Category: School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2026 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 conducted valuable research, pioneered innovation, overcome challenges, and engaged in college life in a big way.

Today, we’d like you to meet Vida Sevilla.

Major: Political Science

Minor: Crime, Law, and Psychology

Hometown: Montclair, California

Why she chose her major: I came here as a Criminal Justice major but switched to Political Science around my sophomore year. Growing up, I saw how harshly the world treats more unfortunate and marginalized communities. I wanted to be a part of fixing the way we see and treat these communities.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone a lot in my time here, so it’s hard to give just one example. However, my short time in the Behrend theatre community taught me so much about myself, and I’m beyond proud of myself for participating.

Challenges overcome: Being so far away from home and from my culture, every day can be a challenge, especially being a first-generation student. It’s hard to know if what I’m doing is the right thing. Despite my lack of guidance through life, I’ve come out the other side with the support of the friends I’ve made along the way.

Campus involvement: Alpha Sigma Alpha, executive board member of Panhellenic Council (vice president of Peer Accountability), and member of Studio Theatre/Theatre Club. Over the years I’ve been involved in a few other clubs and organizations, such as Behrend Political Science Society, Groundhog Club, Tone-Acious, Chamber/Concert Choir, and Alternative Spring Break.

What makes her unique: I’ve always viewed myself to be a lover of life. I love experiencing what the world has to offer, even when those things aren’t the most amazing or positive experiences.

What she’s passionate about: Doing what’s right, especially when it’s hard to do so. A lot of the time we find it’s easier to go along with the majority, but it’s important to give yourself a life where you don’t regret the things you should’ve done for the betterment of those you love rather than just for yourself.

Advice for first-year students: Above all else, don’t ever limit yourself to one path in life. Sometimes the world around you will want to push you toward its own standard of excellence—you need to find the strength within yourself to make your own standard. Dream big and loud! If you ever feel that your dreams are too big for this world, then shoot for the stars instead. Do not ever be sorry for what you do to make your dreams happen, just learn from it all.

After her graduation in May, Vida plans to move to New York City to become a criminal investigator.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2026 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 conducted valuable research, pioneered innovation, overcome challenges, and engaged in college life in a big way.

Today, we’d like you to meet Jillian Mazzarese.

Major: Psychology

Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania

Scholarship: Samuel P. Black, III and Susan L. Black Trustee Scholarship 

Why she chose Behrend: I chose Behrend because I had already earned credits through dual enrollment and I attended the LEADS (Learn, Explore, Advance, Discover, and Succeed) program in my junior year of high school. Behrend also has a great psychology program.

Why she chose her major: I chose to pursue a degree in psychology because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I saw how people were impacted, especially their mental health. Though I no longer intend to pursue the mental health side of psychology, I’m still interested in researching people’s cognitive processes and understanding how they think and perceive the world.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend:  Being able to pursue my own research in the language cognition research lab run by Dr. Erica Edwards, assistant teaching professor of psychology. My project looked at how humor may shape learning.

Campus involvement: Behrend Honors Program, member of Psi Chi (psychology honor society), and secretary of the Psychology Club.

What you’d be surprised to know about her: I graduated high school with 21 college credits already completed.

Her highest priority: Pursuing research and contributing to the field of cognitive psychology. I intend to get a master’s and Ph.D. in cognitive psychology.

Advice for first-year students: Talk to as many students as you can. People are just as nervous to talk to you as you are to talk to them. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to your professors and get involved in their research, as you never know what sort of opportunities it might open for you.

Parting words: I’d like to thank Dr. Daniell DiFrancesca, assistant professor of psychology. She was my first professor as a dual-enrollment student and, she gave me a sense of confidence I’ve carried with me throughout my college career. I would also like to thank Dr. Ewards. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without her, as she saw my potential and let me thrive in psychology.

After her graduation in May, Jillian plans to pursue a master’s degree and then a doctorate in cognitive psychology and become a psychology professor.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2026 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 conducted valuable research, pioneered innovation, overcome challenges, and engaged in college life in a big way.

Today, we’d like you to meet Emily Warrene.

