Meet The Board

Get to know your 2020-2021 SDPSU Board Members

Lisa Pearson

Board President

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Marcy Yurick

Vice President

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Ryan Drushel

Treasurer

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Rob Kraft

Alumni Admissions

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Carol Fasching

Scholarship

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Ryan Shatto

Communications

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Bonnee Proo

Community Service

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Dana Barger

Events

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Susie Brant

Sporting Events

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Laura Smail

Secretary

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Dawn Luchowski

Membership

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Keep in Touch

Lisa Pearson

Board President

Graduated: Bachelor of Science degree in 2005
Major: Marketing, Minor: Sociology
Clubs & Activities: THON, Blue & White Society, Lions Share, & Athletics
From: Amherst, MA
Residence: Eastlake (Chula Vista, CA)
Job: Associate Athletics Director of Marketing at San Diego State
Board Activity: 3rd year as President, 2017-18 Events Chair, 2016-17 Secretary

Marcy Yurick

Vice President

Graduation: Bachelor of Science, College of Agriculture 1997
Major: Environmental Resource Management
Activities/Hobbies: Nittany Lion Club Member, Back The Lion Club Member, Penn State Alumni Association Member. Volunteered at Center Wildlife Care, Shavers Creek Environmental Center and Center County PAWS. Currently Volunteer at Gently Hugged and Tomorrow’s Heroes Today.
From: Drums, Pennsylvania
Residence: Oceanside, California
Job: Co-Owner of Planted Earth Fitness
Board Activities: 2020-2021 Vice President, 2019-2020 Events Chair, 2017-2018 Secretary

Ryan Drushel

Treasurer

Graduated: Bachelor of Science 2004
Major: Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Management
Clubs & Activities: Penn State Blue Band; Fighting Lions Pep Band; Penn State Thespians; Delta Chi Fraternity; THON: Morale Committee & Dancer; Penn State Hotel Restaurant Society; Hotel Sales & Marketing Club; National Society of Minorities In Hospitality;
From: Evans City, PA
Residence: Palm Springs, CA
Jobs: Director of Food & Beverage at Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City
Board Activity: 2020 Treasuer, 2019 Treasurer

Rob Kraft

Alumni Admissions

Graduated: Bachelor of Science in 1989; Postbaccalaureate GIS Certificate in 2016
Major: Geography, Minors: Economics and National Security Affairs
Clubs & Activities: NROTC, Club Volleyball, Ski Club, Intramurals, & Student Escort
From: Gulph Mills, PA
Residence: Poway, CA
Jobs: Geospatial Intelligence Officer, The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and Admissions Representative for the San Diego Region, Penn State Admissions Office
Board Activity: 8th year as Alumni Admissions Chair (AAC), 2 Years as Membership Chair,
1 year as Vice President, 2 years as President, and 1 year as Past President.

Carol Fasching

Scholarship

Graduated: Bachelor of Science in 1970.
Major: Consumer Related Studies Minor: Interior Architecture, Space Planning, and Design
Clubs & Activities: Froth, University Swingers, W.R.A. in intramural fencing, and rifle, and participated in equine management facilitating the care of the university’s quarter horse herd.
From: State College, PA.
Residence: Alpine, CA
Jobs: Fairfax County Police Department, Fairfax, VA – Warrant Officer. La Mesa Police Department, La Mesa, CA- Crime Prevention Officer, Law Enforcement, Crime and Intelligence Analyst. Retired 2009.
Board Activity: SDPSU Alumni member since 2015. This is the beginning of my first year serving on the board as Scholarship Chair

Ryan Shatto

Communications Chair

Graduation: Penn State World Campus MBA 2022

Major: Masters of Business Administration

Certificates: Nutrition – Penn State Extension
Clubs & Activities: Blue & White Society
From: Douglas, Arizona
Residence: San Diego, CA
Jobs: Digital Marketing Manager at CMW Media
Board Activity: Website & Social Media 2019

Bonnee Proo

Community Service Chair

Graduated: Bachelor of Science degree in 1991, Capital Campus
Major: Finance, Minor: Accounting
Clubs & Activities: Finance Club, Lion Ambassador, Summer Theater, Math Tutor
Graduate Degree: Master Business Administration, 2004 at University of Redlands
From: Reading, Pennsylvania
Residence: La Mesa, California
Work Activity: Realtor with Coldwell Banker West, Prior: Loan Officer, Corporate Accountant
Volunteer: Meals on Wheels
Board Activity: Second year as Community Service Chair

Dana Barger

Events Chair

Graduated: Bachelor of Arts 1999

Major: Sociology
Clubs & Activities: Study Abroad – University of Exeter, England, Penn State Alternative Breaks Participant (PSAB), Research Assistant for the Department of Psychology
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Residence: Poway, CA
Jobs: Director of Recruitment & Admissions for Graduate and Professional Studies at Point Loma Nazarene University
Board Activity: Sporting Events Chair 2020

Susie Brant

Sporting Events Chair

Graduated: Master of Arts, 1994

Major: English

Activities & Hobbies: Serving up Grilled Stickies at Ye Olde College Diner and trying to find my way out of the stacks at Pattee.

From: State College, PA
Residence: Escondido, CA
Jobs: Realtor at The Honest Agent Team and Director of Customer Service & Fraud Prevention at DrJays.com
Board Activity: 2020 Sporting Events Chair, 2019 Communications Chair.

Laura Smail

Secretary

Graduated: Bachelor of Science, College of Education, 2002

Major: Elementary and Kindergarten Education
Clubs & Activities: Students About Living Truth (SALT), Student Pennsylvania State Education Association (SPSEA)
From: Hollidaysburg, PA
Residence: San Diego, CA
Job:Family Assistant, La Jolla, CA
Board Activity: New Secretary (as of July 2020)

Dawn Luchowski

Membership

Graduated: Bachelor of Science 2020, World Campus

Major: Economics

Minor: Business
Activities & Hobbies: Professional Golfers Association of America, Spouse Member;
National Notary Association Member; Blue & White Society. Avid sports fan!

From: Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Residence: Wildomar, California
Jobs: Restaurant and Service Industry Professional, California Notary Public
Board Activity: First year as Membership Chair

Michael Cognetti

Secretary

Graduated: Bachelor of Science degree in 2016

Major: Agricultural Business and Environmental Policy

Clubs & Activities: Donor and Alumni Relations Captain of Penn State Dance Marathon (THON), Social Chair of Acacia Fraternity, Blue & White Society

From: Fort Washington, PA

Residence: Pacific Beach, CA

Job: Key Account Manager at TrustYou

Board Activity: SDPSU General Alumni Member since 2016-2018, Secretary since 2019-Present

Meet The Board

Lisa Pearson

Board President

Marcy Yurick

Vice President

Ryan Drushel

Treasurer

Rob Kraft

Alumni Admissions

Carol Fasching

Scholarship

Ryan Shatto

Communications

Bonnee Proo

Community Service

Dana Barger

Events

Susie Brant

Sporting Events

Laura Smail

Secretary

Dawn Luchowski

Membership

Keep in Touch

Success!

Lisa Pearson

Board President

Marcy Yurick

Vice President

Ryan Drushel

Treasurer

Rob Kraft

Alumni Admissions

Carol Fasching

Scholarship

Ryan Shatto

Communications Chair

Bonnee Proo

Community Service Chair

Dana Barger

Events Chair

Susie Brant

Sporting Events Chair

Laura Smail

Secretary

Dawn Luchowski

Membership

Michael Cognetti

Secretary