Category: School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 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 next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Samhita Chitturi.

Major: Creative Writing

Minor: Crime, Law, and Psychology

On choosing Behrend: It chose me. In all of Penn State, the B.F.A. in Creative Writing is only offered here. And, thank God, it is! I love Behrend. It was the best decision I (n)ever made.

On choosing her major: I decided in eighth grade that I wanted to be a professional writer. Writing and storytelling are what I am most passionate about.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Being a Learning Resource Center tutor and earning the Outstanding Tutor in Humanities Award in Spring 2023. I love tutoring in both writing and math. I also tutor in French, ethics, chemistry, and other subjects. It’s a great way to meet people, to inspire them, and to be inspired by them. Not only do I get to help my peers, but I often learn new approaches to solving problems or out-of-the-box thinking. Anything that opens you up to new perspectives is always a worthwhile activity.

Campus involvement: I’m currently Features Editor at the Behrend Beacon. I started the “Created by Behrend Students” column to showcase students’ creative works, such as poetry, paintings, and more. I have also written the Local Eats pieces, interview articles, and Arts and Entertainment reviews. I’m also a School of Humanities and Social Sciences ambassador.

Awards and recognition: I have won four awards for my writing in the last two years: third place for the Fall 2022 Smith Fiction Award for my short story, “One Night in New York,” which is the second piece in my thesis collection; the SalisMania 2023 Best Romance Book Award for my debut novel, “When You Saved Me”; the Fall 2023 Farrell Nonfiction Award for my essay, “Two Angles on Arts and Ethics: An Exploration into What Determines Artistic Success”; and a 2024 LiFT Award in Contemporary Romance for “When You Saved Me.”

Her talents: I like to do a lot of different things, but I think the one thing I’m best at is daydreaming. It fuels my creativity, it helps me remain open to new perspectives, and it’s a coping mechanism when I need it.

Believe in yourself: Some think I’m pretentious, but what I am is confident. The only way people are going to recognize your value is if you recognize it. That said, just because I recognize my value, doesn’t mean I disvalue others. Everyone has talent, has an interesting personality, and is beautiful on the inside. You just have to look for those qualities sometimes.

Her definition of living a good life: Living it with autonomy and respecting others’ autonomy. I subscribe to Kantianism. I believe autonomy is the key to goodness.

Advice for first-year students: College (and life) is only as difficult as you make it. Rule No. 1 to reduce that difficulty? Communicate! It makes everything more efficient and effective. If you feel like you’re going to fail a class, talk to the professor and make a plan. If your roommate and you are having conflicts, discuss them respectfully and work out a solution. Whatever the problem is, I guarantee you there is a solution or a change in perspective waiting for you that will make everything OK.

Parting thoughts for new students: Take an ethics class with Dr. Joshua Shaw, professor of philosophy and bioethics; an algebra class with Dr. Dan Galiffa, associate professor of mathematics; and at least one English class with Dr. Sara Luttfring, associate professor of English. Taking a class with each of these three professors will help prepare you for the rest of your academic life.

After graduation in May, Samhita will attend the University of New Hampshire to earn an M.F.A. in writing. She plans to work toward a Ph D. and hopes to eventually become a professor at Behrend.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 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 next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Kelly Cass.

Major: Elementary and Early Childhood Education

Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Erie Insurance Scholarship Award, PASSS Scholarship Award

Behrend from the beginning: I live just a few minutes from campus and basically grew up at Behrend where my mom works in the Office of Strategic Communications. Since I was a child, my family spent time on campus–walking, biking, sledding, and hiking in the gorge. In middle and high school, I participated in a lot of Youth Outreach programs, like Math Options, the STEAM Fair, Business Day, and College for Kids in the summer.

On choosing her major: I have a big family with a lot of younger cousins, and I have always enjoyed teaching them something new or helping them figure things out.

