Alicia Anderson
Project Facilitator
Quick Facts
Hometown: Lemont, PA (I grew up outside Chicago, IL)
College: Luther College, in Decorah, Iowa
Day job: Campus Minister with Lutheran Campus Ministry at Penn State (ELCA)
Family: Married to Bob Skelly, a clinical psychologist from PA. Two daughters: Jessa is 23 and works for Habitat for Humanity in St. Paul, Minnesota through Lutheran Volunteer Corps. Mara is 12 and is in 6th grade. Plus Willow is our 3 year old Siberian Husky.
Favorite Creamery ice cream flavor: Death by Chocolate (and WSPX Coffee Break)
Favorite spot on campus to relax: Outside in the Music Building Plaza and inside in the Humanities Reading Room in Patee-Paterno Library
Why are you passionate about discernPSU?
There are so many voices telling students how to choose a career direction or life direction, but often no voices encouraging students to take into account their values and beliefs. I want to help our campus community become a place where students and others really consider the ways our work (and everything we do) can reflect our gifts and abilities as well as our beliefs and values. Then more people will truly find their life’s work and their lives fulfilling and abundant.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of working with college students?
Growth. Students grow so much through their years in college, in so many ways. I find it rewarding to walk with students through the various stages of that growth, and to then send them off into the world for the next chapter of life.
If you could only tell people one thing about yourself, what would you say?
I would say that I have a very difficult time picking “just one thing.” It never seems enough to get my point across. I always try to sneak in two. I have a terrible time with forced-choice surveys and yes/no questions.
Project Facilitator
Quick Facts:
Hometown: I’m learning to call State College home. I grew up in Idaho Falls, ID and feel emotionally connected Spokane, WA and anywhere in the Pacific Northwest.
College: Whitworth University in Spokane, WA; B.S. in biology
Day job: College-age and Young Adult Minister with State College Presbyterian Church and advisor to Westminster Presbyterian Fellowship at Penn State
Family: My family all lives in Idaho. I’m the oldest of three siblings. My two younger sisters are way cooler than me, and I am so proud of them! I also have an orange cat named Joey who lives with my mom.
Favorite Creamery ice cream flavor: I really enjoy Monster Mash, but I think I need to do some more research and eat more ice cream!
Favorite spot on campus to relax: My favorite place to relax anywhere is between two trees in my hammock.
Why are you passionate about discernPSU?
I chose to study biology during my undergraduate years and ended up taking a completely different path for my first job working in campus ministry. I think it’s important to understand that life doesn’t normally happen in a straight line according the plans we make at 18 years old (or before). This does not mean that we have failed or wasted time, but is a part of realizing more about who we are, what we value, and how we want to impact the world. DiscernPSU creates space to share these stories and process together how our success is bigger than our career ambitions and that there can be freedom in changing direction.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of working with college students?
People grow so much during their years in college, and walking with someone through this time is such a quick glimpse and also a full journey. I love seeing the potential in my students and the way the engage their passions as they figure out friendships, career, faith, etc. Also, they are often so willing to try new things and explore with me.
If you could only tell people one thing about yourself, what would you say?
I am low-key obsessed (okay, okay…very obsessed) with Harry Potter. My favorite character is Neville Longbottom because I relate deeply to his struggle with finding confidence and authentic friendships throughout the series. I hope that I can grow, like Neville, into someone willing to stand tall in the midst of trauma, injustice, or whatever else life throws my way!
Current Project Fellow
Quick Facts:
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
College: Pennsylvania State University
Major: Public Relations with minors in Business in the Liberal Arts, Global and International Studies, and History.
Other PSU Activities: Schreyer STUCO, Scholar Advancement Team, Penn State Model UN
Family: I have twin brothers, Andrew and Jake, who are eleven months older than I am. Most people consider us triplets, because despite our age difference, we were placed in the same graduating class. Right now my brothers are staying in Pittsburgh attending Community College. My dad teaches chemistry, and my mom is a nurse. We have a yellow lab named Aulie (like our last name)!
