degree of freeze tolerance—that is, up to sixty percent of the frog can freeze solid and survive. They just thaw out when warmer temperatures arrive,” Beaty said.

“This is primarily due to the action of cryoprotective compounds (i.e., antifreeze) that prevent vital parts from freezing completely,” Beaty said. “Many of these organisms also have an inherent ability to resist structural damage when ice crystals form in the body, and their cells are particularly hardy in the face of massive dehydration that occurs during the freezing process.”

Of all the frogs that do this, the wood frog can handle freezing temperatures the best, which is why they have the northernmost range of all frog species in North America.

“Wood frogs, which we have on campus, are the real ‘super freezers,’” Beaty said. “Watch this cool video to see why.”

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NATURE OF BEHREND is an ongoing series highlighting Behrend’s unique environment, beautiful campus, and outdoor learning opportunities. New items are posted every Monday on the college’s Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Do you have question about something you’ve seen outdoors at Behrend — trees, plants, animals, insects, paths, artifacts, etc.? Email hjc13@psu.edu and we may cover it in a “Nature of Behrend” post, story, or video.

Secret Lives of Staff: Jim Dowds, professional musician

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There’s so much more to Penn State Behrend’s faculty and staff members than what you see them doing on campus. In this occasional series, we take a look at some of the interesting, unconventional, and inspiring things that members of our Behrend community do in their free time. 

By Heather Cass
Publications Manager, Office of Strategic Communications, Penn State Behrend

Had Jim Dowds, case manager in Personal Counseling, not been tossed off the basketball team for a minor infraction in eighth grade, he may never have discovered his not-so-secret passion: making music.   

Bored and with time on his hands while all his friends were at hoops practice, he began channeling his energy into an old drum set his family had.

“I didn’t know what I was doing,” he said. “I didn’t even know how to set it up right. I just started trying to make my hands and arms work the right way. I had nothing to learn from. There was no YouTube, no Google back then.”

But eventually, after hours and hours of practice, including a couple of times he kicked a drum across the room in frustration, Dowds figured it out.

“It was the best thing that my past self ever did for my future self,” he said. “It was an excellent investment.”

Today, after a day of helping Behrend students in the Personal Counseling office, Dowds can often be found behind a drum kit, practicing or performing with The Groove, a popular Erie dance band. The nine-member group, which includes a brass section, covers pop, funk, and R&B hits. They draw big crowds wherever they perform in the Erie area.

“A band that plays danceable music will become a popular band,” he said. “People want to be a part of the music. They want to get up, move, and have fun.”

We sat down with Dowds to learn more about his night life, his passion for percussion, and how he uses music to help students at Behrend.

What does playing the drums do for you?

As a kid, it kept me on the right track. Today, it’s a form of stress relief, and it is a lot of fun. I get to do something that everybody loves, and I can see they do when they dance, laugh, and smile. One thing I know for sure is that people want to be a part of music.

What do you mean by that?

Music is like magic. It speaks to every human and has throughout history. It’s found in some form in every nation on every continent. Singing. Dancing. Drumming. Music is a part of every culture. Humans used their own bodies for instruments before there were instruments.

Can anyone learn to play an instrument?

Yes, and I think it’s an excellent investment because making music is something you can do for your entire life. Think about the thousands of hours that an athlete puts into their sport from grade school through college. They put in so much effort, training and improving, and then, college is over and they don’t have a football team or a basketball team and this thing they’ve spent half their life doing just ends. Music never ends. It’s something you can do in your 90s.  

Why is music important for college students?

Students need a place to escape, to get away from the stress of school, to be creative, and to have fun. It’s also a good way to find a social group. I’ve seen it transform students.

How so?

I had a student who came to see me recently, and he was completely in his shell.  Eventually, we started talking about his interests. He told me he liked to play guitar, so we started talking about music and his entire demeanor changed. He came alive. He was sitting forward in his chair, listening and engaging.

Tell me about the drum circles that you and some of the counselors offer on campus.

We have hand drums and a cajon box drum that we can take anywhere on campus – indoors or out — and start playing. It draws students in every time. Some want to play. Others just listen, bobbing their heads and smiling. It’s hard to be sad when you’re tapping your toes to a beat. The thing about music is that the deeper you get into it, from listening to dancing to playing, the more it can help you.

Playing with The Groove is a big commitment. What keeps you going?

I’ve played in bands all my life, and the best ones have a flow, where the musicians are aware of and listening to what everyone else in the band is doing, and they can easily adjust and pick up what another is laying down. When that happens and you are creating in real time, it’s a high that you just keep chasing. It will send chills up your spine.

