WECOMMITTED ARE


As the daughter of an Army officer, I never lived in one place too long. As a result, I learned how to adapt to different cultures and social settings. Granted, I had my rebellious teenage moments but my parents never attempted to squelch my independent spirit.


This has served me well. My career goal was always to become a veterinarian. But high school girls in my day were steered toward teaching, secretarial or nursing – and my guidance counselor attempted to do the same. Next year, I will celebrate 30 years in the field of veterinary medicine.


I had angels on my shoulder to open doors for me. Therefore, I feel an obligation to do the same for others and pay it forward. I discovered Penn State through participation in their Math Options program which encouraged young women to pursue careers in science and mathematics.


After meeting Dr. Karen Sandler and joining the Penn State family, I decided there was no better place to invest in the next generation of scientists. I am honored to support the University in this manner. I didn't attend college here – but I am Penn State.


– Laura P. Clark, DVM, Zoetis, Inc., Trustee Matching Scholarship Donor


I was a very shy young woman but was able to find my voice with the help of a Penn State mentor, Dr. Jeanne Smith. When I was interested in replicating a psychology study, Dr. Smith suggested I design an independent research project. But Penn State Abington didn’t have a vivarium, a climate-controlled room for animal studies, so she encouraged me to do it at home. I turned my garage into my own vivarium complete with six cages, a dozen rats and a maze I built with my father.


Dr. Smith coached me, taught me how to be resourceful and recommended me for graduate school. Through her mentoring, I learned to believe in myself and determine what path was ideal for me.


Endowing a scholarship in her honor recognizes how influenced I was by her. She showed me how to be a good role model, which I try to do with my own students as a professor at the University of the Sciences – my second career after 25 years working in industrial-organizational psychology. I try to help them find the place that’s right for them because you learn best when you feel like you’re at home.


– Linda A. Robinson, Ph.D., ’73, Liberal Arts


CONVERSATIONS IN C A R ING


Dr. Laura Clark’s kindness inspires young women to discover math and science.


With help from an exceptional mentor, Dr. Linda Robinson found her voice here at Penn State Abington.


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