Alumni Profiles
Justin Gelzhiser
M.S.Ed., Intercultural Communication, 2012
School Program Teacher, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Educational Travel Show Host, The Ryan Seacrest Foundation at CHOP
Following his undergraduate studies in elementary education, Justin continued his studies in Intercultural Communications at Penn GSE. Justin currently works as a bedside teacher at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). At CHOP, he is helping to design a multilingual library in the hospital and recruit local multilingual students to aid in the educational needs of international patients. He also designs and hosts the Children's World Travel television show, which is part of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. Justin hopes to begin his PhD studies in the fall of 2014. He currently serves as a member of GSE's International Student Advisory Board and Centennial Planning Committee.
Lionel Anderson
M.S.Ed., Higher Education Management, 2007
Assistant Director, Office of Academic Resources, Haverford College
A transplant from New York City, Lionel completed his undergraduate and graduate coursework at the University of Pennsylvania. He has taught sexual health/sexual assault prevention throughout the Philadelphia high school system, advised business students at Temple University, specialized in retention of at-risk students, and taught a university wide college-to-career sophomore seminar. In 2011, Lionel was invited by The New York Times to become a guest contributor for The Choice, their online column examining the undergraduate admissions process. He is currently the Assistant Director of the Office of Academic Resources at Haverford College.
Ashaki Charles
M.S.Ed., Higher Education Management, 2009
Major Gifts officer at Teachers College, Columbia University
Prior to Teachers College, Ashaki held frontline fundraising positions at Villanova University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University. Ashaki began her development career as the Assistant Director of Development at the Columbia College Fund before moving to Philadelphia where she earned her M.S.Ed. in Higher Education Management at the University of Pennsylvania. While at Penn GSE, Ashaki focused her research on institutional advancement and access/attainment issues for underrepresented students, served as a graduate assistant at The Penn Fund, and strengthened connections between Penn's living and learning communities as a graduate associate at Hill College House. Prior to fundraising, Ashaki worked for seven years in academic publishing, leading successful marketing and sales campaigns. Her first global marketing campaign won Prentice Hall’s Business Publishing’s 2005 Book of the Year; thanks to her work, the campaign tripled its market share and went from being the 10th to the third best-selling marketing principles college textbook in the world.
Sophia S. Li-Ferry
M.S.Ed.,Global Education, 2003
Administrator, Columbia University Medical Center
Sophia S. Li Ferry currently works as an educational administrator at the Columbia University Medical Center. Prior to working within academia, she spent time in the private sector as an actuarial analyst, the Race Director for The San Francisco Marathon, and was also involved with a non-profit organization that provided urban elementary schools with physical activity and nutrition after-school programming. While her work provided her with invaluable business experience, her interactions with youth provided her with a sense of purpose and reinvigorated her desire to pursue a career in education. As a Penn alumna, Sophia has always felt the need to give back to the community. During her time at Penn, she gave back to Philadelphia by volunteering at the local soup kitchen, tutoring students in Chinatown and West Philadelphia, as well as renovating homes in need through the organization, Rebuilding Together.
Brittany Maschal
M.S.Ed. in Education, Culture, and Society, 2006
Independent Educational Consultant
Brittany holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Vermont and University of Pennsylvania respectively, and she completed her doctorate in higher education from the George Washington University in 2012. Currently, Brittany works as an independent educational consultant and holds memberships with IECA and WACAC. She has held positions in admissions and student services at a number of institutions of higher education, including Penn Law, Penn's The Wharton School, Princeton University, the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. Additionally, Brittany has been invited to serve on admissions committees with American Councils for International Education and serves as an alumni interviewer and admissions representative for Penn GSE.
Chris Van Orden
M.S.Ed. in Intercultural Communication and Higher Education, 2008
Budget Analyst, U.S. Department of Education
Chris is a budget policy analyst for the U.S Department of Education in Washington DC. Since joining the Department as a Presidential Management Fellow in 2008, he has been responsible for fiscal policy for a roster of higher education programs. Chris graduated with a dual master's from Penn GSE's Higher Ed Management and Intercultural Communication programs in 2008.
Matthew Mettille
M.S.Ed. in Higher Education, 2007
Associate Director of College Counseling, Georgetown Day School
Matt is the Associate Director of College Counseling at Georgetown Day School in Washington DC. After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa, Matt began his professional career working in college admissions as an intern at Grinnell College and Beloit College. Matt then worked in college counseling at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He has served as a mentor to children in inner-city Miami through Take Stock in Children, and has volunteered with College Summit, a non-profit organization that helps talented low-income public high school students enroll in college.
Patricia J. Louison
Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration, 2004
Senior Assistant Dean, Georgetown University McDonough School of Business
At Cornell University, Patricia served her alma mater as a Data Analyst in the College of Engineering, and as the Assistant Director of Minority Programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. At Binghamton University she coordinated the Success Program to enhance the recruitment, retention, graduation and success of students of color. With an interest in campus racial climate, diversity planning, organizational change, and their affects on student achievement, Patricia entered Penn GSE's Ed.D. program in Higher Education Management. She is currently Senior Assistant Dean at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business.
Lauren B. Davis
M.S.Ed. Teach For America Urban Teacher Certification, 2010
Research Analyst at Spencer Stuart
Lauren B. Davis is a Research Analyst in the Financial Services Practice at Spencer Stuart, an Executive Leadership Consulting firm. Lauren primarily assists the Global Banking, Markets, and Real Estate teams. Prior to joining Spencer Stuart, Lauren spent three years teaching science and mathematics at a Philadelphia middle school and was a Teach for America Corps Member and Advisor. Lauren is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she received her M.S in Secondary Urban Education. She also holds a B.S in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration from Saint Joseph’s University.