Major Decisions

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By JoLayne Green, Contributing writer, Penn State Behrend

Graduate found confidence, voice when she landed in the right program for her

When Gabi Watson switched her major to English at Penn State Behrend, she finally found her path—and her voice. It just took a little courage for her to follow a passion that was there all along.

“I did every other possible major,” Watson said, with a chuckle.

An Erie native who graduated last semester, Watson started in Forensic Biology at University Park. She learned that a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) field wasn’t truly what she wanted. Her college journey led her to Behrend and included stops in the Division of Undergraduate Studies and the Political Science program.

“I finally realized I belonged in liberal arts,” she said. “I fell in love with the English program and the teachers in it.”

She also felt at home at Behrend.

“I love how close-knit the campus is and how beautiful Behrend is,” she said. “I got all four seasons here in my hometown where I got a great education and had a close relationship with teachers.”

Before landing in the English department, Watson did a little soul searching.

“I grew up reading. I knew I loved English, but I didn’t know if I loved literature,” she said. “I thought choosing English would mean I would just be reading a lot of poetry.”

Then Watson discovered how diverse a degree in English is.

“I didn’t know how many options there were in writing. I felt I was floating around in the English department until I took Writing for the Web,” she said. “I found out you can have a great career in something you are passionate about.”

While she concentrated on professional writing, it was creative writing classes that helped her find her own voice.

“I learned a lot about expressing emotion and how to transcribe my thoughts into words,” she said.

Watson’s budding confidence carried into extracurricular activities. Describing herself as an introvert, she was a junior before becoming involved in activities at Behrend such as the Lion Entertainment Board and an Alternative Spring Break service trip.

She grew from observer to participant to executive director of the Lion Entertainment Board, helping to advance the club from four members to more than thirty while developing event planning skills.

Watson credits her advisor, Dr. Massimo Verzella, associate professor of English, as well staff members in the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement (SLI) with putting her on a path to success.

“Dr. Verzella changed the trajectory of what I wanted to do in my life,” she said. “He educated me on possibilities I didn’t know existed. I don’t think I’d be as social or as well-rounded as I am now without his support and that of SLI staff members.”

In turn, she began mentoring other students.

“I learned I like leading a team and helping people find their passion, and wanted to help other students figure out what they were good at,” she said.

Watson’s success in leadership was recognized beyond campus when she was chosen to receive the 2023 ATHENA Young Professional Award, celebrating emerging women leaders in Erie.

Watson, who graduated in December 2023, envisions a career that involves writing, generating social media content, travel, event planning, and possibly work in diversity, equity, and inclusion. First, she is going to Walt Disney World for a six-month stint in the Disney College Program in Florida.

After that? Who knows, but she knows she won’t be a silent observer.

“You can be an introvert and still be a leader,” she said. “I never thought I could, but with the right support, I’ve been able to find my voice in writing and in leadership. Wherever I end up next, I know Behrend has given me a solid foundation to build on.”

Captured History

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Former math professor’s hobby produced one of Behrend’s greatest gifts

By Heather Cass, Publications Manager, Penn State Behrend

B.p. single

Though he taught generations of college students during his thirty-seven years as a mathematics professor at Behrend, Norman B. “Bill” Patterson, above, established a legacy that goes far beyond linear algebra, differential equations, and statistics. When he retired in 1990, he left a trove of photos documenting life at Behrend with intimacy and affection.

The camera he used to record much of it–a $129 model he saved all year to buy from Erie’s Boston Store in 1954–is in the archives at Lilley Library along with hundreds of his photos, a true gift to the college.

“If a picture paints a thousand words, Bill’s photos are surely the most expensive materials in the Behrend Archives,” said Jane Ingold, reference and instruction librarian and archivist at Behrend. “My ability to answer the many calls for photos for anniversary exhibits and stories like this one would be severely limited without them.”

In honor of Behrend’s 75th anniversary, a sampling of Patterson’s work is on exhibit in Kochel Center. “Behrend Begins: The Campus Photography of Norman B. Patterson” highlights some of his most evocative photos from the 1950s through the early 1970s.

The exhibit provides a fascinating look into the past, offering a visual record of how Behrend has grown and changed over time.

Signs

At 98 years old, Patterson, who resides in an Erie area senior facility, is happy to talk about photography and Behrend with visitors. When asked what type of camera he liked to shoot with, he quipped, “anything I could get ahold of,” adding, “Some things you are just interested in from Day One and I liked taking pictures.”

