Meet the members of the Penn State World Campus Student Advisory board! Learn their majors and locations, why they want to serve World Campus students, and some of their best advice and favorite Penn State memories.
Soheil Abdmousavi
Location: Texas
Degree and Program: Bachelor's in Digital Multimedia Design
Committee: Marketing & Communications
"World Campus Student Advisory Board allows me to be able to engage more with other fellow students and the World Campus community, as well as helping the advancement of the World Campus system as a whole."
Barry Back
Location: South Carolina
Degree and Program: Bachelor's in Business
Committee: Marketing & Communications
"To be a part of something bigger than me and serve the student body, there is no greater way of giving back."
Satbir "Zack" Bal
Location: California
Degree and Program: Master's in Organization Development and Change
Committee: Academic Affairs
"Engage with your classmates and professors, as they are valuable resources to your learning experience."
Michael Barin
Location: Virginia
Degree and Program: Bachelor's in History
Committee: Board Relations and Outreach
"‘E hele me ka pu’olo’ — Hawaiian Proverb (‘Always take an offering with you.’)
In the Army, it is ‘improving your foxhole.’
Whatever way you say it, it boils down to always leaving a person, place, or situation better than when you found it."
Matt DeBlass
Location: New Jersey
Degree and Program: Bachelor's in Strategic Communications
Committee: Marketing and Communications
"Be sure to plan some down time. Those breaks are a necessary part of learning, and your academic performance is a lot better when you're well-rested."
Caitlyn DeBlaay
Location: Michigan
Degree and Program: Dual Bachelor's in Labor and Employment Relations & Organizational Leadership
Committee: Board Relations and Outreach
"I really want to look for ways to connect students to the University, whether that be connecting them in their classes or outside of it through student involvement opportunities."
Carrie Decker
Location: Ohio
Degree and Program: Master's in Public Administration
Committee: Marketing & Communications
"I hope to be a voice for other students in working toward their needs and supporting them in their education."
Amber Nicole Fields
Location: Pennsylvania
Degree and Program: Associate in Human Development and Family Studies
Committee: Student Engagement
"Communication with your professors and advisers is key!"
Erin Hoopes
Location: Pennsylvania
Degree and Program: Master's in Curriculum and Instruction (Children's Literature focus)
Committee: Student Engagement
"I'm hoping to become more deeply engaged in my learning, meet fellow students, and really feel like a part of a (virtual) campus community."
Barbara Lowe
Location: Florida
Degree and Program: Bachelor's in Business
Committee: Marketing & Communications
"My favorite Penn State moment was joining WCSAB and being surrounded by my peers of different backgrounds and interests and ultimately having a new support system."
Oscar Orellana
Location: Louisiana
Degree and Program: Bachelor's in Psychology; Minor in Business
Committee: Student Engagement
"The opportunity to lead and inspire others to fulfill their dreams for higher education."
Robert Sherwood
Location: California
Degree and Program: Bachelor's in Political Science and Homeland Security
Committee: Academic Affairs
"My favorite Penn State moment was discovering the live feed from the Arboretum camera and feeling closer to campus."