Sending a 'We Are!' to these Penn Staters — Week of Aug. 19

As part of our regular "We Are!" feature, we recognize 12 Penn Staters who have gone above and beyond what's asked of them in their work at the University.

This week, on behalf of the entire Penn State community, we'd like to say thank you to:

• Brian Adair, undergraduate program support for the Department of Food Sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences, whose nominator wrote: "Brian joined our team in January and has brought a positive, fresh perspective to his new role. He truly enjoys interacting with our undergraduates and supporting them through their undergraduate degree. Brian's positivity is contagious and it's a true honor to work with him."
• Rebecca Cianci, assistant dean for administration in the Smeal College of Business, whose nominator wrote: "Rebecca is a collaborative and encouraging leader. She always goes the extra mile to make sure her teams have what they need to be successful. She cares deeply about the Smeal community and is continuously looking for ways to make improvements to benefit the greater good. 'We Are' lucky to have her!"
• Nicole D'Aulerio, engineering project manager in the Applied Research Laboratory, whose nominator wrote: "Nicole always excels in her duties to ensure the success of projects. I've lost count of the number of times that I've mentioned considering an action in support of a project and Nicole's response is 'I've already done that!' She truly is a tremendous asset to the team and a joy to work with."
• Dawn Gill, instructional production specialist at Penn State World Campus, whose nominator wrote: "Dawn consistently demonstrates exceptional skill and competence, and she approaches her responsibilities with a positive attitude. As the IPS for the LHR/OLEAD program, she expertly navigates the many changes it undergoes. Dawn's dedication and versatility make her an invaluable asset to our team."
• Marilyn Goodrich, instructional designer for University Libraries, whose nominator wrote: "Marilyn is such a source of uplift and inspiration! Her generosity in time and acts of kindness means that departments not even in her direct organization benefit. She helps us to be more self-reflective, grow while having fun doing it, and think of others."
• Stone Lacey, IT support specialist in Student Affairs, whose nominator wrote: "Stone provides fantastic IT support with courteousness and humanity. He is forthright, detailed and accountable. When dealing with an issue, he demonstrated one of the best examples I have ever seen about making things right. I will be thinking about this for a long time in a very positive way."
• Ava Lee, event planner in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, whose nominator wrote: "Ava went above and beyond in preparations for a series of events to run smoothly. She was endlessly positive and willing to provide extra support. She is an example of excellent work ethic and strong training. I am thankful to have her on my team!"
• Jamey Perry, assistant dean for academic services in the Bellisario College of Communications, whose nominator wrote: "Jamey went above and beyond to help my daughter during her time as a Penn State student. He guided her throughout her years at Penn State and went above and beyond to mentor her on a weekly basis, including answering calls and emails after his regular hours."
• Sanjay Saverimuttu, education program coordinator in the School of Labor and Employment Relations, College of the Liberal Arts, whose nominator wrote: "Sanjay has embraced additional tasks after our communications specialist left, managing our social media with creativity. In addition, he recently organized a staff retreat, fostering laughter and bonding like never before. His dedication and innovation have greatly enhanced our team spirit."
• Tammy Shannon, academic advising coordinator and course instructor in the College of Agricultural Sciences, whose nominator wrote: "Tammy has been organizing get-togethers to brainstorm and organize programs supporting first-generation students across University Park and World Campus. She not only is a champion for first-generation students, but she also inspires other staff to follow her lead. Tammy is an emblem of 'We Are.'"
• Kristi Ughetto, CRM analyst with Penn State IT, whose nominator wrote: "A big shoutout to Kristi for always being our team's spirit-lifter! Her unique blend of humor and determination makes tackling even the toughest problems a joy. Thanks for keeping our spirits high and our challenges manageable!"
• Bailey Welch, assistant director of Residence Life at Penn State Harrisburg, who received multiple nominations. One nominator wrote: "Bailey is a gift to our campus. She manages every conversation with gifted expertise, navigating difficult conversations with poise and respect. Her smile warms the room. She is a wonderful advocate for students and works diligently to make sure her staff has what they need to succeed!" Another nominator wrote: "Bailey's leadership is calming during difficult times. She is level-headed, and she has high morals and standards which guide her practices. She is open to feedback and willing to implement changes to ensure Penn State Harrisburg students are well cared for."

Thank you Brian, Rebecca, Nicole, Dawn, Marilyn, Stone, Ava, Jamey, Sanjay, Tammy, Kristi and Bailey - and to everyone who helps make Penn State such an incredible community!

Do you know someone who deserves a shout out? If you do, consider nominating that person by filling out a short online form.