Major: Psychology

Certificate: Child Development

Hometown: West Deer, Pennsylvania

Why she chose Behrend: I wanted to continue bowling at the collegiate level but at a Division III school where academics come first. Behrend was perfect—and just two hours from my home in Pittsburgh, close enough to visit but far enough for independence.

Why she chose her major: In my sophomore year of high school, I took an Introduction to Psychology class. I thought it was so interesting that I took AP Psychology in my senior year. After that, I realized that I loved learning about how the brain works, and I decided to make it my career path.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: My research project, “Development of Empathy Among College Athletes, Club Participants, and Non-Participants.” It was a year-long endeavor with numerous trials, errors, and hours spent trying to figure out how to conduct a successful project.

Campus involvement: Penn State Behrend Women’s Bowling, Lion Ambassadors (fundraising chair, 2025–2026), Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Community Outreach, Research, and Evaluation (CORE).

Awards: Penn State Behrend Athletics Rookie Award (2022–2023), AMCC All-Conference Sportsmanship Team (2023–2024, 2024–2025), Academic All-AMCC (2024–2025).

What you’d be surprised to know about her: I’d love to be a bowling coach in the future. I was injured in my junior year and couldn’t play for two months, and I found a love for coaching. Small adjustments constantly need to be made, and the reward is so high whenever you see the player succeed.

Child advocate in training: I have a passion for children who don’t have the voices to speak up about mental health. Working with CORE, I get to work with at-risk fifth- and sixth-graders and be a safe place for them to just be themselves. Watching a child open up and finally feel safe being who they are, even for just one hour a week, is extraordinary.

Advice for first-year students: Just say yes! I was extremely introverted and hated going out and meeting new people, but for a few months I said “yes” to everything and made some of my best friends doing so.

After her graduation in May, Emily plans to work in her field for a few years before attending graduate school. 

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2026 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 conducted valuable research, pioneered innovation, overcome challenges, and engaged in college life in a big way.

Today, we’d like you to meet Remington Orange.

Major: Digital Media, Arts, and Technology (DIGIT)

Minor: Game Development

Hometown: New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Why he chose Behrend: My older brother went to Behrend for Plastics Engineering and recommended a major called “DIGIT.” I was like, “Numbers? No thank you!” Then I found out it’s not that kind of digit. I stayed at Behrend because in nearly every class, I was allowed to explore and learn for myself with the guidance of professors. That freedom to be creative is incredibly rewarding.

Why he chose his major: DIGIT aligned with everything I wanted from a degree but didn’t know existed. Little-to-no math? Yeah! Optional science? Sign me up! Every class was something I wanted to learn but didn’t know where to start on my own.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: I’m very proud of the work I have done at the VAR lab with Dr. Christopher Shelton, associate professor of clinical psychology. From 3D scanning equipment and building video game consoles to creating 360-degree virtual tours for industry partners, I’ve done more projects than I can count. In the process, I’ve learned a lot about working with industry partners, professional etiquette, and communication. I was given a lot of room to innovate and be creative and I’m grateful for all the opportunities I had through the VAR lab.

Campus involvement: CRU (Campus Crusade), where I served on the Servant Team. It’s been a great experience to have fellowship with fellow Christians whom I see myself being friends with long after I’ve graduated.

Awards: “Best in Show” in the Digital Art category for a short film at the Yahn Art Show and “Best in Class” for a game in GAME 250.

What you’d be surprised to know about him: I hate driving in the snow.

On finding peace after graduation: I’ve spent the last four years rushing everywhere to try and accomplish many things, but my next stage is to find peace in whatever I do and make time for God, myself, and my family.

What he’s passionate about: Creating for interaction. I love to create things that others or I can interact with. I appreciate art in all its forms, but it brings the inner kid in everyone out when you get to touch the art. I want to continue to create.

Advice for first-year students: Explore campus and Erie and the surrounding area. In the past year, I’ve learned about so many amazing places that I wish I had known about earlier. Do you know how much fun it is to ski or tube at Peek’n Peak? Did you know the Tom Ridge Environmental Center is like a mini-museum and it’s free? Did you know the Bicentennial Tower in Erie is free on the first Tuesday of every month?

