ANNUAL REPORT From college student to confident professional
2025-2026 2025-2026
A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
OUR THANKS
The impact demonstrated in this report was driven by many people with a single desire: To ensure that all students at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania graduate as confident professionals ready to impact their communities. Concentrating the depth of professional wisdom required to accomplish this and weaving the vast professional network necessary to see our graduates hired has been a concerted effort among university administrators, faculty, staff, alumni, employer partners, and donors. We thank them for their commitment on behalf of our students. Professional U was launched to support our students along their career path, and remains a university-wide and community effort without which this initiative would not be successful.
Alumni & Professional Engagement
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A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
OUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS The three alumni associations of Commonwealth University preserve the life-changing experiences and relationships formed on campus while working to ensure current students are as successful as they have been since our foundings. As a recognized constituency within the Office of Alumni and Professional Engagement, our alumni associations work to: Promote and advance the mission and goals of Commonwealth University with programs and services that engage alumni Collaborate to generate resources for Commonwealth University as ambassadors and advocates Facilitate relationships through inclusive programs and volunteer opportunities Provide strategic counsel to university leadership, staff, and faculty
Alumni & Professional Engagement
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A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
INTRODUCTION At Commonwealth University, we combined career and professional development with alumni relations to create the Department of Alumni & Professional Engagement (A&PE) within the Division of University Advancement. As part of the Professional U Career Community, A&PE acts as a resource and partner for students navigating the transition to the professional world, for parents and supporters seeking how best to guide their student, for faculty members interested in integrating career development into their academic expertise, for alumni looking to reconnect and give back, and for employers excited to recruit our grads and provide experiential learning opportunities.
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A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
VISION By combining a career center focused on campus and community partnerships with a modern alumni association reshaped as a catalyst for volunteerism and philanthropy, Commonwealth University created Professional U: the aspiration that our students have at least one career or professional experience per year. Such opportunities include workplace wisdom from alumni, professional connections, career experiences, and philanthropic support woven within the academic context. Professional U acts as a supportive career community that, when utilized by students, helps them transition into confident, professionally competent alumni dedicated to lifelong engagement.
MISSION The A&PE team champions the Professional U Career Community by providing consultation and programming that acts as a hub to support faculty and staff collaborators, guides students with professional development, and engages alumni volunteers and employer partners who provide career-building experiences and philanthropic support.
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A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
PROFESSIONAL U And our role within the career community FACULTY/STAFF
ALUMNI
Career Coaching Work-Study Supervisor Research/Internship/ Clinical/Field Work Supervisor
Workshops
COLLEGE STUDENT
Donors Mentors Internship Host
CONFIDENT PROFESSIONAL
Speaker/Panelist
Career Road Trips Programs
College Conferences Competitions
Recruiter
Career Expos
EMPLOYERS
Most universities have a career center. We do things differently. Commonwealth University doesn’t just have a career center – our unique career community provides students with opportunities for alumni and employer connections, professional development, and financial support for the career and professional experiences that transform our college students into confident professionals. Alumni & Professional Engagement
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PROFESSIONAL U And our role in support of students
A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
One goal of Professional U is for every student to engage in at least one career or professional experience each year. Opportunities range from alumni networking, speakers and panels to Career Connections Expos and Road Trips, study abroad and internships.
Students Engaged in Professional U Activities percentaage by class year First Year
Sophomores
Juniors
First Year
Seniors
68
Sophomores
46
Juniors
48
Seniors
87 0
20
40
60
80
100
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PROFESSIONAL U And our role with our students
FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE MATTERS During the 2025-26 academic year, 1,963 first-year students had at least one Professional U experience. That means 68% of the Class of 2030 got a great start on their career journey.
BIG EXPERIENCES = HIGH IMPACT During the 2025-26 academic year, 3,022 students earned a big boost for their resume and their confidence through a high impact practice (HIP) such as an internship, study abroad, research, field work, or creative activity.
