2017 Committee
Faculty and Staff
- Dr. Megan Simpson, Associate Professor of English and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, chair
- Ms. Susan Marie Brundage, Instructor in Visual Art
- Dr. Carrie Freie, Associate Professor of Education
- Ms. Harriett Gaston, Division of Undergraduate Studies Adviser
- Ms. Robin Reese, Associate Professor of Theater Arts
- Dr. Patricia Jabbeh Wesley, Associate Professor of English
Students
Ciara Archer grew up in Roselle, New Jersey and attended Union County Vocational Technical School. She is currently a freshman at Penn State pursuing a B.S. degree in Criminology. Working with fellow students, she hopes to open the eyes of the public through spoken word. To make a difference in the world she strives to one day be an attorney.
Payton L. Covington is a junior at Penn State, pursuing a B.A. in integrative arts with specializations in theatre and music production. Combining these two art forms, she intends to become a skilled, intellectual entertainer, the next Aaliyah, Keke Palmer, or Tupac Shakur. Her goal is to inspire other avant-garde, multi-talented creators to challenge themselves and go beyond what they feel is their artistic “limit.” She says, “The options in entertainment are limitless.”
Aaron James is now in his junior year here at Penn State where he studies theatre and communications in the letters, arts, and sciences major. He has been involved with theatre throughout his school career, starting backing elementary school. His most recent performance was as Dwight in Dead Man’s Cell Phone, which was produced by Things Unseen Theatre at The Church in the Middle of the Block.
Jessica Lynn Janczewski is both an English and criminal justice major, graduating in 2018. She is from Philadelphia and attended J.R. Masterman High School. She prides herself in her involvement on campus, being a former RA, Thon captain, and research assistant; and a current member of the Criminal Justice Organization, the CrimJ National Honors society, Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, and Alpha Lamda Delta honors society. She also and tutors at the writing commons on campus. She plans to attend law school and pursue her dreams of being a criminal lawyer. Her goal in the African American Read-In class is to spread knowledge and promote equality throughout the Penn State Altoona campus.
Mikayla Loudenslager is a senior at Penn State Altoona pursuing a BA degree in letters, arts, and sciences, with a minor in English. She grew up in Tyrone, PA, where she attended Tyrone Area High school. Her goal is to become a well-known photojournalist and travel around the world capturing the essences of other cultures. She hopes to learn about diverse life styles and share them with the rest of the world.
Leila McCrumb is a senior, majoring in Integrative Arts with a focus in theater. She has loved and been involved in theater from an early age. In 2013, Leila played the role of Titania in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream; she also performed in Paula Vogel’s How I Learned to Drive in the role of Li’l Bit, and most recently in Tennessee Williams’ 27 Wagons Full of Cotton. This is Leila’s second year of involvement in the African American Read-In. Last year, she presented her piece, “Man and Woman Speak Langston Hughes.”
Joshua Nolte is a Penn State Senior graduating with degrees in English and Political Science in May of 2017. He grew up in the city of Pittsburgh. Upon graduation, he hopes to get involved in the government of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, primarily assisting with the legislative process. He has a long term goal of going to graduate school in literature and becoming a professor of English. He hopes his involvement in the African American Read-In will deepen his understanding of Black culture and experiences in the context of American society.
Ger Jamie Ogot is a sophomore, majoring in psychology. Her ancestry is Kenyan and she is very involved in and an activist of basic human rights and tolerance. This can be seen by her support of the Black Lives Matter movement and her use of social media as a platform to advocate conscious love and social awareness. Recently, she served as a panelist for the Black Student Union at Pennsylvania State University, at an event discussing police brutality. She plans to enlist in the military after her collegiate graduation.
