2019 FALL LYCOMING COLLEGE MAGAZINE

Graduates from across the decades have used the educational foundations they gained at Lycoming College to launch meaningful careers in education for themselves. Our alumni have impacted the lives of countless other learners around the globe, paying forward the benefits of a Lycoming education. Thomas Leitzel ’78, Ph.D. (business administration major) President, South Florida State College “During my undergraduate experience at Lycoming College, I was challenged and encouraged to think critically. The experience provided a solid academic platform that grounded my knowledge base so that it could take root and expand. Every professor throughout all levels of my educational journey provided the influence and inspiration to make sure learning is ongoing for a lifetime. The liberal arts tradition imbedded in the Lycoming curriculum provides a rich experience for students. It was something that prepared me for the broader scope of academic leadership throughout my career. We are called to be educators in every walk of life, and I happen to be fortunate to support educational advancement every day. It is a high honor to serve the students, faculty, and staff at South Florida State College and to support its vision to become a globally aware academic destination driving regional transformation through innovative collaboration.” Heather Zelle ’04, Ph.D., J.D. (psychology major, criminal justice minor) Assistant Professor of Research, Department of Public Health Sciences; Clinical Psychologist, Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy; University of Virginia Schools of Medicine and Law “I am a mental health policy researcher and assistant professor of research at the University of Virginia. I chose an academic career at the intersection of policy research and public health teaching because of my interest in mental health, law, and research. There are many parts of my work that I enjoy, but I certainly enjoy getting to work with thoughtful students on real-world issues concerning mental health law and policy. It is wonderful to see students engage in these important topics and contribute to projects that effect change in local and state policy. My time at Lycoming prepared me wonderfully for my current work — from instilling the requisite knowledge, to building the necessary core skills (e.g., academic/empirical writing), to providing numerous examples of what being an excellent educator looks like.” Alumni Impacting Education IT ON! 16 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2019 FALL MAGAZINE