2022 World Campus Homecoming Courts

Michael Barin 

Bachelor’s History 

Michael is 37 years old, a husband of 14 years, and a father to 4 sons. He is entering his 17th year of Active Duty service with the US Army, where his primary job is Infantry. His current duty position is as a program manager with the Army Resilience Directorate. Michael is an avid reader, nearing the completion of his 75 book goal for 2022; he is a powerlifter and also builds lightsabers in his free time. 

Leah Boyd 

Bachelor’s Business Administration and Marketing 

My involvement at Penn State has taken off since I became involved in different World Campus student clubs. I am a member of six different World Campus clubs, and I am the treasurer for two of them, hopefully three soon. The main reason I have become involved is because of my interaction with the sorority Delta Gamma Chi. The president at the time, also a co-founder, really made me feel like I was special, and that my opinion and feelings mattered. I have met some of the most interesting, unique, and even similar people to me because of my affiliation with Delta Gamma Chi Sorority and The World Campus Sustainability Club. Talking with other students every day brings me closer to Penn State. I feel like everyone at Penn State supports one another and it really makes you want to be more involved. To me being involved is truly a prestigious gift. I enjoy making new members feel the same way about Penn State as I do. 

Cody Buck

Security and Risk Analysis, Information Sciences & Technology 

Cody Buck is entering her final year in the Security and Risk Analysis program with World Campus. She is a fourth-generation Penn State student, joining her mother, Jaimy Buck, and cousins Cade Walker and Carlee Walker in continuing the family legacy.  Born and raised in Shiloh, PA, she enjoys dirt track racing, vintage Ford Mustangs, reading, and everything there is in nature. She is the Tech Director for her local theatre and volunteers with her local Girl Scout Troop.  She is excited to join World Campus Student Government as the Academic Affairs Committee Chair this year. She currently works at Penn State’s ARL and looks forward to continuing her career with Penn State.  In her spare time, she can be found hiking, writing in her journal, or binge-watching Lord of the Rings with her friends Mindy-Cindy and Kaylee!  

Rebecca Foust 

Bachelor’s Human Development and Family Studies  

Hello! My name is Rebecca Foust. I live in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with my husband and our blended family. I have 3 children, Sarah, Joey, and Brennan, and two stepdaughters,  Alexa and Alaura. When I am not studying, I enjoy spending time with my family, our Frenchie Chief, and working on my Diamond Art projects. My road to Penn State World Campus was not a traditional one. At 40, I decided, along with the support of my amazing husband Bryan, to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a social worker. My oldest daughter has special needs, and over the years, I found a great need for empathic and supportive social workers to help guide parents through the often overwhelming and difficult world of special needs. World Campus allows me to provide care for my large family while pursuing my degree in Human Development and Family Studies. I look forward to graduating in the Spring of 2023 and beginning my career of helping the parents and children in my community with special needs. 

Ashley Miller

Bachelor’s Psychology 

I am currently involved in many different clubs through Penn State World Campus. I have been a member of the Psychology Club through World Campus since my freshman year. I have been a member of Delta Gamma Chi, a service sorority through Penn State World Campus since my sophomore year. This past summer, I was recently elected as the Recruitment Officer for Delta Gamma Chi. I have also been a member of AAUW through World Campus since the beginning of my junior year. 

Daniel Serfass

Bachelor’s Security and Risk Analysis (Information and Cyber Security) 

Throughout my time at Penn State, I have wanted to leave my own legacy on the University. From my first year as a residential student at University Park, I worked towards that purpose. From debating for political organizations to encourage student voter engagement to first competing in and then helping configure database servers for Penn States’ student-run ‘hackathon,’ I’ve wanted to be a part of Penn State in any way possible. Once the pandemic hit, the in-person opportunities dwindled, and I changed my focus to bringing those same opportunities to the remote students at the World Campus. Running (and albeit losing) for WCSG President gave me an outlet to voice the need for those opportunities at World Campus and was just my first step at World Campus. I would then work with Penn State students across Pennsylvania to establish Penn State World for THON to bring THON to our students. I would then stay on with the organization as Technology Chair until I was nominated and elected WCSG Speaker of the Assembly. During my tenure as Speaker, I am incredibly proud of the institution building we’ve accomplished to date and look forward to the work that is to be done on behalf of the World Campus student body. 