Favorite Creamery Ice Cream Flavor: Lion Tracks
Favorite spot on campus to relax: The Schreyer Garden or the Duck Pond. It’s so beautiful (in autumn especially)!
Why are you passionate about serving as the DiscernPSU intern?
I think it’s really essential everyone finds a career they’re truly passionate about. I know a lot of students who pick their future profession merely based on the salary they’re going to make, and I feel it’s important for students to incorporate both their passions and their faith into the work they’re going to be doing for the rest of their lives. Discern provides such a great opportunity for students to do this!
How does your major reflect you passions, gifts, and abilities?
Growing up, I always loved being creative. I remember performing plays my seven-year-old self directed in front of my parents and neighbors. I wanted to choose a career that would allow me to incorporate my creativity, and since I also love to write and communicate with people, I knew this would be the profession for me. A lot of people think Public Relations has a bad rap because some organizations hire PR professionals to lie for them and spin information around, so I think it’s important – in PR or in any career – to use your faith and values to perform in an ethical manner.
If you could tell people only one thing about yourself, what would you say?
I would say that I’m so glad I chose to spend four years of my life in Happy Valley! Penn State has provided me with so many rewarding opportunities, lifelong friendships, and memories I’ll infinitely cherish. I thank the Lord everyday that I ended up at this school!
Cole Majernik
Current Project Fellow
Quick Facts
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
College: Pennsylvania State University
Major: Public Relations with minors in Media Studies and Digital Media Trends and Analytics.
Other PSU Activities: Bryce Jordan Center Marketing Intern, THON Dancer Relations Committee, VALLEY Magazine, Movin’ On Core Committee
Family: Back in Pittsburgh, I live with my mom, Dawn, who works as a securities commissioner. I also have one sister (Ashley) who is a teacher and has two beautiful children (Everly and Brayden) with her husband (Patrick).
Favorite Creamery Ice Cream Flavor: Death by Chocolate
Favorite spot on campus to relax: Any secluded area in the HUB
Why are you passionate about serving as the DiscernPSU intern?
College is a place where people grow quickly and start making decisions that will help them continue to grow personally and professionally throughout the rest of their lives. This growth is aided by discussion, questions, and dialogue and I believe Discern does a wonderful job of providing that to students in need.
How does your major reflect you passions, gifts, and abilities?
I have always been an outgoing individual who loves to speak and listen to as many people as possible. It has also been second nature for me to find common interests with my peers for as long as I can remember. Specifically, my passion for public relations grew after I saw the growth of the Ice Bucket Challenge on social media in 2015 to help raise awareness and funds for Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS. That same summer, my father lost his battle to ALS. After that, I saw how much of an impact public relations could make and knew that I wanted to put my gifts to use by helping others.
If you could tell people only one thing about yourself, what would you say?
I would let them know that everything I do, I do with love. I think that sometimes, we all tend to get caught up in the natural chaos of life and our intentions are not as clear as we want them to be. I try to make sure that everything I do, say, and think is an act of kindness. Even though I don’t always explicitly say it, my passion for love is my driving force.
Former Project Fellow
Quick Facts:
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
College: Pennsylvania State University
Major: Public Relations with minors in Psychology and Digital Media
Other PSU Activities: THON Committee
Family: I live at home with my mom, dad and younger sister Hannah. Our Chihuahua, Punky, also lives with us. My older sister lives in Maryland with her husband and child, my nephew Mason. I also live at school with my younger sister Hannah who is a junior here at Penn State.
Favorite Creamery ice cream flavor: Alumni Swirl
Favorite Spot on campus to relax: I love going to the Arboretum when it’s warm out
Why are you passionate about serving as the discernPSU intern?
I grew up in a very faith driven household and wanted to continue that drive in college. However, it has gotten away from me in the past and is definitely difficult to maintain in college. I will say that this internship has given me the ability to reconnect with my faith and the positive outlook on life that comes with it.
How does your major reflect your passions, gifts and abilities?