All the world’s a stage: I participated in theatre throughout middle and high school. I loved being on stage, and being a role model for those who were just starting out in the program. I realized teaching would be a similar experience, allowing me to share knowledge with young students while “performing” and presenting information.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: My proudest accomplishment at Behrend was being the Immersive Administrator for the Virtual/Augmented Reality Edu classroom. Although the immersive classroom no longer exists as VAR Edu, I am very proud of the work I did there. I started as an attendant, finding programs and helping students get set up in headsets during integrations. I was promoted to Immersive Administrator where I practiced working with faculty and staff to find programs and design integrations in our classroom, as well as managing the attendants and daily work we had in the classroom. We started with only 200 integrations for the first semester. We finished with an astounding total of more than 1,000 integrations and a 59 percent increase from the semester before. I continue to work in the VAR Lab and have shifted my work to other projects such as creating a podcast for VAR Studios.

Campus involvement: I was involved for a year in the Tone-acious a capella group, and part of a Behrend rock band called “Group Therapy.”

Awards and recognitions: I have made the Dean’s List every semester since fall of 2021.

What makes her unique: I love to bake. Fancy cupcakes are my specialty, and I make them for all family events. I also love to sing and was in the Erie Philharmonic Chorus for a year.  I was in every musical in high school, with my final and most fun role being Ursula in “Little Mermaid.”

What you might be surprised to know about her: I’m the lead singer in a Butler-based rock band that creates original music.

Her next top priority: My highest priority for the coming years is to find a job teaching in a community that supports its teachers and students. I’m also looking forward to getting my own house someday so that I can get my own dog to spoil.

After her graduation in May, Kelly plans to teach at a local elementary school and possibly attend graduate school for a master’s degree in an educational field.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 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 next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet DeseRai D. Sweat.

Major: Psychology, B.S.

Minor: Crime, Law, and Psychology

Certificates: Child Development, Behavioral Health and Counseling Psychology

Hometown: North East, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Osher Reentry Scholarship, Black Family Trustee Scholarship, Fryer Psychology Scholarship

On choosing Behrend: While looking to further my medical education, I wanted to go where I would not have to uproot my children and family, where I felt at home and was able to get the best education. I found all that at Behrend. The curriculum far exceeded my expectations, I knew without a doubt after meeting with people that this was my home and the path God set for me.

On choosing her major: My major chose me. I’ve spent most of my life in the medical field as a medical assistant and phlebotomist. It seemed only natural to go into nursing. One day in between classes, I was thinking and praying about the path I was on. I just wasn’t sure what direction to go in, so I left it to God’s hands. He put me in the science building where I was working on an assignment in the hallway while I waited for my next class to start. I overheard a professor – Dr. Charisse Nixon, professor of psychology, finishing up her class and decided to go listen. By the end of the semester, I switched to Psychology, a major I never saw myself being in that I am absolutely in love with now.

True crime shows lead to calling: My love of true crime shows, like Criminal Minds inspired me to take a forensics class taught by Dr. Shariffah Sheik Dawood, associate teaching professor of psychology. That class encouraged me to add a minor in Crime, Law, and Psychology.  After that class, I realized that I wanted to work with children with special needs children in the judicial system and to be a voice and an advocate for them.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: I’m most proud of a lot of little moments all added together, from being a mentor for younger students, to being an older student, mother and wife and still managing to accomplish what I did semester after semester, to the moment I was asked to be an undergrad researcher.

Campus involvement: School of Humanities and Social Sciences Ambassador; Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Community Outreach, Research and Evaluation (CORE): The Mentor Project mentor and intern; C3 Church intern; Psychology Club.

What people be surprised to know about her: I’m a pretty transparent person and share myself, the good, bad and the ugly. As a Gen. Xer, I am not crazy about learning new technology, but I love sitting with my boys and taking out some zombies on the Xbox.

Her passions: Being a mom fills me with joy. I love being in my kitchen, whether it’s by myself or with my children or husband, and cooking and baking and expressing myself through food. I’m also passionate about educating people on mental health and that it’s OK to say “I’m not OK.”

Advice for first-year students: Breathe! College is a big change, and you’re going to be overwhelmed and stressed. It’s OK to have a little cry now and then. But, also, live in this moment, soak it in, explore, and open yourself up to new challenges and new possibilities. Don’t be afraid to take a class or explore a new subject. You might find a passion you never knew you had.

Advice for new students, part 2: As a mom, I would remind first-year students that college is also a whole new journey for their parents. They’re going to want to check the oil in your car five times, ask you repeatedly if you understand your meal plan and if you have everything you need, and they are going to want to help you unpack and hug and kiss you more than you want them to. Let them!