Lauren Wellar 

Bachelor’s of Design in Digital Multimedia Design

Lauren’s journey at PSU includes pursuing a degree in Digital Multimedia Design with an interest in Cybersecurity and working part-time as a Marketing and Communications Specialist for the Penn State Department of Materials Science and Engineering.  

Her involvement at PSU includes: being President of The American Association of University Women, participating in clubs and organizations such as Sisters On The Runway, Spanish Immersion Club, Digital Multimedia Design Club, World Campus for THON, and an academic honors chapter, Phi Eta Sigma. She is passionate about spending time with family, helping with important causes, learning languages, reading, and paddleboarding with her furry friend Jax. Lauren can balance her professional, academic and personal life while maintaining a 3.95 GPA. 

She loves making the most out of life’s many opportunities, and her quote to live by is “There are no limits to what you can accomplish, except the limits you place on your own thinking” -Brian Tracy. 

Nicole Kisslinger 

Masters of Professional Studies in Strategic Communications 

Nicole Kisslinger is a 1st-year graduate student studying Strategic Communications in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State World Campus. She earned her Bachelor of Design in Digital Multimedia Design and Certification of Digital Arts from Penn State World Campus in August 2022. Her Penn State journey started in January 2021, where she instantly became connected to the online community through joining and participating in multiple World Campus student organizations.  

During her undergrad, she focused primarily on building long-lasting relationships and gaining leadership skills and tactics through co-founding the World Campus sorority, Delta Gamma Chi. Nicole is passionate about creating connections and inspiring others to make a difference in their own communities. Outside of her academic pursuits, she enjoys reading, writing, exploring nature, and studying holistic health. 

Carrie Decker 

Master’s Public Administration 

Jakeline Salan-Del Cid 

Master’s Project Management 

As a former Penn State Undergraduate and now Graduate student, I didn’t want this journey to only be about me but also one where I could give back to a community that has helped me. I decided to become involved by joining the WC Student Government Association, never did I think I would be serving as the secretary in their fourth assembly! Once elected I made a commitment to serve and represent the World Campus population in the best way possible. 

One of the greatest benefits and experiences from joining SGA has been the opportunity to meet amazing students and faculty, in-person and virtually. Being invited to this year’s SCL in Altoona has been one of the most rewarding events as a Penn State student. It was such an honor to spend three days working side by side with students and faculty from other campuses. Now, more than ever, I understand the true meaning of being part of a community such as Penn State. I finally understood the unison and meaning of WeAre. 

Danielle Ray 

Master’s Business Administration 

Hi Penn State friends. I am getting my OMBA currently and also received my BS in Business Management from Penn State. Currently, my family and I reside in Hershey, PA. My involvement with Penn State has been rewarding as both a student and alumnus. Since I started my degree, the number of organizations I have joined has increased each semester, with me taking on leadership roles starting last year with THON. This year, I’ve taken on leadership in a few organizations to enhance my PSU experience. I have created friendships I would have otherwise missed out on if I had not joined THON, WCSGA, Homecoming, Active Minds, Delta Gamma Chi, Blue & White Society, and more. My involvement with PSU has made getting this degree via World Campus amazing. 

Naomi Butcher 

Naomi Butcher is currently on the research team at the Department of Defense Cancer Center of Excellence located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Penn State in the summer of 2021. Soon after becoming a licensed cosmetologist, Naomi started her college career at the Penn State Mont Alto campus, where she instantly became involved. During her first two years, she was on the THON events committee and was a part of Four Diamonds through Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. She also participated in the Commuter Student Association, the Human Development and Family Studies/Psychology club, the Sexuality and Gender Alliance club, and the Mont Alto Academic Festival, where she placed in the top three. On top of that, she was a research assistant for one of her psychology professors. Towards the end of her second year of college, she met her husband, Michael, whom she instantly fell in love with and married. She decided to leave Mont Alto to transfer to and finish her studies at World Campus. Immediately, Naomi found ways to try and be involved in the World Campus community. During her time at World Campus, she was involved in the Military Service Organization, Psychology club, Society for Human Resource Management, Zeta Mu Phi Sorority, and the Penn State Student Ambassadors program. Since graduating, Naomi has become involved in the Penn State Alumni Association and even helped with World Campus Homecoming last year. Naomi currently resides in the Washington, D.C. area with her active-duty military husband. She enjoys shopping until she drops and being at the beach. Since being married, she has become heavily involved in the military community. Her mission has been to advocate for and serve her fellow military spouses and military families. For the past few years, she has been a part of the United Service Organizations, Blue Star Families, and the American Corporate Partners Mentorship Program. Naomi is looking forward to finding more ways to be of service to her community and taking care of her new bundle of joy, that will be arriving in March.

