PACIE Conference Schedule 2025
Download the detailed PDF schedule PACIE Conference Agenda 2025 PDF schedule.
Thursday, September 18, 2025
📍 Location: Nittany Lion Inn
🕗 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Morning
8:00 AM–4:00 PM – Registration & Check-In
Location: Ballroom Lobby
8:30–9:15 AM – Continental Breakfast, Exhibitor tables open
Location: Ballroom Lobby + Ballroom ABC
9:15–9:35 AM – Opening Statements
Location: Ballroom ABC
8:30 AM-4:30 PM – Exhibitor Tables (closed during opening remarks and plenary lunch)
Location: Ballroom ABC
8:30 AM-4:30 PM – Coffee, tea, and water available (closed during opening remarks and plenary lunch)
Location: Ballroom ABC
Concurrent Sessions A (9:45–10:40 AM)
Session A (1) – Ballroom DE
A Seat at the Grown-Up Table: Youth-Adult Partnership for Inclusive and Sustainable Decision-Making
Youth facilitators, World Affairs Council, Pittsburgh
Alicia Cagle, Youth Programming Manager (Moderator)
Session A (2) – Boardroom 1
Two classes, two locations: Global learning virtually and abroad
Dr. Lauren Halberstadt, Associate Teaching Professor of Spanish & Director of Engaged Scholarship, Penn State
Dr. Samuele Grassi, Adjunct Lecturer in English Language and Digital Humanities, University of Florence
Mr. Jason Laine, Associate Teaching Professor of Italian & Director of Italian Language Program, Penn State
Session A (3) – Boardroom 2
Jawns and Journeys: Pennsylvania as a Global Classroom
Ryan Geiger, Global Engagement Coordinator, Penn State
Rachel DeMesa, Global Engagement Coordinator, Penn State
Wenjie Fu, Global Engagement Coordinator, Penn State
Concurrent Sessions B (10:55–11:45 AM)
Session B (1) – Ballroom DE
Building a Coalition for K-12 International Education in Pennsylvania
Dr. Michael Webb, Assistant Director of Organizational and Professional Learning, Montgomery County Intermediate Unit
Dr. Laura McCusker, Assistant Director of Educational Services, Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12
Rebecca Gibboney, Director of Educational Services, Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12
Session B (2) – Boardroom 1
Academic Libraries in Support of Campus Internationalization Goals
Mark Mattson, Head of Global Engagement Initiatives & International Partnerships Librarian, Penn State
Session B (3) – Boardroom 2
From Empathy to Action: Empowering Students through Global Social Impact
Fernando Ramirez, Executive Director, Bridges 2030 International
Taylor D’Alessio, Executive Vice President, TEEEM
Heather Ferris, Director of Operations & Development, TEEEM
Lunch Plenary (12:00–1:55 PM)
Location: Ballroom ABC
12:25–1:50 PM – Cacao, Collaboration, and the Land Grant Mission: Chocolate as a Lens for Interdisciplinary Teaching
Dr. Daniel Azzara, Recently Retired Alan R. Warehime, Professor of Food and Agribusiness, Penn State
Dr. Deanna Behring, Assistant Dean and Director of Ag Sciences Global, Penn State
Dr. Daniel Foster, Global Teach Ag Network Co-Founder and Associate Professor of Agricultural Education, Penn State
Dr. Melanie Miller Foster, Global Teach Ag Network Co-Founder and Associate Teaching Professor of International Agriculture and Development, Penn State
Concurrent Sessions C (2:10–3:00 PM)
Session C (1) – Ballroom DE
When “Soft” Skills aren’t so Soft!
Dr. Nicole Stokes, Director of Academic Partnerships and Institutional Grant Initiatives & Professor of Sociology, Penn State Abington
Dr. Jennifer M. E. Cressman, Early Childhood/Elementary Education Program Chair, Director of Teacher Education Partnerships, & Associate Teaching Professor, Penn State Abington
Session C (2) – Boardroom 1
People-to-People Diplomacy in Action: Impacts of Fulbright Teacher Exchanges
Dr. Michele Petrucci, Associate VP of International Education and Global Engagement, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Sue Rieg, Interim Dean, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Janet Walker, Professor Emeritus, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Mr. James Dykun, French Teacher, Indiana Senior High School
Session C (3) – Boardroom 2
Duolingo Tournament: Duo Says You Should Be Creative!
Emma Hagan, Study Abroad Advisor, Villanova University
Concurrent Sessions D (3:10–4:00 PM)
Session D (1) – Ballroom DE
Engaging partnerships to create Global Certificate programs
Veronica Dristas, Associate Director of Global Studies Center, University of Pittsburgh
Cindy McNulty, Global Studies Center Associate, University of Pittsburgh
Session D (2) – Boardroom 1
Beyond Brain Drain: Strategies to Engage Pennsylvania's Global Talent Network
Richard Spicer, Assistant Director for Global Outreach, Penn State
Wenjie Fu, Global Engagement Coordinator, Penn State
Kelly Morgante, Associate Director for Global Alumni Relations and Stewardship, Penn State
Session D (3) – Boardroom 2
Autoethnography as a Gateway to Cultural Intelligence
Dr. Gina Whalen, Associate Teaching Professor & Program Director of World Campus BS in Business Inter Campus, Penn State
Genesis Nunez, Student, Penn State Schuylkill
Evening
4:30 PM – Exhibitor tables close
4:30–5:30 PM – Shuttles or Walking (Nittany Lion Inn → Bryce Jordan Center)
5:00–7:00 PM – Reception & Awards
Location: Bryce Jordan Center, 1855 Club (enter east side, lower level mezzanine “Guest Entrance” between entrances B & C)
Award ceremony will begin at 6:00 PM.