After her graduation in December, DeseRai hopes to work with youth with special needs in the Juvenile Judicial System.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 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 next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Alanna Gillis. 

Major: Creative Writing

Minor: History

Hometown:  Dillsburg, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Provost’s Award, Corey N. Farrell Memorial Scholarship, Clarence and Eugenie Smith Fund.

On choosing Behrend: Behrend is the only Penn State campus where you can earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, which was really important to me. Plus, the campus is beautiful, and the classes are small, which makes for a great learning environment.

On choosing her major: I’ve been writing stories since I learned how to write, and I’ve been reading for as long as I can remember. Pursuing a major that would allow me to grow my skills and talents, as well as teach me about the professional world of writing and editing, seemed natural to me.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Becoming a fiction editor for the campus literary journal, Lake Effect, is my proudest accomplishment. I got to represent the journal and the college at the AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) Conference, which is the nation’s largest marketplace for literary presses and journals.

Campus involvement: I tutored at the Learning Resource Center, held an executive board position in two different clubs, and served as a Humanities and Social Sciences Ambassador.

What makes her unique: It’s always hard to identify your own talents, but I’ve been told that I’m a good communicator and that I have a knack for teaching. I would also like to think I have a bit of a talent for writing!

What you might be surprised to know about her: I really like all kinds of music, but my favorite genre is rock. I’ve been to five rock concerts by some of my favorite artists, including Breaking Benjamin, Halestorm, and STARSET.

Her definition of living a good life: Happiness is paramount. If I am happy, healthy, and financially stable, then I will consider it a very good life indeed.

Her highest priority for the coming years: My highest priority is finding a job that fulfills my creative desires while also providing me room for growth. Eventually, I would like to publish the novel I have been working on for my senior thesis project.

Her passions: I am passionate about reading and it never takes much to convince me to visit a bookstore (even less if you promise me an iced coffee with the trip). There are also many political causes I am passionate about, including women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, and environmental protections. Often, my passion for reading and my political passions overlap in the stories, essays, and nonfiction pieces I read.

Advice for first-year students: College is full of change. Your style might change, or your major, or your friends. Learning that change isn’t always a bad thing (especially when it comes to growing into an adult) is one of the hardest lessons I had to learn, but it helped alleviate so much stress and bring me so much joy.

After her graduation in May, Alanna plans to find a job in the writing or publishing field.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 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 next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Samiha Choudhury.

Major: Political Science, Crime and Law option

Minors:  Psychological Science, and Law, Crime, and Psychology

Hometown: Queens, New York

Scholarships:  Penn State Discover Award,  LiveOn Success Grant,  Dr. Ralph and Melanie Ford Trustee Scholarship, and Complete Penn State Grant.

Awards and recognition: I was chosen as one of thirteen University-wide award winners at Penn State’s annual Student Awards Recognition Ceremony, where I was awarded the Ralph Dorn Hetzel Memorial Award and Scholarship.

On choosing her major: I have wanted to go to law school since I participated in a program with the United Nations in middle school. Political Science offers me a versatile set of skills that can be applied across various career fields, not just law. I like being able to explore different perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of complex societal issues, which I believe is essential for personal growth and effective engagement.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: One of my proudest accomplishments at Behrend was founding an organization dedicated to supporting first-generation college students on our campus. As a first-generation college student myself, I understand the unique challenges and obstacles individuals like us face in navigating the higher education journey. Starting this organization has not only provided a platform for first-generation students to connect and share experiences but has also allowed us to offer valuable support, resources, and guidance to our peers.

Rewards of being an RA:  I take pride in my role as a resident assistant, where I am dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive living environment for residents. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a RA is the lasting connections I’ve formed with former residents. I love keeping in touch with them and witnessing their growth. Knowing that I have contributed to creating a positive experience for my peers is incredibly rewarding, and it adds to my passion for serving others and making a difference in the community.

Campus involvement: Lion Scouts tour guide; First-Generation University-Wide Advisory Counsel student representative; Student Multicultural Advisory Recruitment Team; Student Government Association; School of Humanities and Social Sciences Ambassador; Behrend First-Gens – Founder and President; Lion Ambassador; Resident Assistant; Model United Nations.