Patterson’s introduction to photography was in 1938 when his older brother brought a camera, and he became immediately fascinated with it. Much happened for Patterson in the next 15 years, including receiving an undergraduate degree in chemistry, serving a stint in the Army in World War II, and returning to graduate school to earn a mathematics degree courtesy of the GI Bill.

When he was offered a mathematics teaching position at the five-year-old Behrend Center in Erie, a place he had never been, he took the job.  “I said, ‘Well, I have nothing in mind at the moment, so why not?’” Patterson recalled.

When he arrived, no science buildings yet existed. The library was in what is now the Studio Theatre, and Turnbull Hall had been converted from a horse barn for the Behrend family into academic space. On his first day, the original Erie Hall opened.

He quickly fell for the campus and the city. “I liked Behrend, and I love Erie,” he said. “We have it all here.”

As was customary in higher education then, faculty members were heavily involved in the life of the campus and its students. There were few administrators and staff members. It was faculty members who helped with student clubs, activities, and events.

“I was up there at the college for events and things three, four nights a week,” he said. “And if you saw me, my camera would be right next to me. I took it with me everywhere I went.”

And he recorded history as it happened – one Winter Snowball dance, Hanging of the Greens, and Student Work Day at a time.  He also photographed the daily college life that so fascinates today – the “lunch ladies” making food in the Glenhill Farmhouse kitchen, students cannonballing into the pool and skiing down the hill behind today’s Science Complex, and the female students who lived on the second floor of the farmhouse, with bunkbeds stacked in each room.

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When night fell, he developed the photos.  “I didn’t have a darkroom, so I just had to wait until it got dark,” he said.

Later, he added a home darkroom in a corner of his basement. His son, Bob Patterson, a lecturer in accounting at Behrend, said that when he and his two sisters were growing up, they knew better than to flip on the basement lights without asking and risk ruining their dad’s work.

By the time Patterson retired, he had witnessed—and captured in photos—the remarkable growth of Penn State Behrend over nearly four decades. And, yet, he has a fondness for the earlier, leaner years.

“The lack of resources in the 1950s meant that you had to make do with what you had,” he said. “We didn’t have people to do the auxiliary, non-teaching work, so the faculty were much more involved in student activities and things.”

And, of course, Patterson, who was never without his camera, was there to document it all, and in retirement, he continued to enjoy photography, even mastering photo editing software programs.

“When dad retired, he got a computer,” Bob Patterson said. “I went over to help him set it up and he was the best student I ever taught. It wasn’t long before he was editing and restoring photos and turning them into 3-D images.”

To further cement Patterson’s legacy at Behrend, a third generation of his family now works at the college: Granddaughter Katie Patterson, Bob’s daughter, who serves as an admissions counselor.

Here are just few of Patterson’s photos:

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Behrend student says semester-long experience in France was life-changing

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By Heather Cass, Publications Manager

Office of Strategic Communication, Penn State Behrend

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One thing Sophia DiPlacido knew for sure when she started at Penn State Behrend is that she wanted to leave — for at least a semester.

“I have always wanted to study abroad,” said DiPlacido, a junior dual majoring in Marketing and Psychology. “I was slightly worried about language barriers, though, so I looked at countries with residents who spoke English as a first or second language.”

She ultimately chose France and set off in January to spend the spring 2023 semester in Aix-en-Provence, known as “Little Paris.” She lived with a host family in a home with three other students who were also studying abroad from other U.S. universities.

“My host mother had done a study abroad experience, so she wanted to help others have that opportunity,” DiPlacido said.

She took five classes–International Business, French, History of Christianity, Wine Marketing, and Drawing and Painting–at the Institute for American Universities, where DiPlacido said curriculum is king.

“Extracurricular activities are not a thing in European universities,” she said. “College in France is actually closer to what I had been told in high school that college would be like, which is to say that instructors would not be very accessible, the classes would be mostly lectures, and your grade was made up of a few exams.”

While her college experience was quite different from the experience at Behrend, DiPlacido said she quickly felt at home in France.

“I easily adjusted,” she said. “The geography reminded me of California, and the people were very welcoming, which is not what you sometimes hear about the French. I expected to encounter some resistance because I didn’t speak their language, but everyone was nice about it.”

She didn’t have classes on Fridays, so she was able to explore several nearby countries as travel throughout western Europe is relatively easy and inexpensive. Among her many adventures: visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris; skydiving in Switzerland; scuba diving in Marseille; making pasta in a cooking class in Venice; and seeing the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. She also visited Budapest, Brussels, London, Madrid, Nice, and Prague as well as cities in Germany and Luxembourg.

DiPlacido said that all that travel helped her develop important life skills.

