Every member of the PennWest community has a story—stories of ambition, resilience, and impact.
People of PennWest amplifies these voices, from students and faculty to alumni making a difference.
Discover their journeys, be inspired by their experiences, and see what it truly means
to be part of PennWest.
I met my boss as a student putting on events, not knowing he would be my boss someday.
Lindsey Tolbert
Alumni
Read Lindsey's Story
When you see a student’s face light up because they finally grasp a concept, or an adult proudly count change for the first time, you realize this work changes lives.
Dr. Leah Chambers
Faculty
Read Dr. Chambers' Story
You don’t have to have it all figured out. Follow your interests, explore, and trust that everything will work out in the end.
Ellie Keating
Student
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The friendships and faculty connections I’ve made here will last a lifetime. Relationships are what make the college experience so powerful.
Courtney Kiesling
Student
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Helping others, even in small ways, creates ripples of kindness. The Big Event is about bringing our campus together to give back and make a real difference.
Tyrique Whitson
Student
Read Tyrique's Story
We are not defined by our activities, but by our values, strengths, and what motivates us. That’s what makes each of us unique.
Rachel Kister
Student
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I started this club to create a space for encouragement, empowerment, and growth.
Joelle Paul
Student
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Knowing that a simple toy can bring so much happiness to a child fuels my passion for giving back. It’s about making sure every child feels seen and valued.
Cassidy McCormick
Student
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Sometimes, all it takes is one person who believes in you. I try to be that person for as many students as I can.
Dr. Brandon Packard
Faculty
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Raising funds for Make-A-Wish isn't just about donations—it’s about giving student-athletes the chance to create real change and see the impact of their efforts firsthand.
Dr. Amy Eperthener
Faculty
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I want students to know they’re not just here to get a degree. They’re here to discover their power and shape the world around them.
Dr. Codie Stone
Faculty
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Instead of just talking about physics, I bring in toys and real-world examples to make it fun. If students are relaxed, they are ready to learn.
Dr. Karim Hossain
Faculty
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As a mentor, I feel like it is my duty to engage in those kind of conversations because you can help people grow.
Coach Damian Pitts
Faculty
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We have a wonderful community and we have a wonderful group of people, faculty, staff and administrators that are here for our students.
Dr. Michelle Torregano
Faculty
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...being able to show others how we see themselves... and create something beautiful out of it is what's enlightening for me.
Bria Allen
Student
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Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and get involved—campus life is full of surprises.
Jason & Katie Spangenberg
Alumni
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Figure out what it is that you love to do, and then pour everything you can into it.
Danielle & Darren Fleming
Faculty
Read Danielle & Darren's Story
On the days that I may lack or when I’m not on my A-game, I have someone fully supporting me, ready to go, never wanting to see me fail.
Tim & Judy Camus
Alumni
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It's enabled me to connect to nature in a different way that I've never connected to before, which is just so cool.
Gage Sorchilla & Aaron Lasinsky
Student
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I am absolutely petrified of heights. I always have been. I think I always will be. Skydiving was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had in my entire life.
Hayden Thorpe
Campus Recreation Staff • Staff
Read Hayden's Story
What somebody's comfort zone is, is different for absolutely everyone. And one of the really cool things about campus recreation is that we want to meet people where they're at.
Ryan Walton
Campus Recreation Staff
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I never thought that I'd do something like that. I never thought that I would do a lot of the things that I've done through CORE and through Campus Rec.
Sonia Yost
Student
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I remember being like, 'I can't do this, I can't do this.' And all my friends were just in a line down here. And they were like, 'You got it!' So I ended up making it to the top...and I was so proud of myself."
Bridget Bartlett
Student
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Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy. You're going to come through this experience and you're going to be faced with hurdles and challenges. Those inches become yards, those yards become touchdowns. You will end up winning at life if you do not give up.
Justin Leader
Alumni
Read Justin's Story
I was presented with the opportunity to apply for the Washington Center, which is a group that our political science department has partnered with on all three campuses, and this is a great opportunity to send students to D.C. for the summer.
Emily Campbell:
Student
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I have so much love for having a student realize their true potential and that light bulb clicking on - that moment when they realize this is what they want to do for the rest of their life.
Darrek Harshberger
Staff
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The really fun thing about science to me is that you don't just learn facts, you learn the process. And the job of a scientist is to learn new things and discover new things.
Dr. Andrew Turner
Faculty
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I love being a faculty member because I get to watch our students do that all the time and fondly remember my experience going through that life transition from being a student perceived as a novice to someone who's now an expert in something.
Dr. Kimberly Woznack
Faculty
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I want to emphasize the community and people we have at PennWest... I had the pleasure to be in a smaller size classroom throughout my time here. I got to personally get to know my classmates and professors and it really helped with the learning experience.
Morgan Wissner
Student
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I’m going to give my best to this country. It was a solidifying moment to realize that this is where I belong.
Timothy John
Student
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I think that being able to help students to see other parts of the world, it changes them in terms of how they experience the world, how they look at our own country and our own history and culture and communication patterns.
Dr. Melissa Gibson
Faculty
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I went for three months, most incredible months of my life. Definitely a life-changing experience.
Mattie Carey
Student
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We went out one night in Denmark to an Irish pub, karaoke bar, and then we got to go to hotdog stands and food tours, hang out in libraries, which was the coolest thing to me.
Allison Dobrinski
Student
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There hasn't been a year where I haven't been in a show or multiple shows. I just can't get enough of it. I love the stage.
M.J. Jerdan
Student
Read M.J. Jerdan's Story
I took an intro to theater class, did this production and that was it. Ever since then, I've been performing
Dr. J.P. Staszel
Faculty
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A Grammy is pretty universal, like I think most people know what a Grammy is... you have been acknowledged... that you are pretty good at this thing.
Matt Poirier
Alumni
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Oftentimes when I advise students and I tell them about the classes that I teach, they're like, 'You can get a degree in that?'
Dr. Candice Riley
Faculty
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I got to be very up close and personal with these venomous snakes that oftentimes get a really bad rap, and I got to see them for what they were—quite docile creatures... the type of work that can be done directly within wildlife is what steered me towards this degree.
Jesse Lewis
Student
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I'm very enthusiastic about geology. I love it all, and I try to share that enthusiasm with my students in those classes that are lecture driven, but many of our classes have labs, and that's really where a lot of the learning comes in. And my philosophy there is let's get our hands dirty.
Dr. Kyle Frederick
Faculty
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The bottom of my boots melted, and I got to cook marshmallows over open lava. That combination of the scenery and the intense physical experience really hooked me.
Aaron Barnes
Student
Read Aaron's Story