People might be surprised to know: I was born and raised in Queens, New York, where I lived up until coming to Erie to attend college.

Highest priority for the coming years: My highest priority for the coming years is to attend law school.  I am deeply passionate about pursuing a legal education and am eager to start my journey towards earning my juris doctorate. I am excited about the opportunities ahead of me and am confident in my abilities to make a meaningful impact through the study and practice of law.

Advice for first-year students: My advice to first-year students in college is to embrace every opportunity to get involved, connect with others, and explore your interests. Building meaningful connections with peers and with faculty members could enrich your college experience in ways you never imagined. I wish I had prioritized involvement and networking earlier in my undergraduate career, but unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic limited my ability to do so, and I missed out on opportunities that could have enhanced my personal and professional growth. However, I learned that it is never too late to get involved, and I made up for lost time in my senior year.

Parting thoughts: Remember to be patient with yourself as you navigate your college journey. College is a time for self-discovery and growth, so embrace your passions and unique qualities. It’s okay to encounter setbacks and face challenges; just know you are not alone. We’re all navigating the uncertainties and opportunities that college presents.

After her graduation in May, Samiha plans to attend law school.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 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 next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Jenna Etter.

Major: Communication

Certificate: Public Relations

Hometown: I was born in Erie, but lived in State College for my entire childhood.

On choosing Behrend: Growing up in State College, I was familiar with the Penn State community. I wanted to move and make a big change for myself. Choosing Behrend allowed me to make this transition while still staying in an area that is familiar to me and near my family. It also seemed like a better option for me as I perform better academically in a smaller environment.

On choosing her major: I was fairly late to the game in deciding to pursue higher education. I knew I wanted to do more with my future but was not entirely sure what that would look like. During high school, I took multiple video production classes, journalism, and graphic design type courses. I began looking into majoring in business or advertising, but after reading through descriptions of each major, communication seemed to fit me best and aligned with the previous work I had done and enjoyed.

Putting her education to work: My proudest accomplishment was applying what I learned at Behrend during my summer internship with strategic communications for Ferguson Township near State College.  I was able to take the things I’d learned and studied and see how they were used in the real world.

Awards and recognition: I will be receiving the Outstanding Achievement in Communication Award at the Honors and Awards Convocation.

Her definition of living a good life: Being able to live comfortably has always been my definition of a good life. I’ve never had the goal of making an outrageous amount of money, but rather to have the ability to be financially stable to balance my life between work and leisure.

Proud Swiftie: I am incredibly passionate about Taylor Swift and her music. I will take any chance I get to discuss her journey throughout the music industry. I have been listening to her music since she released her sophomore album Fearless in 2008, so in a way, I have grown up with her. It’s inspiring to see a woman achieve the things that she does and her continuing to outperform not only others, but herself as well.

Advice for first-year students: When I started at Behrend, it was in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was fully online and did not step foot onto campus until my second year. I was already fairly introverted, so not being able to fully immerse myself into the Behrend community made it difficult to meet new people right away. For first-year students, I would say take advantage of being on campus and allow yourself to meet new people. Whether it’s other students or professors, people have some interesting stories to tell, and they can give you different perspectives on life. Also, creating relationships with people during college really has great potential to open new doors for your future.

After her graduation in May, Jenna plans to start her career in Erie, where she hopes to obtain a public relations position with a media company or within the entertainment and music industry.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 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 next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Josiah Burkett.

Major: Early Childhood and Elementary Education

Minor: Special Education

Hometown: Edinboro, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: The Provost Award, PNC Leadership Scholarship

On choosing Behrend: I chose Behrend because I wanted to go to Penn State while being closer to home.

On choosing his major: I chose my major because I believe that, through education, anything is possible. Giving back to students and their communities through education is something I strive for.

His proudest accomplishment at Behrend: My proudest accomplishment while being at Behrend is the connections I’ve made with so many people—friendships, mentorships, and meeting people who are now family to me.

Campus involvement: I was a Welcome Week guide, then leader, then director. I was a member of THON and Lion Ambassadors, and I worked as a Lion Scout. I am also a leadership scholar and the treasurer for the student PSEA (Pennsylvania State Education Association). During the summers, I was a mentor for Upward Bound Math and Science through Behrend’s K-12 Youth Education Outreach program.