Gary Joshua Weyandt, the 2017 student artist who designed this year’s logo, is in his sophomore year at Penn State Altoona pursuing a degree in the visual arts. He aspires to one day make a living off his art with a dream of owning his own game development company. In his spare time he is independently studying AutoDesk Maya to reach said goal. He tries, whenever possible, to bring real world inspirations into his digital art. Believing there to be a harmony in blending the real and digital world. Although focusing on digital pursuits, he enjoys experimenting with all kinds of media, using them to grow as an artist.
2016 Committee
Faculty and Staff
- Dr. Jutta Gsoels-Lorensen, Associate Professor of German, English, and Comparative Literature, chair
- Ms. Susan Marie Brundage, Instructor in Visual Art
- Ms. Harriett Gaston, Division of Undergraduate Studies Adviser
- Ms. Robin Reese, Associate Professor of Theater Arts
- Dr. Sarah Shear, Assistant Professor of Social Studies Education
- Dr. Megan Simpson, Associate Professor of English and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
- Dr. Patricia Jabbeh Wesley, Associate Professor of English
Students
Joanna Carrasco grew up in the Bronx, NY, where she attended Aquinas High School. She is pursuing a degree in Advertising/Public Relations and a minor in English at Penn State. Her main concern lies with societal pressures brought upon young girls. She therefore wishes to work for a non-profit organization in the future, empowering young girls and making them realize their full potential.
Courtney Cousins is a Penn State senior pursuing a B.A. in Communications. Growing up in New York City allowed her to nourish her penchant for writing from an early age on. She was a semi-finalist in the 2012 New York Knicks Poetry Slam and had her poetry published three times in Celebration of Young Poets. Courtney is currently the president of the Black Student Union; she is also a member of the Multicultural Leadership Council at Penn State Altoona. Following graduation in May of 2016, Courtney will pursue her life-long dream of becoming an agent of change on race issues in America.
Tyler Creighton is a sophomore at Penn State Altoona, pursuing a B.A. in Business Accounting with a minor in Marketing. She grew up in Philadelphia, where she attended Science Leadership Academy High School. She hopes to use all of her knowledge and talent to become one of the best CEOs in the fashion industry one day.
Diana Fackler is a senior at Penn State Altoona, graduating in May with a B.A. in both Criminal Justice and English. She is the treasurer of the English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta, and a writing consultant with the Writing Commons. After graduation, she plans on taking some time off to travel, but would eventually like to teach English at a correctional facility.
Lynette Flores grew up in Berks County, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Wilson High School and is now a sophomore at Penn State, working towards a bachelor’s degree in Advertising/Public Relations with a minor in Business. She is always keen to experience new things and places, so she plans to study in Madrid, Spain during the upcoming fall semester.
Eryka “Ree” Joseph is a freshman at Penn State Altoona pursuing a doctorate in Speech Pathology and Audiology. She grew up in Antigua, West Indies, as well as in Long Island, New York, and attended high school in Radnor, PA through an educational scholarship program for academically talented minority students. She hopes to use her background in music to create powerful new methods for dealing with various aspects of communication disorders.
Sada Massey is a sophomore at Penn State, pursing a B.A. in Communications. She grew up in Washington D.C. She has a strong passion for writing and has recently begun to think about, and articulate, the Black immigrant experience in the U.S. Sada strives to see the world from a unique perspective, while trying to consider and understand other people’s views. She wants to change the world, possibly through writing and storytelling, but she also enjoys long walks, Piña Coladas and getting caught in the rain.
Leila McCrumb is a junior, majoring in Integrative Arts with a focus on theater. She has loved and been involved in theater from an early age. In 2013, Leila played the role of Titania in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream; she also performed in Paula Vogel’s How I Learned to Drive (Li’l Bit) and, most recently, in Tennessee Williams’27 Wagons Full of Cotton.
Megan McElwee is a junior at Penn State, currently pursuing a B.A. in English and a minor in Women’s Studies. Next semester, she plans to add a concurrent English B.S. to get certified in Secondary Education. Megan hopes her influence on her students will make them enjoy reading and writing as much as she does.