Light appetizers and one drink ticket included
6:30–7:15 PM – Shuttles (Bryce Jordan Center → Nittany Lion Inn)
Friday, September 19, 2025
📍 HUB-Robeson Center
🕗 8:00 am – 2:15 pm
Morning
8:00–11:00 AM – Registration & Check-In
8:00-9:15 AM - Continental Breakfast
Location: Room 233 AB
8:45–9:15 AM – PACIE Business Meeting (adjacent to room 131; Agenda)
Location: FLEX Theatre
Concurrent Sessions E (9:25–10:15 AM)
Session E (1) – HUB-Robeson Center Room 131
Pedagogical Strategies for Globalizing the Curriculum
Veronica Dristas, Associate Director of Global Studies Center, University of Pittsburgh
Catherine Fratto, Global Studies Center, University of Pittsburgh
Session E (2) – HUB-Robeson Center Room 134
Creating equitable postsecondary pathways through community-university partnerships
In-person Presenter:
Molly McSweeney, Assistant Director for Student and Community Engagement, University Center for International Studies, University of Pittsburgh
Non-presenting Contributors:
Bahishta Mohammadi, ARYSE alumna & PRYSE Academy Co-Director (2024 & 2025); University of Pittsburgh undergraduate student
Maureen Porter, Associate Professor of Educational Foundations, Organizations, and Policy, University of Pittsburgh
Cody Weisel, PRYSE Academy Program Manager, Alliance for Refugee Youth Support and Education (ARYSE)
Session E (3) – HUB-Robeson Center FLEX Theatre (adjacent to room 131)
Cross-Cultural Engagement in U.S. Class Discussions
Min Lai, Founder of I-Planet & Licensed Social Worker, I-Planet International Center and Chester Upland School District
Concurrent Sessions F (10:25–11:15 AM)
Session F (1) – HUB-Robeson Center Room 131
Local Faculty, Global Mindsets
Tiffany MacQuarrie, Associate Director for Global Academic Engagement, Penn State
Nikki Mattson, Teaching Professor of Applied Linguistics, Penn State
Dr. Sarah Pierotti, Assistant Professor in Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State
Dr. Brian Fronk, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Penn State
Session F (2) – HUB-Robeson Center Room 134
PACIE Grant Winners Showcase
Moderator: Moderator: Elana Nahelsky, Principal, Vida Charter School
Panelists: Amanda Wagner, Tri-Valley Jr./Sr. High School; Barbara Weikert, Eisenhower Middle School
Session F (3) – HUB-Robeson Center FLEX Theatre (adjacent to room 131)
Language in Motion
Jessica Martin, Director of Language in Motion, Juniata College
Dr. Alice Edwards, Department Chair of Anthropology and World Languages, Mercyhurst University
Session F (4) – HUB-Robeson Center Room 233 AB
Partnering for Perspective: Local Business, Global Operations and Student Transformation
Dr. Gina Whalen, Associate Teaching Professor & Program Director of World Campus BS in Business Inter Campus, Penn State
Concurrent Sessions G (11:25 AM–12:15 PM)
Session G (1) – HUB-Robeson Center Room 131
How I Accidentally Launched an International Writing Contest (And How You Can, Too!)
Madalyn Fernbach, Student, Penn State College of Medicine
Session G (2) – HUB-Robeson Center Room 134
Well, What Happens Now?: Innovative Local Solutions for Global Learning Challenges
Dr. Noel Habashy, Associate Teaching Professor, Penn State
Dr. Deanna Behring, Assistant Dean and Director for Agricultural Sciences Global, Penn State
Session G (3) – HUB-Robeson Center FLEX Theatre (adjacent to room 131)
Building Pennsylvania’s Multilingual Future: Shaping the PA Language Roadmap
Michael Bogdan, Assistant Director of Educational Services, PSEA
Cherie Garrett, Adjunct Instructor of Spanish, Penn State York
Session G (4) –HUB-Robeson Center Room 233 AB
Micro Courses, Global Impacts
Dr. Korryn Mozisek, Director of Integrative Learning, Carnegie Mellon University
Veronica Dristas, Associate Director of Global Studies Center, University of Pittsburgh
Lunch & Closing at Hintz Family Alumni Center
12:30–2:00 PM – Lunch
Location: Hintz Family Alumni Center (building), Robb Hall (room name)
1:00–2:00 PM – Lunch Plenary
Ashlie Crosson, 2025 National Teacher of the Year
2:00–2:15 PM – Closing Statements
Location: Robb Hall