Event Attendance by Type College/Prof. Conference
2856
Speaker/Panel
2748
Class Presentation
2064
Workshop
1701
Info Session
1564
Career Expo
1300
Networking
855
Employer On-site
427
Event Series
315
Mock Interview
137
Career Road Trip
65 0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
Wren Fritsky College of Science and Technology
April Long College of Health Sciences
Cait Finn Zeigler College of Business
Rashmika Ramlall College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
Nichole Lefelhoc College of Education
CAREER COACHING + ACADEMIC CONNECTION = TAILORED EXPERIENCES Each college is supported by at least one career coach who specializes in the industries connected to that college’s programs and serves as its liaison. Through these partnerships, students receive tailored career guidance aligned with their majors, interests, and long term goals. Career coach liaisons also assist faculty with organizing and recruiting volunteers for college conferences, Career Road Trips, in-class programming, and industry specific Career Connections Expos. Internship Assistance 10.8% Networking 1.5% Career Closet 31.7% Document Assistance 17.7%
Job Search/ Interview Prep 5.7% Resources 6.4%
Career/Major Exploration/Grad School 6.1% Outreach 20.2%
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PROFESSIONAL U And our role in support of students
STUDENTS NEED CA$H TO MAKE THE CLIMB Career experiences are vital to getting a student’s foot on the professional ladder. They foster growth, build confidence, and help students hone their career competencies, as well as provide an opportunity to practice what they’ve learned, navigate unfamiliar places, and build a professional network. But these experiences can also be expensive. Rather than see our students be at a disadvantage, Professional Experience Grants (PEGs) offset some of the costs.
2025-2026 PEG Experiences by Type Faculty-led Research Other 3% 5% Creative Performance 2%
Internships 22.7%
Field Experience 20.7%
Study Abroad 20.7%
Student Teaching 5.9%
Professional Conferences 20.7%
The PEG grant did far more than provide financial assistance. It enabled transformative experiential learning that advanced my intrapersonal development, civic engagement, and practical competence. It strengthened my confidence, clarified my career direction, and deepened my commitment to serving my community through strategic communication and leadership. -Amber Hughes ’27 Alumni & Professional Engagement 10
A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
PEGS BY THE NUMBERS:
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Of the $134,338 awarded in Professional Experience Grants in 2025-26, nearly $94,000 was raised through alumni donors, with the rest provided by Commonwealth University.
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A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
MATT YURKUNAS ’25 Matt Yurkunas ’25 spent his entire college career not really knowing what he wanted to do. Instead, he built the confidence necessary to know the right path would find him. Originally an Information Technology Management major, Yurkunas sought advice from faculty member, Carolyn LaMacchia who suggested he switch his major to Computer Science, given the broad area in which Matt was interested. Later, Matt took a big step outside his comfort zone when he signed up to intern abroad in Germany. Through the help of several Professional Experience Grants (PEGs), Matt was not only able to complete the internship in Germany, but was hired as an intern with Mars-Wrigley Corp. in Chicago the following summer. Still unsure of what he wanted to do but confident the right opportunity would present itself, Matt went on a hiking expedition in Nepal after graduation and through some soul searching, accepted an offer to study AI Systems Management at Carnegie Mellon University.
Watch Matt’s transformation:
Learn about the many different ways in which the Professional U Career Community comes together to help students.
Alumni & Professional Engagement
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PROFESSIONAL U And our role with alumni
A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
As students prepare to enter the workforce, they learn a great deal about professionalism and day-to-day life in their chosen industry from alumni who work in those spaces. Regardless of major, industry, position, or class year, alumni are vital in passing along their wisdom as resume reviewers, mock interviewers, classroom speakers, panelists, mentors, career experience hosts, and job recruiters. In return, volunteers get the satisfaction of giving back while reconnecting with professors, getting to know students, and networking with other alumni.
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PROFESSIONAL U And our role with alumni
1,278 alumni volunteers donated their time as part of the Professional U Career Community, with 382 of those having graduated in the past 15 years.
The impact value of the hours volunteer by alumni totaled $1,469,256.25 toward the professional futures of current students.*
Those 1278 volunteers donated a total of 44,375 hours in service to student career and professional development.