What makes him unique: I believe my work ethic is unmatched, and my competitiveness helps me to strive toward being the best version of myself. Also, I can play the drums and tell you obscure football statistics that most people don’t know.

Student teaching: I did my student teaching at Klein Elementary in Harborcreek where I taught 4^th grade. I loved it.

What you’d be surprised to know about him: A lot of people at Behrend would be surprised to learn that I am a very relaxed person most of the time. On campus, especially during Welcome Week, I tend to be excited and loud. However, I prefer to be more relaxed and in quiet environments.

His other identity: I was often asked to be the Behrend Lion mascot for campus events and photo opportunities. It was always super fun interacting with students and kids who visited, and seeing the looks on their faces when I’d come around. It was kind of fun to know all of the people around me while they had no clue it was me in the costume.

His definition of living a good life: A good life to me is a happy life — one that is filled with doing things that you enjoy. As someone going into education, I chose my field because I genuinely love teaching and learning. So, for me, doing things you love with the people you love is a good life.

His passions: I am passionate about having more classroom educators in decisive positions to truly make a change in education. I am also passionate about learning. I consider myself a life-long learner and enjoy learning about anything and everything. It makes me a more well-rounded person.

Advice for first-year students: Take advantage of every opportunity you are presented with.

After his graduation in May, Josiah plans to work as an elementary education teacher while also pursuing a master’s degree in education.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 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 next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Tyler Akam.

Major: Digital Media, Arts and Technology (DIGIT)

Minor: Game Development

Hometown: Corry, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Renaissance Fund Scholarship and the Lake Erie Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association Scholarship.

On choosing Behrend: I chose Behrend because it has a lot of great resources and a growing community of creative people and evolving digital art opportunities.

On choosing his major: I originally intended to participate in the 2+2 program and planned to start at Behrend and go to University Park for Film. I ended up staying at Behrend and switching to the DIGIT major because it fit my broad interests and ideas, and Behrend has a lot of useful resources, such as the equipment available to borrow from the Behrend Open Lab for Digital Creations (BOLD-C). It was a good choice to stay, as I have been able to explore different fields and areas that I am interested in.

His proudest accomplishment at Behrend: One of my proudest accomplishments is my senior project, which is a stop-motion/Claymation short film. I’m still working on it at the time of writing this, but it has been a journey on which I have learned more about my creative process and how to execute it.

Campus involvement: I was involved in the Chess Club, first as a member, and then as a member of the executive board. I helped plan events early on, and then I settled into the role of making the event posters as I got busier.

Awards and recognition: I’ve made the Dean’s List regularly. I’ve taken part in DIGIT Works, a digital event to showcase what I’ve worked on that takes place at the end of every semester, and that feels like a reward as I get to show my fellow students and members of faculty the kinds of projects I’ve worked hard on.

What makes him unique: I have a lot of creative and ambitious ideas that are seemingly endless. I come up with ideas for projects all the time. I have the skills and know-how to use Photoshop, Illustrator, and video editing programs such as DaVinci Resolve. I tend to have a knack for making interesting YouTube thumbnails and other graphic design products.

The sky’s the limit: There is no limit to what I am interested in. I usually end up exploring new areas of technology and the different forms of art. All at once, I’m interested in creating film, music, physical and digital art, video games, comic books… I could go on.

His passions: I am passionate about stories and music. I love indulging in a story and immersing myself with characters and their worlds. The human condition is to create and imagine things, which I think is amazing. I listen to music every day, and I look for a lot of meaning and like to relate to the lyrics of a song and let the instrumentals paint pictures that I can imagine. Listening to music is really one of my favorite things to do.

Advice for first-year students: If you’re having doubts, make the change you think you should. It’s not too late to change your direction in life, and you might end up making the best decision of your life.

Parting thoughts: If what I do sounds interesting, you can follow me and my projects on my YouTube Channel Takamator. I have and intend to upload videos to introduce my projects to people there. I hope to be consistent with it, and I hope to grow as a creator.

After graduation, Tyler would like to establish his own brand with his creative projects in  filmmaking, music, game design/development and more. He also is pursuing other opportunities that fit his skills.