Kelsey Thompson
President

Associate Director,  
Indiana University of PA

PennACE Member Since:  2015

Responsibilities in current Board role: Reviews & establishes organizational goals, objectives, and focus with Executive Board; oversees committees and activities; maintains regular contact, establishes agendas and meets with Executive Board and general membership; determines issues that need a general membership vote; authors President’s message for organization newsletter; appoints chairpersons of standing and ad hoc committees.

Additional PennACE Involvement:
Conference Committee & Exhibitors Committee & Presenter:  2015
Program and Speakers Committee:  2017, 2020
Conference Presenter:  2017
Marketing and Registration Committee:  2020
Membership Chair:  2018-2020
Keystone Award Recipient:  2019

Favorite Part of Being Involved in PennACE: 
PennACE has been a fantastic organization to be a part of!  It was the very first professional organization I joined as a higher education professional and I have not looked back since.  Right from the start, I immediately felt welcomed and enjoyed the chance to be a part of something outside of my office/institution.  I continue to value the strong connections I am able to make, the ideas that are shared when we all get together, and the chance to collaborate and interact with other professionals across the state!

Krissie Doppelheuer
Vice President/President Elect 

Assistant Director / Employer Relations
California University of PA

PennACE Member Since:    2008

Responsibilities in current Board role: Chair the 2022 Annual PennACE Conference Planning Committee.  Assist the President as needed in scheduling meetings and organizing arrangements.  Support and assist with activities and projects of Presidents, Executive Board and committees.  Serves in the absence of President 

Additional PennACE Involvement:
Communication Chair:  2013-2021
Employer Relations Committee:  2014-2015, 2017-2018
Professional Development Chair:  2011-2013
Professional Development Committee:  2017-2018
Conference Site & Hospitality Committee:  2009, 2012
Conference Committee:  2011, 2013-2020
SOTY Committee:  2019, 2020
Donna Dentler Service Award Recipient:  2019

Favorite Part of Being Involved in PennACE: 
I love that we can share ideas, ask for advice, join committees while creating professional relationships and connecting with peers. I truly enjoy all aspects of PennACE!

Heather Balas
Treasurer

Director, 
Mercyhurst University

PennACE Member Since: 2010

Responsibilities in current Board role: Manage and oversee the organization’s financial accounts. Assist with budget planning and strategy. Collect dues and ensure payment of expenses.  Managing the finances and administering fiscal matters of the organization, provide annual budget to the board for members’ approval, and ensure development and board review of financial policies and procedures.

Additional PennACE Involvement:
President:  2015-2016 | Past President:  2016-2017
Conference Programming Committee:  2011
Co-Chair, Conference Programming Committee:  2012
Chair, Conference Programming Committee: 2013
Secretary:  2011-2013
Donna Dentler Award Recipient:  2018
Vice President 2014-2015
Professional Development Chair 2017-2019

Favorite Part of Being Involved in PennACE: 
The positive connections I have made with my colleagues across the state!

Tammy Manko
Secretary

Director, 
Indiana University of Pennsylvania

PennACE Member Since:  2010

Responsibilities in current Board role:   Record all  meeting minutes (Executive Board meeting, Annual Business Meeting) and distribute to Executive Board / Membership 

Additional PennACE Involvement:
President:  2012-2013 | Past President:  2013-2015
Conference Chair:  2011-2012
Donna Dentler Service Award Recipient:  2016
Keystone Award Recipient:  2012
Government Relations Committee: 2 years 
SOTY Committee: 2 years 

Favorite Part of Being Involved in PennACE: 
Engaging and networking with colleagues, employers, and friends from various institutions and exchanging ideas, shared research findings, and best practices.  This fantastic group of professionals in our PennACE organization is a blessing to me in the work we do to make a positive difference in the lives of our students as well as alumni and employers!

Chad Ganley
Membership Chair

Assistant Director, Career Development  
Kutztown University 

PennACE Member Since: 2013

Responsibilities in current Board role: Maintain the membership database, send reminders to those whose memberships are due to expire each quarter, answer questions regarding membership and promote membership to colleagues and employers who are not current members.  Extend outreach to prospective members and organizations

Additional PennACE Involvement: Conference Presenter: 2015

Favorite Part of Being Involved in PennACE: Staying updated on the latest career innovations, research and trends.

Jenelle Henry
Communication Chair

Assistant Director, Academic & Career Planning, Kutztown University  

PennACE Member Since: 2010

Responsibilities in current Board role: Manage the PennACE Website; E-list Administration; Conference Registration. Work closely with all Executive Board Members to ensure accurate information.   

Additional PennACE Involvement: 
President:  2020
Conference Chair:  2019 
JoAnne Day Student of The Year Committee:  2018
Conference Planning Committee:  2017, 2018, 2019
Secretary:  2016-2018

Favorite Part of Being Involved in PennACE: The opportunity to network with other colleagues and share ideas for the good of all students. 

Lauren Watson 
Marketing & Public Relations Chair

Assistant Director, Employer Relations & Experiential Learning
Duquesne University

PennACE Member Since:  2014

Responsibilities in current Board role:  Creates and distributes PennACE membership newsletter three times per year (October, February, and June), manages organization’s social media accounts, collaborates with board members to promote the organization’s events and offerings.

