On My Desk
Information technology specialist at the HelpDesk, Don Randolph keeps items on his desk that remind him that persistence pays off. Don keeps tavern puzzles on his desk. The object of these puzzles is to disentangle the cast iron pieces, which can be very much like solving technology problems at the HelpDesk. Don knows the preferred…
Kim Tweedy, student communications specialist keeps a fun item on her desk that reminds her of a favorite hobby. Kim has been playing the bass for four years and was even in an all-female rock band. When she saw this bass-rocking Barbie at the toy store, she knew she needed it for her desk. Barbie’s…
Ashley Pipe, production specialist with the quality assurance team for Penn State World Campus Learning Design, keeps an important item on her desk to remind her of family. When Ashley was three and her sister was two months old, her parents ventured across the continent in a van from Alaska to Pennsylvania. As a family of four, they made the trek in only…
Instructional designer Penny Ralston-Berg keeps an old, dented cloth tape measure on her desk. It belonged to her great-great-grandfather, Charles Thomas Courson. Over the years, her grandpa Charley worked in construction, did yard work and maintenance for the doctors in town, donned a suit to work at the local bank, and even dug ditches for…
Multimedia specialist, Nikki Kauffman, has some very special people at her desk. Photos of her children including her son, Jude, who has an auditory processing problem, fill her work space. Learning about his challenges has enabled her to apply new techniques to online learning such as designing course videos, interactive components, and other features that…
Academic adviser Tim Balliett holds a special item that is new to his desk. This holiday season he received a model sailboat from a friend to thank him for teaching and reminding her how to adjust her own sails as she navigates the storms and waters of her own life’s journey. [contact-form 8 “On My Desk…
Matt’s “Peanut Counter.” Academic adviser Matt Rupert has many amazing things in his office. The one that gets the most attention is a piece of art that he calls the “Peanut Counter.” As soon as he saw it, he understood the joke since he has an economics and political background. He had such a good laugh…
Dawn’s organizer. Assistant director of advising Dawn Coder has an item that serves as a reminder on her desk. As supervisor at a previous job, Dawn developed a great relationship with an employee who was most of the time difficult to work with. She received an organization basket from him as a gift, and now…
Richard and his Nittany Lion shrine. Academic support resource coordinator Richard Brungard’s desk has a special area for his Nittany Lion pride. The corner has a photo of the Nittany Lion shrine taken by former academic adviser Jane Ireland, a wood carving of the words “Nittany Lions,” and a festive pom pom. We all know…
Patty’s aquarium. Instructional production specialist Patty Gruneberg’s special item is a light up aquarium that used to be in her boys’ room before they “outgrew” it. She finds it soothing to watch since live fish are not allowed, and it fills the void. It also holds special memories of her life outside of the workplace.…