After his graduation in May, Remington hopes to pursue a master’s degree in either a design field or a medical-related field. His dream is to create designs and digital environments for education, preservation, or medical assistance—and to work remotely while traveling.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2026 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 conducted valuable research, pioneered innovation, overcome challenges, and engaged in college life in a big way.

Today, we’d like you to meet Bella A. Eibl.

Major: Political Science, crime and law option

Minors: English, Legal Studies

Certificate: Crime, Psychology, and Public Policy

Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Chancellor’s Scholarship, Penn State Provost Award, Rose Lada Memorial Scholarship

Why she chose Behrend: I’m an Erie native and I come from a Penn State family. I chose Behrend because I felt it offered more opportunities for students to really have an impact on their community and form connections with faculty members.

Why she chose her major: I started as a General Arts and Sciences major, but after my first political science class I was immediately interested in the major. I was scared to commit, so I met with the professor to talk about what I could do with a degree in political science and what I should major in considering my interests and goals. Talking with him made me feel much more confident in my academic plan and career goals.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: During my sophomore year, I made the decision to resurrect all three political clubs at Behrend to have them fully functional and active in time for the 2024 primary and general elections. This included our two partisan clubs and a nonpartisan general political society. Working with everyone who was interested in the executive board positions, communicating with campus faculty, and succeeding in having three active political clubs whilst being on the executive board of two of them and simultaneously working in state politics off campus—while also taking eighteen credits—was difficult, but I’m proud of the work I did.

Campus involvement: School of Humanities and Social Sciences Student Advisory Club (co-founder, vice president), Studio Theatre at Behrend (Into the Woods crew, Little Shop of Horrors cast/crew), Student Leadership and Involvement (RUB desk worker), Residence Life, School of Humanities and Social Sciences Ambassadors, Pi Sigma Alpha (secretary), Political Science Society (former president).

What you’d be surprised to know about her: I listen to every genre of music from metal to classical to musical theatre. I believe I’ve been to eight different theatre productions and over fifteen concerts. Fun fact: I’ve been to the same number of Twenty One Pilots concerts and Weird Al Yankovic concerts—three each!

Her highest priority: I’m starting law school in the fall, so my priority for the next three years is to make the most of my time living in Washington, D.C., and have productive and meaningful experiences while continuing my education.

Advice for first-year students: The best advice I can give is:

1.) Make it a priority to figure out the basics. Get a planner and write everything down, learn the tech you’re unfamiliar with (Canvas, Outlook, LionPATH, etc.), learn what resources are available to students, and talk with an academic adviser.

2) Put yourself out there! Join clubs, meet people, and try new things. Growth can be scary, but it’s so worth it, and you probably won’t have as many opportunities once you graduate.

3) Feeling stressed or overwhelmed is normal, but don’t forget to give yourself time to take a deep breath, rest, and have fun.

After her graduation in May, Bella will move to Washington, D.C., to attend American University’s Washington College of Law.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2025 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 conducted valuable research, pioneered innovation, overcome challenges, and engaged in college life in a big way.

Today, we’d like you to meet Kaijia McNair.

Major: Media and Communication

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

Why she chose Behrend: It was the best choice for my major and for me. Choosing Behrend, which is six hours from my hometown, has helped me develop independence and influenced me to think about moving somewhere other than home after graduation.

Why she chose her major: Originally, I wanted to be a sports analyst or broadcaster. But after taking some communication classes, I learned that I hated being in front of the camera. However, I rediscovered my passion for writing and found myself comfortable presenting and speaking in public.

Campus involvement: Humanities and Social Sciences Ambassador.

What makes her unique: I think my work ethic makes me unique. I don’t believe in doing half the job and doing the bare minimum. A lot of my professors have praised me for turning in work that is above and beyond what is required.

What you’d be surprised to know about her: I absolutely love to crochet and play Team Fortress 2!

What she’s passionate about: Being a good person and leaving a good impression on people.

After her graduation in May, Kaijia plans to move to the northern Virginia/Washington, D.C., area and work in the field of public relations.