Students, staff and faculty all bring unique experiences and knowledge to the Penn State Wilkes-Barre community. Brian Reese, who now serves as a faculty member in information technology, has held all three roles. He began as a student and was later hired as a staff member. He also owns his own business, bringing industry experience to his teaching.
When Walter Sowa, professor emeritus of engineering, turned 100 on Jan. 5, his family and friends gathered to celebrate his life and the impact he has made on others. During his 32-year teaching career, Sowa positively impacted the lives of numerous students at a time of growth and expansion for Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Inspired by his dedication to students and the deep connection he had with the University, several of his children and grandchildren later enrolled at the same university where he taught.
When Penn State Wilkes-Barre needed an electrical contractor for a project this summer, the business owner who handled the project was a campus alumnus. It was a full-circle moment for Michael Terkowski, a 2008 graduate who earned his degree in information sciences technology and later became a Penn State-certified data contractor. He is the owner of Advanced Communication Solutions in Tunkhannock.
Penn State Wilkes-Barre alumnus John Krohn has interned for a U.S. senator, served in the military in Iraq, worked to implement protection around energy infrastructure in Ukraine, and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Today, he is the deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy.
Several employees at Penn State Wilkes-Barre have gotten to experience the campus from more than one perspective. That’s because they have been both students and employees there. Now they are able to draw on their knowledge and experiences during their interactions with students and other members of the campus community.
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.
Just two years after earning his degree in project and supply chain management from Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Logan Baseski is continuing to grow in his career working for PepsiCo.
Dylan Fredricey and Camaryn Lokuta, who earned their degrees in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, talk about where they are employed and how Penn State Wilkes-Barre led them there.
Steve Jones’ voice is well known by Penn State students, alumni and fans: He’s been the play-by-play announcer at home football games since 2000 and home basketball games since 1982. The man with the voice got his start in radio at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, where he began to develop his skills and fell in love with the profession.
The road to success means busy days, nights and weekends for Ali Paris-Hasan ’15, who is establishing his own business while working a full-time job. Paris-Hasan is co-owner of Rock Cut Auto, a Dallas-based car detailing and painting company that also provides mechanical work.