Donna Butler 

Donna L. Butler graduated summa cum laude from Penn State with a BA in Law and Society,
and she served as the program’s student marshal in 2022. She also earned an AA in Letters, Arts,
& Sciences in 2014. She served as the president of the International Legal Honor Society of Phi
Delta Phi at Penn State World Campus, and she was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha
Sigma Lambda honor societies, the Delta Gamma Chi sorority, and the Blue & White Society.
Donna used her leadership position with Phi Delta Phi to create events that helped World
Campus pre-law students prepare for law school and legal careers. She held occupational
webinars with a judge, a congressional representative, PA deputy general counsels, an energy
law attorney, and international law/human rights experts. She organized law school admission
test preparation classes and a workshop where participants learned to create personal
statements for law school applications. She also established an annual fundraising event for the
Bob Woodruff Foundation is a charity for veterans and service members.
As a result of their achievements, the World Campus chapter of Phi Delta Phi won the
International Hall of the Year Award for four consecutive years (2019 – 2022). Furthermore,
Donna was named International Pre-Law Graduate of the Year in 2022, and she received Penn
State’s 2019 Outstanding Adult Student Award for her service. She will be attending law school
next year.

Ariel Hinojos 

Ariel Hinojos is a 2022 graduate of Penn State. Ariel attended Penn State World Campus to pursue a degree in Law and Society. Ariel also participated in the Penn State WC Inclusive Leadership Certificate program. 

During her time at Penn State World Campus, she was the Vice President of WC Student Government, Executive Director for WC Homecoming, Co-Founder of Delta Gamma Chi, Vice President for AAUW, and Executive Chair for Penn State World for Thon. Ariel was also a Blue & White Society member, Phi Delta Phi legal honor society, and a Student Ambassador.  

 Ariel is proud that she held an executive role in the first World Campus homecoming. She also takes pride that she was a part of World Campus, attending THON for the first time in person. Ariel received the Penn State World Campus Student leadership award 2022.  Ariel lives in Texas with her husband, three children, and two Shih Tzus. She is preparing to attend Law school in the fall. Ariel is very excited to be a part of the Alumni Court.  

Dr. James Lingwall 

Dr. Andrew Lingwall is a Professor of Public Relations at Pennsylvania Western University Clarion, where he has been a leader in the development of online courses and programs. He has taught communication courses with Penn State’s World Campus for the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications since 2014. 

Prior to joining academia, Lingwall worked as an account executive with Russell & Herder Advertising and PR in Minnesota and as a public relations specialist with Tacoma Community College in Washington state. He was also a news reporter, serving eight years as a freelance features writer with The News Tribune in Tacoma. 

Lingwall’s research agenda focuses on public relations education and student writing skills in programs of journalism and mass communication. He co-authored “The Basics of Media Writing: A Strategic Approach,” for SAGE Publications. In 2019, he was selected by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) to be a Scripps Howard Foundation Visiting Professor in Social Media at ABC-15 in Phoenix.  

Lingwall is passionate about international study and travel. In 2019, he taught a series of graduate seminars in Strategic Communication at Catholic University in Lille, France, and an international public relations course at Universidad de Alcalá near Madrid, Spain. Lingwall spent his last sabbatical in Aalborg, Denmark, studying public relations education. In 2023, he is traveling to New Zealand to study the government’s crisis communications messaging during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Dr. Leana Topper 

Leana Topper completed a B.S. in Biology at Elizabethtown and a M.Ed. at Lehigh University. After teaching high school chemistry for several years, she joined the Department of Cell Biology at the University of Virginia. Her research focused on genetic control of the cell division and its relation to cancer cell growth. Shen then studied DNA damage at UNC Chapel Hill and moved on to the University of Michigan to examine how DNA damage is repaired in cells.  

In 2008, she joined the Biology Department of PSU to pursue her desire to teach.  At the UP Campus, she teaches BIOL110: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity and BIOL/BMB 430: Developmental Biology.  For the World Campus she serves as the instructor for BIOL 133: Genetics and Evolution of the Human Species and as co-instructor for SC 135N: Society and Disease Management.  She is also an adviser for undergraduates in the Biology Department at the UP Campus.  

In her free time, she enjoys volunteers as a science teacher at a local elementary school and as a gymnastics instructor at several local clubs.