My public relations major can reflect my passions and gifts in so many ways. I love writing and have ever since middle school. It is definitely a gift that I make sure to keep using and perfecting, no matter what. I also believe I have the gift of great interpersonal skills such as kindness, attentiveness and agreeability. I use these in everyday life and will be bringing them to any job and future career I pursue. I hope to keep developing my abilities and gifts throughout life.
If you could tell people only one thing about yourself, what would you say?
My family is everything to me. My mom, dad, older sister, younger sister, nephew and brother-in-law. I can honestly attribute all of my success to them because I truly don’t know where I’d be in life without them. They are my support system, my shoulder to cry on and the first people I tell when I have good news. I would do anything for them.
Former Project Fellow
Quick Facts:
Hometown: Norman, OK
College: Pennsylvania State University
Majors: Economics and Political Science
Other PSU Activities: Penn State Presidential Leadership Academy, Westminster Presbyterian Fellowship
Family: My dad is retired from the U.S. Navy, now working as a defense contractor, and my mom is a real estate agent. I have two older sisters, Allison and Alexandra, a little brother, Chip, and a niece, Sophia.
Favorite Creamery ice cream flavor: Butter Pecan
Favorite spot on campus to relax: I guess I don’t spend much time relaxing on campus, but I do love Saint’s Cafe and Cafe Lemont to sit and relax with a cup of coffee and a good book.
Why are you passionate about serving as the discernPSU intern?
From the positivity Mike the Mailman exudes to the success of Dean Brady and his religious background, I have been impacted by the mission of DiscernPSU and my goal is to help others learn how to practice discernment through Jesus Christ all while growing in my faith.
How does your major reflect your passions, gifts and abilities?
Though I have never been passionate about politics or debating, I developed an interest in the political process and the behind the scenes aspect of government when I was in high school and I had the opportunity to work as a U.S. Senate Page. In college, I have worked in the Senate for the past two summers overseeing the pages and interning for the Cloakroom, the administrative body of the Senate.
If you could tell people only one thing about yourself, what would you say?
Since people ask me this all of the time, I guess I should address the question, “why did you choose Penn State all the way from Oklahoma?” Coming from a military family, I have lived all over the United States and even the world. Both of my parents are from the East Coast so I had always considered Penn State, but it wasn’t until I visited State College my junior year of high school that I fell in love with the school. Once I was accepted, choosing Penn State was an easy decision.
Former Project Fellow
Quick Facts:
Hometown: Chapel Hill, NC
College: Pennsylvania State University
Majors: Public Relations and Sociology
Other PSU Activities: Penn State Lion Ambassadors, Lutheran Campus Ministry at Penn State
Family: My mom, Linda, teaches four-year-olds every day as a preschool teacher. My dad, Dave, works for Lenovo—lucky for me, this means he can solve my technology problems. My older brother, Kevin, graduated from Penn State in May 2014, after sharing this campus with me for two years.
Favorite Creamery ice cream flavor: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Favorite spot on campus to relax: One of my favorite spots to study or take a break is the Life Sciences Bridge—the view is awesome! I also love the duck pond area, especially when it’s warm out.
Why are you passionate about serving as the discernPSU intern?
I could not feel more passionate about the goals of this program. As a student in a secular major, I still have a strong desire to incorporate my values into my future career. I see the incredible role discernPSU can play in helping other students navigate very difficult career and personal decisions. I want to help discernPSU carve out a niche at Penn State as a resource for students who struggle with the same decisions I have to make!
How does your major reflect your passions, gifts and abilities?
My public relations major incorporates my ability to write and my desire to help others communicate. I have always had a passion for writing, and I love the idea of representing a company as it makes a difference in the world. I started down the path of double majoring in sociology because I thought the topics were fascinating. Sociology has truly enhanced my ability to empathize with others, by teaching me to take a step back and seek out larger explanations. I hope both majors will interact down the road in a career that incorporates many of my passions and gifts.
If you could tell people only one thing about yourself, what would you say?
I absolutely love Penn State! I could go on for pages listing all of the reasons, but it really comes down to the incredible people and outstanding opportunities at this school.