IST Alumni and Friends Newsletter

November 2023

Dear IST Alumni, 


I hope this letter finds you well. As a proud alumnus/alumna of Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), you are an integral part of our thriving IST community. It is with great pleasure that I reach out to you today to celebrate our shared connection and to update you on some exciting developments within our college. 


Upfront, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and involvement in our alumni network. Your contributions have been invaluable in helping IST maintain its position as a leader in technology and information sciences education. 


Our commitment to excellence remains steadfast, and we have made significant strides in a few key areas: 


Innovative Curriculum: Our programs continue to evolve to keep pace with the rapidly changing landscape of technology. We are dedicated to providing students with the most relevant skills and knowledge to excel in their careers. 


Cutting-Edge Research: IST faculty and students are actively engaged in groundbreaking research, pushing the boundaries of knowledge in areas like cybersecurity, data science, and human-computer interaction. 


Career Development: We have enhanced our career development resources and services to support our students as they prepare to enter the workforce. Your experience and expertise could be invaluable in guiding the next generation of IST graduates. 


Alumni Engagement: We are working to create even more opportunities for alumni to connect with each other and with current students. Your active participation in alumni events and mentorship programs can make a significant impact. 


I invite you to explore how you can get involved and make a difference in the future of IST. Whether you can spare some time to mentor a student, attend one of our alumni gatherings, or provide financial support for scholarships and programs, your participation is genuinely appreciated. 


In conclusion, your Penn State IST family is here for you, and we hope that you will continue to be an integral part of our thriving community. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or ideas on how we can better serve you and future generations of IST students. 


Thank you for being an essential part of our alumni network, and I look forward to the continued growth and success of the Penn State IST community. Stay connected, stay engaged, and stay proud to be a Penn Stater! 

 

We Are... 


Scott Lyons ‘05 

President, IST Alumni Society 

Upcoming Events

IST Identity TalksFirst-Generation College Students

Wednesday, November 8

12:00-1:00 p.m. EST

Zoom Webinar


Meet College of IST alumni in this panel discussion about being a first-generation college student. They will share their journey into their careers, how being first generation may have impacted their journey and discuss their current positions.  Helpful for all alumni to hear and learn about other alumni career path 

Register Here

For a full list of Penn State Alumni Association events, visit alumni.psu.edu/events.

Getting Involved


We Need Your Input!

We’re looking for your guidance in planning future alumni events and activities. You can provide your input by taking our short survey. Each alum who completes the survey will be entered to win a box of IST swag! (one entry per alum). Survey will close on December 1.



GivingTuesday

Be on the lookout for more information about GivingTuesday 2023! This year, we are raising funds for the IST Alumni Society Endowment, which supports the endeavors of IST student organizations. The Endowment has already provided support to six groups. Among those helped was the User Experience Professionals Association—Penn State Chapter, who represented the only college/university in attendance at the UXPA national conference in June. 


Without your support during GivingTuesday, the IST Alumni Society will lack the funds needed to provide professional development, membership recruitment, member training, and other opportunities for our students.  



If you’re interested in being a matching donor for this effort, please reach out to Mike Weyandt, Director of Development and Alumni Relations at mjw134@psu.edu. 

News and Highlights

Information Sciences and Technology graduates honored at first Alumni Symposium

Read more

Two IST Alumni named PSAA Young Alumni Ambassadors



Read more

Stay informed: read the latest issue of iConnect magazine and subscribe to IST Headlines.

Alumni Shout-outs!

Congratulations to James Sniegowski Rowley ’16 SRA and Meaghan Sniegowski Rowley ’17 AA on their marriage in July!



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Pictured here are James and his wife with groomsmen Jordan Dunbar ’16 SRA and Sam Gruber ’16 SRA (and the furbabies). 

Shout out to our IST Alumni Society for their first annual Alumni Symposium! The fantastic event featured keynote presentations, breakout sessions, college updates, and our IST alumni awards! Special thanks to Colin Murphy ’03 for leading this effort! 

And thanks to the Alumni Symposium speakers: Kathleen Moore ’14 PhD, Nathan McNeese ’14 PhD, Christy Grim ’17, Purvi Shah ’03, Rick Kaplan ’03, Corey Lee ’12, Steve Pipino ’03, Justin Plock ’03, and Scott Lyons ’05

Stay Connected

If you have career or personal news to share with IST alumni, send it to alumni@ist.psu.edu.  


Update your information to stay informed of the latest IST news and events.  

ist.psu.edu

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