Twelve Penn Staters honored with 2024 Alumni Fellow Award

Recipients will return to University Park campus to share their expertise with students and be honored at an award ceremony on Sept. 18 at the State Theatre in downtown State College

September 4, 2024

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Twelve Penn State alumni will be honored for their outstanding professional accomplishments and named Alumni Fellows for 2024, the most prestigious designation given by the Penn State Alumni Association.

Since the award was established in 1973, more than 800 alumni have been honored with the title of Alumni Fellow--designated a permanent and lifelong title by the Penn State Board of Trustees--out of more than 750,000 living alumni.

"The Penn State Alumni Association is delighted to honor these deserving award recipients, and to recognize the collective impact these Penn Staters have had in their professions and communities on a national and global scale," said Alumni Association CEO Paul Clifford. "We are proud to welcome these incredible alumni to the ranks of Penn State Alumni Fellows."

A ceremony to celebrate their achievements will be held on Sept. 18 at the State Theatre. Those interested in tuning in virtually may register here.

The following Penn Staters will receive the Alumni Fellow award.

• Isam Al Zadjali, class of 1992, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, is a board member of Petroleum Development Oman (PDO). He has held several leadership positions in Oman's oil and gas industry and played a significant role in shaping the future of the country's energy sector. He remains deeply committed to Penn State, serving on the provost's Global Advisory Council in addition to promoting the University to prospective Omani students and connecting with Penn Staters throughout the Middle East.

• Jennifer Beidel, class of 2003, College of Agricultural Sciences, and class of 2006, Penn State Dickinson Law, is a partner at Dykema Gossett, where she leads global investigative and litigation teams across various industries. She's received numerous professional accolades, including recognition as a Pennsylvania Leading Lawyer by Chambers USA. A graduate of the College of Agricultural Sciences, she remains connected to Penn State through scholarship endowment, and service on the college's alumni board.

• Mary Lou Belli, class of 1978, College of Arts and Architecture, is an award-winning director and author who has directed or produced hundreds of television shows, including "Monk," "NCIS New Orleans," "Bull," "Girlfriends," and more. She also co-authored four key texts on acting and directing. In addition to serving on the Bellisario College of Communications Hollywood Board, she has generously mentored Penn State students and young alumni pursuing careers in the entertainment industry.

• Brett Feldman, class of 2003, College of Health and Human Development, is the director and co-founder of USC Street Medicine and is an associate professor of family medicine at the University of Southern California. In working to bring healthcare services to those experiencing homelessness, he has contributed to the establishment or expansion of over 150 street medicine programs around the world. His numerous accolades include the Humanitarian of the Year award from the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants.

• Richard Fischer, class of 1964 and 1966 (graduate), Smeal College of Business (nominated by Penn State World Campus), is one of the preeminent leaders in distance education. He is a founding partner and president of international consulting firm The Growth Group, and directed one of the country's largest self-supporting credit and noncredit continuing education programs at the University of Delaware. Fischer also coauthored the first text on older adult learners, "Students of the Third Age."

• Richard Gottscho, class of 1974, Eberly College of Science, is the executive vice president and strategic adviser to the CEO at Lam Research. His leadership and his ability to lead teams through the complexities of research and development took Lam from near bankruptcy to Fortune 500 status, and helped shape the future of semiconductor technology. In recognition of Gottscho's numerous technical achievements, he was inducted into the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 2016.

• Michael McIntyre, class of 1990, College of Arts and Architecture, is the CEO of MOCEAN, a full-service creative marketing agency he co-founded in 2000. MOCEAN produces award-winning campaigns for global brands such as Disney, Apple, Chevy, Netflix, and Amazon. Under his leadership, the company has earned more than 500 major industry awards, including Emmy Awards in 2013 and 2014.

• Jeffrey Merritt, class of 1985, College of Engineering (nominated by Penn State Harrisburg), is a leader in the construction management industry and has been instrumental in developing educational spaces for public school districts and higher education institutions. He has remained deeply connected to Penn State, and helped develop comprehensive four-year undergraduate engineering degree programs at Penn State Harrisburg.

• Jane Petro, class of 1972, College of Medicine, is a distinguished surgeon and educator who served at New York Medical College from 1980 until her retirement in 2009. She has made significant contributions to medical literature in several significant topics and held pivotal roles including associate director of the Burn Center at Westchester Medical Center, chief of microsurgery, and chief of plastic surgery at both St. Agnes Hospital and Northern Westchester Hospital.

• Dennis Prischak, class of 1992 (graduate), Penn State Behrend, is president and CEO of The Plastek Group, which has become the standard of excellence in the plastics industry under his guidance, with manufacturing sites worldwide. In 2022 he established a state-of-the-art robotics and automation lab at Penn State Behrend, providing access to cutting-edge technology for Behrend students.

• Nikur Shah, class of 1995, College of the Liberal Arts, is a senior partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he advises Fortune 500 companies on HR-related issues. With a focus on enhancing experiences within the workplace, Nik has fostered the creation of work environments where people can thrive and succeed, benefiting countless employees. He has actively supported Penn State through volunteering, establishing an endowed scholarship, and mentoring students.

• Farnoosh Torabi, class of 2002, Smeal College of Business with Honors from Schreyer Honors College, is a leading financial educator and hosts the popular podcast "So Money" which has surpassed 35 million downloads across 160 countries. Her financial expertise has been highlighted in numerous major media outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and more.

The Alumni Fellow program is administered by the Penn State Alumni Association in cooperation with the University's academic colleges, campuses and the Office of the President.

Alumni are nominated by a college or campus as leaders in their professional fields and accept an invitation from the president of the University to return to campus to share their expertise with students, faculty and administrators.

Visit the Alumni Association's website for more information on the honorees and the award.

For more than 150 years, the Penn State Alumni Association has provided alumni with a strong and welcoming community representative of the Penn Staters it proudly serves. The association keeps alumni connected to the University and to each other, while upholding Penn State traditions and supporting the University's mission of teaching, research and service. The association also produces the award-winning Penn Stater magazine and other publications, and offers alumni and friends volunteer opportunities, educational programming, and many other services. For more information about the Alumni Association, visit alumni.psu.edu/youbelong.