Liberal Arts Voices

Read the perspectives of our current students

Graduating this fall? Complete your senior survey!

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Liberal Art students graduating this fall semester should complete the Senior Survey.

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! Over the past few years, we hope you have participated in activities that have enriched your academic experience.

As a Liberal Arts graduating senior, we need you to complete a brief 5-minute confidential survey to share details of your experiences, as well as your future career plans.

Your responses will help us to better advise and serve future Liberal Arts majors.

Please complete this survey as soon as possible. It should only take approximately five minutes.

You’re Invited! Graduating Senior Open House

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All Liberal Arts majors graduating in the fall 2014 semester are invited to our Graduating Senior Open House.

Stop by 006 & 009 Sparks Building on December 10, 2014 from 11:30AM-3:00PM to:

  • Collect important information about the graduation ceremony
  • Complete your Senior Survey
  • Receive feedback on your resume
  • Get your LinkedIn Profile Picture taken

The first 10 students to stop by will receive Penn State business card holders!

Snacks will be provided.

Graduating Seniors – Make the Most of Life after Graduation

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After you graduate…

May is just around the corner, and with a new spring season comes the real world! Are you ready for 40-hour work weeks and being a young professional? If you’re still unsure of your future career in May, or even in years to come, don’t forget to refer back to the many services offered by Penn State to help you on your way.

Alumni Career Services

Alumni Career Services provides many of the same opportunities as undergraduate Career Services yet they take advantage of the wide geographical ranges of their alumni and provide services accordingly. They offer individual counseling, resume reviews, and career resources.

  • Nittany lion Alumni Career Network: An online job board that allows alumni to post resumes and search for job openings.
  • On-Campus Interviewing: Employers are brought to campus to conduct information sessions and hold interviews for entry-level positions.
  • Career Events: Throughout the year in-person and online networking events are held to connect alumni from across the country to help advance or change their careers.
  • Recent Graduate Events: Throughout the summer, Alumni Chapters throughout the country host welcome home events for recent graduates. It is a great way to network in a relaxed environment. Dates will be released soon.

LinkedIn

Make sure to update your LinkedIn profile and join The Penn State Alumni Association’s page. This will connect you with other alums throughout the world that you can network with, ask advice, and learn about new career opportunities.

Alumni JOBSearch Webinar

This four-session JOBSearch Webinar program helps Penn State alumni gain the tools they need to search for new jobs. Information includes resume writing, interviewing, and networking.

LionLink

Now that you’ve graduated, you can register as an alumnus on the online networking site LionLink. Career Coaches on the site provide valuable information and advice on jobs and careers.

And don’t forget, if you still haven’t filled out your Graduating Senior Survey, do so as soon as possible!

Graduating Seniors – Make the Most of Your Last Semester

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While you are still here…

There are only a few short months left until spring graduation, and after four years of tests, exams, activities, and events, are you ready to leave Penn State? Are all your classes in order, thesis almost done, and interviews on the horizon? For me personally, I’d like to postpone graduation for a few more months, but I know that there are great resources here on campus to help all seniors get out the door smoothly! Check out my list below and take advantage of these opportunities while you still can!

Career Fairs

Keep in mind some important dates of upcoming career fairs for those of you still looking for a position post-graduation.

People to People Career Fair (February 27, 2014) – This is a great opportunity to learn about jobs and internships in non-profits, the government, and human service agencies.

Spring Career Days (March 26, 2014) – Come out to the Spring Career Fair on its first day to learn more about companies looking for non-technical majors.

Careers for the Humanities March 29, 2014 – Students can network with alumni and learn about possible career paths and jobs that await them post-graduation.

Career Enrichment Network

  • The staff of the Career Enrichment Network can help with resume reviews, cover letters, and tips for job searching. You can schedule an appointment to meet with them through your Network Symplicity site. Keep in mind however their website does not list full-time positions so you will need to look elsewhere for those.
  • LEAD: Check out the Leadership Enrichment through Assessment and Development (LEAD) program that combines online-assessments and in-person interviews to find out and hone in on your strengths and weaknesses. It is a great tool to use when interviewing for jobs or graduate school.
  • Graduating Senior Survey: Keep an eye out for a survey from the College of the Liberal Arts asking about for feedback about your undergraduate experience at Penn State and your plans for after graduation.

Career Services

  • Make sure you take advantage of all of the resources Career Services has to offer before graduation. This is another great source for resume and cover letter reviews, but they also offer drop-in hours, drop-in counseling, and mock interviews.  Attending a career counseling session may expose you to valuable job search resources
  • Nittany Lion Career Network: Use this database to search for full time positions. You can also search for information sessions and on-campus interview schedules.
  • Lion Link: This online networking database connects students and alumni and assists in career coaching and the job search.
  • Senior Sunday: Hosted by Career Services this daylong conference offers you the chance to learn about key steps for post-graduation, including tips for finances and living in busy cities. You can also choose to stay for an etiquette dinner to prepare for interviews at public places.