“I didn’t have a strong sense of direction,” she said, “but I developed it getting around on my own. It gave me a lot of self-confidence.”

DiPlacido said she would recommend a study abroad experience to students in any major but cautions that it takes work to prepare for it, even with guidance from Behrend’s Learning Resource Center, the campus experts on global programs.

“You have to be proactive and get your visa and passport and stay on top of what needs to be done when,” she said. “But in that responsibility is personal growth. Studying abroad was the most amazing thing I have ever done. You come back a whole different person with an entirely new perspective on the world.”

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STUDY ABROAD BASICS

Does it have to be a full semester?

No, at Behrend, the international study experience can be as short as ten days or as long as a full academic year, depending on the type of program a student selects. International study programs are happening throughout the year—during fall and spring semesters, at semester breaks, and over the summer.

Do you need to speak a second language?

No, but you do have to be a strong student, academically, to be eligible for international study. The minimum grade point average is a 2.5, and many programs require a 3.0. Prerequisites vary by program.

How much does it cost?

Cost varies depending on the program and location a student chooses, but you can expect to pay tuition, travel expenses, and for meals and personal expenses while abroad.

Scholarship funds are available for those who qualify. DiPlacido received funding from Penn State Behrend’s Study Abroad program and the University’s Schreyer Honors College, and she won a competitive Gilman Scholarship, which is administered by the U.S. Department of State.

How can a student learn more?

Attend a Study Abroad Information Session. Meetings are held weekly at Behrend throughout the semester. A list of upcoming sessions is available at behrend.psu.edu/studyabroad, where students can also learn about the different types of programs; explore upcoming opportunities; and find out about the application process and deadlines, as well as financial aid and scholarships.

‘Kosovo precedent’ complicated invasion of Ukraine, visiting scholar says

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 By Robb Frederick, Associate Director of News and Information,

Penn State Behrend

When Russia invaded Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin invoked the “Kosovo precedent,” a 78-day NATO air campaign over the former Yugoslavia. The attacks, launched on March 24, 1999, and led by the United States, forced Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic to withdraw from Kosovo, where more than 10,000 Kosovar Albanians had been killed.

NATO had acted without approval from the U.N. Security Council, where Russia, a longtime Serbian ally, could have vetoed any resolution. The member nations argued that the international community was obligated to intervene and end a humanitarian crisis.

Russia had a different perspective.

“Russia’s view was that NATO had attacked a sovereign country and taken its territory,” said Jiří Nykodým, a postgraduate researcher at Masaryk University in Brno, in the Czech Republic. “Then, when it suited them, they argued the opposite – that Kosovo set a precedent for interventions that do not involve the U.N. Security Council. Russia used that as a justification when they annexed Crimea, and again when they invaded Ukraine.”

Nykodým studied the Kosovo precedent during a five-month visit to Penn State Behrend, where he served as a visiting scholar. He came to the college to work with Lena Surzhko Harned, an associate teaching professor of political science and an expert on Ukraine and the politics of the post-Soviet space.

“Her insight was very unique,” he said. “She recommended several books, including texts that were written in Cyrillic.”

Jiri Nykodym

Jiří Nykodým

A paper written by the pair was published by the European Consortium of Political Research.

As they examined the Kosovo precedent, Nykodým and Surzhko Harned looked closely at how it intersects with a diplomatic principle known as “responsibility to protect.” That policy, adopted at the 2005 United Nations World Summit, gives the international community the right to intervene when a state fails to keep its residents safe. The measure was a direct response to the war in Kosovo and massacres in Rwanda and Srebrenica.

“When you combine the Kosovo precedent and the responsibility to protect, you see there are limits to international law,” Surzhko Harned said. “Russia has used the Kosovo precedent to obstruct and undermine the law. Basically, they say to the west, ‘You broke the rules first.’”

Russia has blocked efforts to enforce the responsibility to protect, vetoing U.N. resolutions meant to address state failures in Syria, Zimbabwe, Myanmar, Venezuela and Yemen. At the same time, Putin used the measure to justify military incursions into Georgia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, where he perceived a threat to Russian-speaking minority communities, alleging a genocide for which there was no evidence.

“Putin has been careful not to explicitly invoke the responsibility to protect,” Nykodým said. “He uses the same language, however. It allows him to operate in a grey zone, selectively applying aspects of international law that support his goals.”

The war in Ukraine raises the stakes for the international community, which will have to reassess its commitment to the responsibility to protect other nations, Nykodým said.

“The war makes this more relevant,” he said. “We are seeing the effects of the Kosovo precedent in real time, and at the cost of Ukraine’s sovereignty.”