2025-26 Alumni Volunteer Roles Career/Networking Assistant
324
Presenter/Panelist
254
Experience Host
222
Board/Advisory Member
143
Reunion/Alumni Events
118
Mentor
93
Judge
75
Campus Recruiter
45
Admissions Assistant
4 0
50
100 150 200 250 Number of Volunteers
300
350
*According to localized data from Independent Sector and Do Good Institute, the economic value of volunteer time in Pennsylvania is benchmarked at $33.11 per hour.
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A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
“Applying classroom theories to competitive, real world scenarios sharpened my analytical skills and strategic thinking [and] has deeply shaped my professional identity, giving me the practical confidence needed to transition from a student into a capable business professional. – Logan Schoen ’27
IT STARTS WITH US Professional U is not only a strategic alumni engagement model, but also acts as a fundraising vehicle for Commonwealth University in support of our students’ professional development. Money raised in support of Professional U includes funding for PEGs, professional centers of excellence like the Diehl Law Center, and mentorship programs like the Bill ’83 and Elizabeth Bent Boot Camp for Aspiring Leaders.
More than $1.1 million was raised in support of student professional development during the 2025-26 school year alone, while more than $16 million has been raised in support of student professional development since the inception of Professional U.
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PROFESSIONAL U And our role with alumni
Sharing the Worthiness of a Winding Path Throughout her career, one of the most important things that Diane Brennan learned was that one’s first career path doesn't have to be their only one. That career wisdom eventually made its way to her fellow Huskies by way of the Ziegler Institute for Professional Development (ZIPD) Conference. While serving as Associate VP for Human Resources at the University of Arizona, Brennan learned about opportunities with ZIPD and volunteered to be an alumni panelist during the conference. She spent the next two days connecting with students not only during her sessions, but via lunches and informal moments in between. Brennan was impressed by the students’ thoughtful questions and real interest in learning from panelists' experiences. “Those unscripted moments are often where the most meaningful exchanges occur,” said Brennan. “It has been genuinely rewarding to watch them move into their careers and stay connected. Moments like that remind you why this work matters.”
Read Dianne’s story.
See all the ways in which our alumni help students.
Alumni & Professional Engagement
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A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
JOSH NICHOLS ’25/’26M Josh Nichols had no idea what he wanted to do when he enrolled at Lock Haven after four years in the military. In time, he met several classmates who introduced him to Sports Management. Josh volunteered to run camera for a soccer game and knew immediately he had found his niche. “I texted my dad and was like ‘I can’t believe my job is to watch sports’.” Through his faculty adviser and work-study position with Sports Information, Josh was able to build alumni connections, career experiences, and professional confidence. “I’m ready to finally go and do what I want to do.”
Watch Josh’s full story:
Learn about the many different ways a student can “do” Professional U.
Alumni & Professional Engagement
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PROFESSIONAL U And our role with employers
A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
OUR STUDENTS GET HIRED! There are over 59 thousand employers and 131 thousand jobs and internships from companies and organizations connected with Commonwealth University on Handshake.
46% of job-seeking members of the Class of 2025 indicated they had a job before graduation.
EXPLORE - DECIDE - EXPERIENCE - ACHIEVE More than 93% of 2025 grads responded that they were employed or enrolled in graduate school or service within 6 months of graduation.
2025-26 CAREER CONNECTIONS EXPOS We engaged 222 employers during 14 expos, reaching 1,300 students. In addition to expos, we regularly engage employers through on-campus tabling, classroom visits, Career Road Trips and College Conferences. Accounting and Financial Services Physician Associate Education and ASL/English Interpreting Justice and Social Impact Marketing/Management, and Communication Health Professions Management, Supply Chain, Marketing, Technology, and Analytics
PROFESSIONAL U And our role with employers
Strengthening Connections in the Communities they Serve C&N Bank wanted to strengthen their connection with the communities they served, while investing in the next generation of talent. Partnering with Commonwealth University's three campuses became an obvious choice. What Cody Bowen ’05 has described as a "standout experience" hosting a CU intern started at a Career Connections Expo on the Mansfield campus. "By the end of the summer, we were proud to offer them a full-time role," said Bowen. "Watching that progression from initial introduction to becoming a valued team member has been especially meaningful. Such a positive experience with Mansfield students led Bowen and his team to expand their recruiting to a Career Expo at Bloomsburg and a classroom presentation at Lock Haven. Bowen said that the students came dressed for success, were prepared for professional and meaningful interactions, asked thoughtful questions, and showed a genuine curiosity about potential career paths.
