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From a visit to a career

Amanda (Pietrzykoski) Sevison ’04 is one of many Penn State Wilkes-Barre alumni whose educational and career paths began with a visit to Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Now working in the field of juvenile justice, she credits the campus with starting her journey on the right foot and providing her with what she needed to succeed in her career.
By: Goldie Van Horn
Alumna working in juvenile justice obtained her degree at Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Amanda (Pietrzykoski) Sevison ’04 is one of many Penn State Wilkes-Barre alumni whose educational and career paths began with a visit to Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Now working in the field of juvenile justice, she credits the campus with starting her journey on the right foot and providing her with what she needed to succeed in her career.

After graduating from G.A.R. Memorial High School in Wilkes-Barre, Sevison wasn’t even sure she wanted to attend college right away but was encouraged to visit Penn State Wilkes-Barre by Karen Brace-Hodle, her sister’s stepmother and campus alumni relations and stewardship officer, who retired in 2021.

“I came to check out the campus and I fell in love,” Sevison said. “I applied and was accepted, and I absolutely loved my time there. The people were great and the administration was great. Everything right down to the food at the Student Commons was wonderful.”

She originally intended to obtain an associate degree in business, but while she was a student, the campus implemented a new program in administration of justice that caught her attention. (The program has since transitioned to criminal justice.)

“At an early age, I wanted to become a lawyer. I was very interested in the law, how it worked and how laws were made,” she said. “It was almost like a sign to me when they brought the four-year administration of justice program to campus. I thought to myself, ‘That’s the path I’m supposed to be on.’”

Sevison obtained an internship with the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office through a faculty member who arranged an interview, laying the foundation for the path her career would take.

“I originally wanted to go to law school and look into becoming an attorney, but I ended up taking the juvenile justice avenue,” she said. “During my internship, I got to sit in on a lot of court cases and help research exhibits for upcoming cases. I found the whole field fascinating. Right after my internship, I started a position at the Luzerne County Juvenile Detention Center.”

Sevison, who lives in Mountaintop, now works for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the Department of Human Services. She was recently promoted to the position of human service program specialist in the Bureau of Child Support Enforcement. Prior to working in child support enforcement, she was an adoption recruiter for juveniles within the welfare system, finding families for children ages 6 to 18.

“Throughout my career, I’ve gotten to see all aspects of this field,” she said. “I began working directly with children and moved on to doing more administrative and legal tasks. I have to thank my instructors and the education I received at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. They piqued my interest and provided education that’s very relevant to what I do now.”

To other students who may be in a similar position to where she was as high school wrapped up, Sevison offered a word of advice.

“If you don’t know what to choose, Penn State Wilkes-Barre is a great place to start,” she said. “They offer so much and the advisers are wonderful. For students who have no idea what they want to do or what they are interested in pursuing, the advisers will help lead the way.”

Criminal justice is one of eight bachelor’s degree programs and four associate degree programs offered at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Students can also complete their first two years of coursework in more than 275 majors at Penn State Wilkes-Barre before transitioning to another campus as part of the University’s 2+2 Plan.