Additional Involvement in PennACE:  
Annual Conference Planning Committee:  2018-2019
Membership Chair:  2016-2018
Professional Development Committee:  2015-2016
Conference Presenter: 2014, 2015, 2021
Keystone Award Recipient:  2018

Favorite Part of Being Involved in PennACE: 
Feeling part of a wonderful community of professionals who share similar goals and experiences and building authentic, professional relationships that form and are sustained naturally within this group.  I love the experience of functioning as a team outside of just the immediate unit within our employer.  Getting to know colleagues across the region makes it possible to confidently refer students and alumni from nearly any higher education institution in Pennsylvania to a specific person and know they will be in good hands.  

Brian Collingwood
Member-at-Large/Grants

Director, Career Exploration & Development
Gannon University 

Responsibilities in current Board role:  Determine timeline and adjust grant guidelines as needed, Convene a committee of volunteers to review grant proposals, Collect and review proposals with committee, Select grant recipients and level of funding, Notify grant recipients and work with Treasurer to distribute financial award,  Interact with Communication Chair to publicize and congratulate grant recipients through the website and newsletter. 

Diana Brush
Member-at-Large/Student of the Year

Associate Director
Clarion University  

PennACE Member Since: 2006

Responsibilities in current Board role: Promote the annual PennACE Student of the Year Awards to membership and serve as a point of contact for both career centers and student-candidates.  Meet with a group of committee volunteers to review the selection process, materials, and to evaluate and select recipients for each of the four nomination categories. After recipients are selected, send a plaque and monetary award to their respective career center for presentation.  Promote the award recipients via press releases, articles in the PennACE newsletter, The Messenger, and a formal presentation at the annual conference.

Additional PennACE Involvement:
Chairperson, Conference Keynote Speaker & Programs:  2009-2012
Member, Professional Development Committee:  2007-2009
PennACE Grant Recipient
PennACE Conference Presenter
Donna Dentler Service Award Recipient:  2020

Favorite Part of Being Involved in PennACE: 
Networking with colleagues at the annual conference and professional development events has been truly rewarding.  PennACE members were so kind and welcomed me into the organization when I transitioned into the field of career services in 2006.  Newcomers beware--members will get you involved and hooked on PennACE at your very first event!

Jesse DeFazio
Member-at-Large/Government Relations

Career and Scholarship Coach,
Slippery Rock University 

 PennACE Member Since:  2017

Responsibilities in current Board role:  Serve as an advocate for the PennACE community by keeping up to date on current legislative news and creating innovative ways to inform and engage our membership.  Report appropriate information to state government officials about job and internship data. 

Additional PennACE Involvement:
Conference Presenter:  2017, 2019

Favorite Part of Being Involved in PennACE: PennACE creates a great sense of community that allows professionals to share their ideas and collaborate on the best practices for career development. 

Lauren Fagan
Member-at-Large/Professional Development & Employer Engagement (Western/Central)

Career Consultant
Engineering & Neuroscience,
University of Pittsburgh

PennACE Member Since:  2019

Responsibilities in current Board role: Coordinate recruitment and engagement opportunities with employers in Western and Central PA. Coordinate opportunities for relevant and affordable professional development programs for the PennACE membership.  Provide hot topics and best practices to employers related to career services

Additional PennACE Involvement:

Conference Planning Committee 2020, 2021
Grants Committee 2021
Conference Presenter 2017, 2019, 2020

Favorite Part of Being Involved in PennACE:  PennACE is the organization that really motivated me to do career services as a career! Ever since my graduate studies I have been excited to get to see new and familiar faces at the annual PennACE conferences.  Without PennACE I do not think I would be quite the professional I am today, nor would I have gotten to know so many wonderful people. I look forward to many more years in a terrific organization learning best practices.  

Phyllis Schoen
Member-at-Large/Professional Development & Employer Engagement (Eastern/Central)

Associate Director for Employer Engagement,
West Chester University

PennACE Member Since:  2018

Responsibilities in current Board role:  Coordinate recruitment and engagement opportunities with employers in Eastern and Central PA. Coordniate opportunities for relevant and affordable professional development programs for the PennACE membership.  Provide hot topics and best practices to employers related to career services.   

Additional PennACE Involvement: 
 

Favorite Part of Being Involved in PennACE: The members of PennACE are friendly and knowledgeable.  I particularly like the ability to network with fellow career development professionals to discuss best practices and share ideas.

Lesli Somerset Talley
Past President 

Associate Director of Career Development, External Relations,
Chatham University

PennACE Member Since: 2016

Responsibilities in current Board role:  Solicits nominations for officers and members-at-large.  Revises and distributes organizational manual to new officers.  Solicits nominations form the membership for the Donna Dentler Service Award and the Keystone Award.  Researchers sites for future conferences.  Serves as Parliamentarian.  Acts as PennACE historian, maintaining and updating the archives.  

Additional PennACE Involvement: 
Conference Committee:  2017
Member-at-Large Employer Relations 2017-2019 
Conference Committee Chair:   2020
Keystone Award Recipient:  2018

Favorite Part of Being Involved in PennACE:  
My favorite part of PennACE is collaborating with career professionals and employers across the state. This organization brings together tons of new and innovative ideas to enhance our students experiences and grow professionally.