IST Alumni and Friends Newsletter

May 2025

Greetings, fellow IST alumni:

I hope this newsletter finds everyone doing well. Spring is finally in the air here in the northeast, bringing exciting festivities to Penn State, including Blue-White Weekend and Spring Commencement. And there’s a lot of energy and excitement in IST, with events like the annual Senior Celebration and the IST Student Showcase.

The college is blazing trails on the technology front and recently launched two new bachelor of science degree programs: Artificial Intelligence Methods and Applications (AIMA) and Information Technology Ethics and Compliance (IEC). This is a huge deal for not only IST but also Penn State—and it’s the result of many years of hard work by Dean Tapia and the extended IST leadership and faculty. The college also continues to extend its reach and presence across the nation and on the innovation scene. In March, IST and Penn State World Campus hosted an event at one of the most important annual events in tech: South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Tex.

I've said this before and I will say it again: The college and the alumni base are alive and well. As we look ahead to summer and fall, please keep an eye out for more announcements on key regional events and the 3rd Annual IST Alumni Symposium, our marquee event for alums. Please reach out to me, Kim Woodward (our Alumni Relations and Stewardship Officer), or any of my fellow Society Board members if you want to get more involved.

FTG,



Colin Murphy 

President, IST Alumni Society 

Upcoming Events

New York City Alumni Networking & Meet the Dean Event

We Are Weekend

Save the Date: 3rd Annual Alumni Symposium

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

Getting Involved

Alumni Awards: Don't Forget to Submit!

Nominations are still open for the 2025 IST Alumni Awards: the Outstanding Alumni Award and the Emerging Professional Award. Check out our website for more information, award descriptions and criteria, and the nomination form. Contact Kim Woodward, alumni relations and stewardship coordinator, with any questions. 

Mentor an IST Student

Applications are being accepted through May 31 to participate as a mentor in the IST Alumni-Student Mentoring Program for the 2025-26 academic year. 

For more information and the link to complete your volunteer application, please visit our website. If you are a current mentor and wish to continue (and have no changes to your employment or contact information), please contact Kim Woodward. 

Exciting Opportunities to Connect with Top Tech Talent at Penn State

This fall, the College of IST’s Office of Career Solutions is partnering with the Nittany AI Alliance to host two signature events to connect employers with our talented pool of technology-focused students. Mark your calendars and watch your email for more details and registration links (coming in early May)! 

AI Showcase 

September 8 

5-8 p.m. 

603 Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub 

University Park, Pa. 

IST Career Fair 

September 9 

10 a.m.-3 p.m. 

Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center 

University Park, Pa. 

Alumni: Inspire the Next Generation

IST is teaming up with WoPa.ai, a cutting-edge platform helping students discover their ideal career paths. As part of the journey, WoPa may reach out to you for a brief informational interview with our students. If you receive an invite—say yes! Your story, insights, and experience could be the spark that guides someone’s future. 

Let’s connect, inspire, and pay it forward.

Young Alumni Ambassadors Program

Applications are now open for the Penn State Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Ambassador Program. For ten months, participants will connect with fellow young alumni through a professional and personal development curriculum. Summer ’24, Fall ’24, and Spring ’25 graduates may apply.  

Lessons From Graduates

The IST Marketing and Communications team invites you to participate in a new digital outreach campaign: Lessons from Graduates.

With current and prospective students in mind, alumni are asked to share information and advice on topics like 

• choosing a field of study 
• adjusting to college 
• academics 
• available resources 
• networking 
• internship/job seeking 
• preparing for careers 
• and more.  

Your helpful tips will be promoted via social media, recruiting materials, web, digital signs to reach as many students as possible. 

News and Highlights

How a Penn State education empowered this alum to dream big

Teaching Professor Steven Haynes retires from the College of IST after 25 years

National intelligence expert William Parquette retires from the College of IST

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

Alumni Shout-Outs!

Congratulations to the following alumni on their recent promotions or job changes: 

Tiffany Bass ’23—promoted to Information System Security Officer at Lockheed Martin 

Daniel Bertolino ’15—new position as Director, Application Development at Legal Aid Society 

Alan Bersavage ’20—new position as Data Center Technician at CoreWeave 

Matt Christianson ’24—new position as Cybersecurity Consultant at EY 

Jeremy Friedman ’21—new position as Information Security Professional at Freddie Mac 

Andrew Kline ’19—promoted to Senior Security Engineer at Brex 

Alexander Kochanov ’20—promoted to Senior Business Analyst at Anuki Consulting, LLC 

Ryan Kroekel ’15—promoted to Regional Vice President at US West Enterprise at Qualys 

David Kulp ’15—new position as Director, IT Audit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia 

Maya Merhi ’22g—started a new position as Sr. Solutions Consultant at Axis Group 

Chris Olcheski ’15—new position as Software Engineer at United States Postal Service  

Drew Ronk ’22—promoted to Software Engineer II at Alarm.com 

Christopher Zolet ’22—promoted to Senior Cybersecurity and Risk Management Consultant at Guidehouse 

Shout out to Deon Butler ’15g for being the keynote speaker for WIRED IN’s 2nd Annual I.T. Gala! 

Stay Connected

Do you have career or personal news you'd like to share with fellow IST alumni?

Email us!

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

ist.psu.edu