About us

Kate Bennett Truitt spent the past 40 years as a producer, developer, and director in the world of media development – from projects on 1” videotape to online educational programming delivered on custom platforms with complex functionality.

Katie O’Toole is an Assistant Teaching Professor in Penn State’s Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. She earned her PhD in Mass Communications in 2010. Previously, she worked for 24 years at Penn State Public Broadcasting primarily as the writer and host of a nationally-distributed children’s current events series for which she won a Mid-State Emmy.

Greg Petersen had a 45-year career in broadcasting and media concluding with a 28-year stint at WPSU TV-FM, retiring as Director of Broadcasting. He created and built the “Our Town” project for WPSX/WPSU in 1996 that has been emulated at numerous public stations nationwide. 

Paula Fritz Eddy has over 40 years of experience in nonprofit management, including leadership roles with the )Penn Lakes Girl Scouts Council, the American Cancer Society, and most recently as Executive Director of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies.

Jennifer Neely has dedicated her career to education, serving as a classroom teacher, school administrator, and curriculum consultant. She graduated from Penn State University’s College of Education in 2006 (B.S.) after studying secondary education with a focus on English and communications and again in 2011 (M.Ed.) after completing graduate studies in curriculum and instruction with a focus on language and literacy instruction.

Until his retirement in 2015, Roger L. Williams served the University as executive director of the Penn State Alumni Association, Associate Vice President, and Affiliate Associate Professor of Higher Education. He has authored more than 30 publications and three books.

Melinda Stearns is a long time State College resident who retired from Penn State Outreach and Online Education in the area of strategic partnership development several years ago. She held leadership roles at Penn State for 25 years, held prior corporate marketing positions and was a small business owner in New England.

Connie Kough Pittenger is a former County Commissioner, and has served on numerous boards including: Southern Alleghenies Planning & Development Commission, Tri-County Area on Aging, Huntingdon County Business and Industry, and more. Her professional experience included over 20 years in public broadcasting including ten years at NPR where she served as Director of National Corporate Support. 

Sara Songer was born and raised in Bedford, PA and still has family there. She is a nurse who received her degrees from Penn State, BS ’72 and MS ’78 and post-grad Advanced Nurse Practice, Forensic Nursing, from Duquesne University in 2004. She has resided and worked in State College for 50+ years. As a nurse, Sara has taught locally, statewide, and nationally in her areas of expertise of healthcare delivery and management and as a forensic nurse examiner.

Carolyn Donaldson currently serves as Vice President, Community Engagement and Relationship Development for Kish Bank, a regional community bank serving five counties in Central Pa.  In her previous role at WPSU, Carolyn led the Community Engagement efforts for public media station. From 1995 to 2016, Carolyn served as a news reporter and anchor for the regional CBS-affiliate WTAJ-TV.

Annie Taylor has worked in the field of distance education since 1991, focusing on learning design and faculty development. She currently serves as the College of Earth and Mineral Science’s Senior Assistant Dean for Distance Learning and Director of the John A. Dutton Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence. As a long-time Centre County community member, Annie is a passionate supporter of WPSU. 

Dr. Gary E. Miller is Executive Director Emeritus of the Penn State World Campus. He held various positions at WPSU from 1968 to 1986.  In 2004, he was inducted into the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame.  He received the 2009 Outreach Pioneer Award from Penn State and the 2009 Prize of Excellence from the International Council for Open and Distance Education.

Donnan Stoicovy is a retired educator with 45 years of experience in both public and independent schools. as a teacher, a principal and a Head of School. She has lived in Halfmoon Township for 33 years. Her passions are environmental education, sustainability and climate action, natural history, history, music and democracy. She recently completed the requirements to become a certified Pennsylvania Master Naturalist.