Read the whole story. See the many employers, representing a wide variety of industries, that recruit our students. Alumni & Professional Engagement
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A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
MARIAH SIMON ’26 Mariah Simon wanted nothing more than to go home her entire first semester at CU-Mansfield. But once she found a role with Residence Life as an Resident Assistant (RA), that all changed. Through that position, Mariah learned a set of transferrable skills that boosted her confidence and interpersonal communication. When Mariah began looking for an internship, a recommendation from a faculty member prompted her to seek out local consulting group, Moody and Associates, who already had several Mounties on staff. Mariah reached out to the company’s Vice President on LinkedIn and secured an internship that summer. While she was offered a full time role with Moody and Associates after completing her internship, Mariah instead accepted a Field Technician role with Civil & Environmental Consultants through connections she made with several alumni during a series of classroom visits.
Watch Mariah’s full story:
Learn about the many different ways a student can “do” Professional U.
Alumni & Professional Engagement
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PROFESSIONAL U And our role with faculty/staff
A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMMING Partnerships among the Professional U Career Community are vital. Faculty are the most influential members of the campus community and on whom student success is most dependent. Our partnerships with faculty lead to program development that directly ties professionalism to academic and athletic goals.
Networking events like the Career Intensive Boot Camp allow students to connect with alumni in a supportive setting. Career coaches regularly share opportunities available under the Professional U umbrella through classroom presentations . College conferences are large, sometimes multiday events that include alumni speakers and panels who provide professional wisdom and career opportunities in a student’s major. Career Road Trips enable students to get a firsthand look at the day-to-day experience of various professions within their chosen industry.
Alumni & Professional Engagement
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PROFESSIONAL U And our role with faculty/staff
CU-LOCK HAVEN WOMEN AND CRIME COURSE WELCOMES ALUMNAE SPEAKERS A total of nine CU alumnae spoke to the 40 students in Ely’s in person/Zoom course...The speakers hold various positions in criminal justice and related agencies throughout Pennsylvania including: Centre County Public Defender’s Office, PSU Police, Lycoming County Coroner’s Office, PA Attorney General, Tri County Drug and Alcohol, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Columbia County District Attorney’s Office and Children’s House Child Advocacy Center. “Some of the guest speakers have supervised our student interns at their agencies, and in some cases, hired CU students upon graduation,” Ely said.
Read the whole story.
See more stories about faculty and staff connecting with alumni and employers to launch students into their professions:
Alumni & Professional Engagement
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A&PE PROFILES Our Team A - Z
Ashley Conrad
Nathan Conroy
David Donlick
Administrative Assistant Mansfield
Director of Alumni & Employer Engagement Lock Haven
Director of Alumni & Employer Engagement - Bloomsburg
Director of Alumni & Employer Engagement - Mansfield
Cait Finn
Cortney Force
Wren Fritsky
Christine Bomboy
Director, Zeigler Institute of Professional Dev.-Bloomsburg
Nichole Lefelhoc Director of Career & Professional Development Mansfield
Clerical Assistant - Lock Haven Director of Career & Professional Development - Bloomsburg
April Long Asst. Director of Career & Professional Development Lock Haven
Darwin Kysor Dir. Employer Engagement and Career & Professional Development - Lock Haven
Lynda Michaels
Lisa Olander
AVP, Alumni & Professional Engagement
Student Engagement Coordinator Bloomsburg
Andrea O’Neill
Rashmika Ramlall
Gay Anne Spezialetti
Communications Coordinator Bloomsburg
Asst. Director of Career & Professional Development Bloomsburg
Events & Services Coordinator Bloomsburg
A&PE 25-26 Annual Report
CONTACT CONTACT Dr. Lynda Fedor Michaels ’87/’88M, Associate V.P. 570-389-4061 professionalu@commonwealthu.edu
Bloomsburg
Lock Haven
Mansfield
570-389-4070
570-484-2181
570-662-4133
1F Carver Hall
212 DACC
212 South Hall