And one last tip…don’t forget to update your LinkedIn profile to take advantage of the largest online networking site. Networking, exploring your interests and the job market, and creating your own opportunities and chances to become involved in more experiences are essential to any career decision and career planning process.

Inaugural Class of Paterno Fellows Honored

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The first graduating class of the Paterno Fellow Program was honored at a ceremony on May 5, 2012.  Sue Paterno and the dean of the College of the Liberal Arts and the Schreyer Honors College were on hand to offer congratulations to nearly 80 graduates of the program.  

In this post, we share two different perspectives of the ceremony at Penn State Live and the Liberal Arts Alumni Connection.

Meet Kristin Kerns, Marshal for Sociology

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Kristin Kerns is the daughter of Lisa and William Kerns of State College, Pa.  A Schreyer scholar, she is graduating with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Psychology.  A published author of short book reviews, Kristin was a research assistant for several faculty members and a teaching assistant for a senior level course.  She was a member of the Blue & White Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and the Liberal Arts Academic Integrity Committee, and she was a violinist with the Campus Orchestra. Kristin volunteered with the Food Bank of State College, the American Cancer Society, and the Annual Traditional American Pow-Wow.  In the fall, she plans to begin a sociology graduate program at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Escorting Faculty Marshal:  Eric Silver, Professor of Sociology and Crime, Law, and Justice

By Robin Robinson

Meet Gina Mattei, Marshal for Psychology

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Gina Mattei is the daughter of Kimberly and Dr. Peter Mattei of Glen Mills, Pa.  A Paterno Fellow and Schreyer scholar, she is graduating with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Sexuality and Gender Studies.  Gina was a research assistant for Penn State’s Child Attention and Learning Laboratory, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the University of Pennsylvania.  She participated in Dance Marathon and was a member of the Penn State Indoor Drumline.  Prior to beginning a Ph.D. program in child and adolescent clinical psychology, Gina will work as project coordinator for Penn State’s Psychology Department.

Escorting Faculty Marshal:  Cynthia Huang-Pollock, Associate Professor of Psychology

By Robin Robinson

Meet Allison Shutt, Marshal for Economics

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Allison Shutt is the daughter of Amy Shutt of Gilbertsville, Pa. and Jesse Shutt of Pottstown, Pa.  A Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar, she is graduating with a degree in Economics and a minor in Psychology.  A member of the Economics Department Honors Program, Allison was a project specialist for the PEER Network and an intern with both Penn State’s Office of University Development and with Foxdale Village.  She was the chairperson of the Senior Class Gift Committee and a vice-president and fundraising officer for the Penn State Crew Team.  After graduation, Allison plans to work in the area of development, focusing on coordinating philanthropic giving in the community at large.

Escorting Faculty Marshal:  James Tybout, Professor of Economics

By Robin Robinson

Meet Julie Knaub, Marshal for Crime, Law & Justice

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Julie Knaub is the daughter of Dennis and Karen Knaub of Dillsburg, Pa.  She is graduating with degrees in Crime, Law, and Justice; French; and Global Studies.  A Schreyer Scholar, Julie studied abroad at the Universit� Paul Val�ry Montpellier III in France.  She participated in Dance Marathon, Circle K, and Campus Crusade for Christ.   Her post-graduate plans are to first complete an internship with the FBI, then do post-graduate study in law or criminal justice before beginning a career as an FBI agent. 

Escorting Faculty Marshal:  Jeffery Ulmer, Associate Professor of Crime, Law, and Justice and Sociology

By Robin Robinson

Meet Dana Blair, Marshal for Anthropology

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Dana Blair is the daughter of Donald and Roberta Blair of Belle Vernon, Pa.  A Schreyer scholar, she is graduating with degrees in History and Anthropology and a minor in Latin American Studies.  Dana participated in several study abroad experiences in Brazil. A recipient of the Matson Museum’s Ceramic Studies Award, she studied the origins of the museum’s ceramics and prepared an exhibit for the museum based on her Brazilian research. Dana participated in the Penn State Women’s Rugby team, served as president of Penn State’s Global Ambassadors, and interned in an anthropology lab.  After graduation, she will travel to Peru to take part in an archaeological field project.

Escorting Faculty Marshal: Claire Milner, Director and Curator of Exhibits, Matson Museum

By Robin Robinson

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