Psst: Office gossip can be costly, Behrend researchers find

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By Robb Frederick, Associate Director of News and Information,

Penn State Behrend

canstockphoto110465852 (002)

Workplace gossip often targets the boss. She’s in over her head. He’s overextended. There’s trouble at home, supposedly.

When the boss is the one spreading gossip, sharing private insight about a team member’s performance or personal life, that can lead to a far more damaging dynamic – a behavior researchers refer to as moral disengagement.

“Leaders set the tone for an organization,” said Joongseo Kim, an assistant professor of management at Penn State Behrend’s Black School of Business. “When a leader participates in gossiping behavior, other employees pick up on that right away. They are less likely to feel shame or guilt when they gossip. They think, ‘Even the leaders are doing this. It’s acceptable in this organization.’”

Kim runs the Raimy Behavioral Lab at Penn State Behrend. He studies business ethics and workplace deviance. This spring, working with Madison Dambach, a senior in the Black School of Business, and Yun Kim at Oklahoma State University, he began a study of gossip contagion in the workplace.

“Gossip can be fun,” he said. “It’s sharing a thing that began as a secret, and that makes it a social-bonding mechanism.”

Positive gossip – sharing the news of a colleague’s promotion, for example – can increase a team’s sense of organizational identity, according to a 2022 study by the National Institutes of Health. That type of water-cooler talk can boost efficiency and employee retention.

“It’s all about intent,” Kim said. “If you gossip to motivate a person, or to elevate the reputation of a person, that’s a positive thing. If what you are saying is purposefully hurtful, however, and if you’re saying it to sideline or neutralize a colleague, that can do real damage.”

An employee with a calculative mindset – someone who approaches social relationships as a means of achieving another goal, such as financial gain – is more likely to gossip when a supervisor participates in the behavior, said Dambach, who presented the study at the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology conference in Boston.

“People with a higher calculative mindset see gossip as an opportunity,” Dambach said. “It’s a way to undercut a competitor or cast doubt on their abilities or their commitment to the organization. Some people will use that to their advantage, especially if the supervisor is listening.”

When a boss gossips, that’s viewed as a green light for others in the organization to behave the same way, Dambach said. Over time, that can affect employee productivity.

“Managers should pay more attention to that,” she said. “if they feed into gossip, their employees will do the same, without any sense of guilt or shame. That weakens the cohesiveness of the group. It leads to resentment. Ultimately, it can lead to the failure of the business.”

Madison Dambach and Joongseo Kim in Boston

Senior student Madison Dambach, left, and Joongseo Kim, assistant professor of management at Behrend’s Black School of Business.

Standout Seniors ’23: Max Myers (Mechanical Engineering)  

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Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2023 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the last several weeks, we have introduced you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technologies, participated in important research projects, and made their mark at Penn State Behrend.

max myers

Today, we’d like you to meet Max Myers.

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Minors: Math, French and Francophone Studies

Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Behrend Excellence Award

On choosing Behrend: Behrend is a great school. The class sizes are small, so you get to know your professors well. Getting started with extracurriculars, research, or other campus opportunities is easier because you aren’t competing with thousands of other students. Also, Behrend is close to home, so I saved money by commuting.

On choosing his major: I wanted to go into some form of engineering or science. Mechanical engineering is very broad. You can go into a lot of different sectors – corporate, government or academic – and fields within those sectors after finishing the degree.

Awards and recognition: President’s Freshman Award, Dean’s List, First-Place Engineering Research Award at the Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research and Creative Accomplishment Conference.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Graduating with two minors, my Schreyer Honors thesis, three internships, and an internship project all coming to an end as I start a new chapter is extremely gratifying.

Campus involvement: I was part of the French and Francophone Club. I also worked as a tutor at the Learning Resource Center for about three years and was a lifeguard at Junker Center for a year.

What you might be surprised to know about him: I can ride a unicycle.

Words he lives by: “It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life,” JRR Tolkien. It is really easy to get caught up in your education or your career and start chasing pursuits that are not totally your own. It is also easy to stop pursuing something you love because of what others think. I think living a good life is living a simple life, where you do things you care about no matter how big or small they seem. Everyone has a different path.

Highest priority in coming years: I want to travel globally and continue to learn. I think I will be to go to graduate school within a decade.

Advice for first-year students: Study hard. Respond to your emails. Make sure to keep your professors updated via email. Make sure the email is sent and not stuck in the drafts folder. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help—Tutoring is free, and the tutors are wicked smart and patient.

Max plans to serve as a nuclear naval officer through the Nuclear Propulsion Candidate Program.