Penn State Behrend - School of Humanities and Social Sciences

The encouragement of a dedicated professor can make all the difference in a student's educational journey.

Dr. Frederica Marty recently received heartfelt notes of appreciation from students who shared how her patience, support, and passion for teaching helped them succeed.

"There were moments when I wanted to give up and quit. But Dr. Marty never wavered in her confidence that I could do this. And I have!"

Another student shared:

"She's a very kind professor and a great language teacher. I was very nervous about taking French when I first arrived at Behrend, but it's since become my favorite subject!"

We are proud to recognize Dr. Marty for creating a welcoming and supportive learning environment where students of all backgrounds can thrive. Thank you for the lasting impact you make every day!

The impact of a great educator extends far beyond the classroom.

Dr. Glenn Kumhera recently received heartfelt notes of appreciation from students who praised his patience, mentorship, and commitment to student success.

"Thank you for always being patient, listening and giving advice during office hours, and for all the sacrifices you make for students."

"He is an awesome instructor, his classes are engaging, he's very knowledgeable on the subjects he teaches... Thank you Dr. Kumhera, I always enjoy taking your classes!"

We're proud to celebrate faculty like Dr. Kumhera who make a meaningful difference in the academic journey of their students. Thank you for all you do!

Recent alumnus Jack Mong is featured in the Journal of Erie Studies with his article, “Participation by Design: What Voter Turnout Can (and Can’t) Tell Us About Election Reform.” Drawing on data from all 50 states, Jack explores how policies such as same-day voter registration, automatic voter registration, and mail voting influence democratic participation. His research highlights why voter turnout, while important, may not be the only measure of a reform’s success.

Read the article:

Participation by Design: What Voter Turnout Tells Us about Election Reforms Political Science Research

🎉 Congratulations to alumnus Carlos Mora on being recognized as one of the Erie Reader's 40 Under 40 honorees!

Now in its 14th year, Erie Reader's 40 Under 40 celebrates young leaders who are making Erie a stronger, healthier, more vibrant, and more equitable community. Chosen from hundreds of nominations, these individuals have invested their talents, energy, and passion into shaping the future of our region.

We are proud to see Carlos recognized among this outstanding group of changemakers who have chosen Erie and are actively working to make it an even better place to live, work, and thrive.

Congratulations, Carlos! 👏💙

Read more about Carlos and this well-deserved recognition: https://www.eriereader.com/article/eries-40-under-40-class-of-2026/carlos-mora

Congratulations to Graduate Student Amanda Welsbacher on being selected as the recipient of the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School Fox Degree Completion Award for the 2025–26 academic year!

This prestigious honor recognizes graduate students who exemplify exceptional academic achievement, scholarly excellence, leadership, and meaningful progress toward completing their degree. Amanda’s accomplishments reflect a strong commitment to advancing scholarship, research, and the broader mission of graduate education.

Congratulations to Megan LaMotte on receiving a Community-Engaged Research Partnership Development Seed Grant from the Social Science Research Institute!

Her awarded proposal, “Building a Community-Engaged Partnership to Support Youth Well-Being in Erie County Community Schools,” highlights the power of collaboration in strengthening youth well-being across our community. We’re excited to see the positive impact this work will bring to Erie County schools!

Celebrating the success of our Human Factors students as they launch their careers! 🎉

Victoria Cain secured a role before graduating at Mutual Expert, a local Erie software company specializing in insurance solutions.

Matt Meinert has joined Meta in Pittsburgh—an incredible achievement!

In a challenging job market, especially for usability professionals, our students are thriving. Their success reflects their motivation, strong preparation, and hands-on experience in the Meehl Innovation Commons Lab for Usability.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to continue shaping the next generation of usability professionals!

We’re proud to celebrate an incredible week of academic achievement and global experience!

Dr. Sharifffah Sheik Dawood and Dr. Erica Edwards recently took four students, Jillian Mazzarese, Kamryn Gates-Bowersox, Paige Johnson, and Amy Love, to the Association for Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention in Barcelona, Spain.

Together, they presented two research posters:
Sarcasm Across the Globe Lab: “Who uses sarcasm? Exploring the influence of age, gender, and culture in five countries.”

Perception and Understanding of Non-literal Communication and Humor (PUNCH) Lab: “When is dark humor adaptive? Examining humor as a moderator on the relationship between stress and coping.”

Beyond presenting their work, students strengthened their communication skills, built meaningful professional connections, explored a new culture, and gained valuable career insights.

Penn State faculty from Berks and Behrend recently brought innovation to life for regional K–12 educators through an engaging workshop on AI-powered design thinking.

Led by Dr. Tiffany Petricini and Dr. Ayse Kulturel-Konak, participants explored how empathy mapping, collaborative ideation, and ethical AI use can transform classroom experiences. From hands-on LEGO exercises to developing AI-enabled assignments, educators gained practical tools to foster creativity, responsibility, and intentional AI use among students.

This initiative, supported by Penn State’s OVPCC AI Discovery Initiative, highlights the power of human-centered learning in shaping the future of education.

Penn State students joined peers from Toronto Metropolitan University for a visit to the Ontario Legislative Assembly at Queen’s Park, where they had the opportunity to meet Ontario Minister of Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson. During the session, Minister Thompson recognized the students with a special shoutout in front of the entire Assembly—an exciting and memorable moment that highlighted the value of cross-border collaboration, experiential learning, and student engagement in public policy and leadership.