For Kadheem McLeod, performance has always been his favorite form of creation and expression. In his freshman year, he played the role of Starveling in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, for which he was selected to participate in the The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival acting competition. “It was truly an honor,” he says. Kai was also the male lead in a dance ensemble performance inspired by Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 and performed in BOB: A Life In Five Acts, as well as in the Penn State Altoona Vaudeville Show. He has been a member of the Ivyside Pride choir and the Ivyside Dance Ensemble.
Chaz Mixon is a freshman at Penn State Altoona, pursuing a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in English. Chaz is from Washington, D.C. and plans to attend law school after completing his undergraduate degree at PSU. He intends to use his skills as a leader to open a thriving law firm in the Washington, D.C. area.
Heather Myers is a senior graduating with a degree in English this coming May. She is from Altoona, PA. Heather is a passionate writer, with a special love of poetry. She plans to get a master’s degree in creative writing, continuing to work in the genre of poetry, and hopes to use her skills to work in publishing. Eventually, she would also like to teach others about writing.
Jamel Olorunoje is a sophomore from Staten Island, New York. He is the youngest of 5 siblings. Jamel is a basketball enthusiast and played for his high school team before coming to Penn State. He is currently pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering and hopes to get an internship this coming summer, because he is eager to step into, and experience, the real world.
2015 Committee
- Dr. Megan Simpson, Associate Professor of English and Women’s Studies, chair
- Ms. Susan Marie Brundage, Instructor in Visual Art
- Dr. Carrie Freie, Associate Professor of Education
- Ms. Harriett Gaston, Division of Undergraduate Studies Adviser
- Dr. Jutta Gsoels-Lorensen, Associate Professor of German, English, and Comparative Literature
- Dr. Patricia Jabbeh Wesley, Associate Professor of English
- Ms. Kristen Pearson, Coordinator of Student Field Placements
- Ms. Robin Reese, Associate Professor of Theater Arts
- Dr. Sarah Shear, Assistant Professor of Social Studies Education
- Ms. Tommi Howard, English major (Class of 2017)
- Ms. Erika Kareema Watkins, English major (Class of 2017)
2014 Committee
- Dr. Megan Simpson, Associate Professor of English and Women’s Studies, chair
- Dr. Jutta Gsoels-Lorensen, Associate Professor of German, English, and Comparative Literature
- Dr. Patricia Jabbeh Wesley, Associate Professor of English
- Ms. Robin Reese, Associate Professor of Theater Arts
- Ms. Harriett Gaston, Division of Undergraduate Studies Academic Adviser
- Ms. Anne Maucieri, English major (Class of 2015)
- Ms. Annette Nagle, Letters, Arts, & Sciences major (Class of 2015)
- Ms. Kaitlin Laman, College of Education (Class of 2017)
- Ms. Jill Lamantia, College of Communications (Class of 2017)
- Ms. Jessica Croyle, College of the Liberal Arts (Class of 2017)
- Ms. Armani Stewart, College of The Liberal Arts (Class of 2017)
- Ms. Shana Soriano, Integrative Arts major (Class of 2014)
- Ms. Ariel Tomlinson
- Ms. Asia Janay McCray-James, College of Education (Class 2017)
- Ms. Samantha Lynn Ranck, English major (Class of 2015)
2013 Committee
- Dr. Megan Simpson, Associate Professor of English and Women’s Studies, chair
- Ms. Robin Reese, Associate Professor of Theater Arts
- Ms. Harriett Gaston, Division of Undergraduate Studies Academic Adviser
- Ms. Rashonda Coffee, Psychology graduate (Class of 2011)
- Ms. Sarah McDonald, English major (Class of 2013)
- Mr. Christian Miller, Integrative Arts major (Class of 2013)
- Mr. Joe Scott, Human Development and Family Studies major (Class of 2013)
- Ms. Kelly Strada, Childhood and Early Adolescent Education major (Class of 2014)
- Ms. Marquis Vaughn, Health Policy Administration major (Class of 2014)