The People of Penn State

Episode 100–The Symbol of Our Best with Mason Reber

It’s our 100th episode! For five seasons, Penn Staters have shared their stories, inspiring past, present, and future generations. We’ve heard from alumni making an impact across every industry, and as our network surpassed 800,000 living alumni this year, we’re just getting started.To celebrate this milestone, who better to join us than the Symbol of Our Best—the Nittany Lion! For the past three years, Mason Reber has been the man behind the suit, becoming the 54th Nittany Lion in Penn State history. He’s preparing to graduate this month with a degree in civil engineering and serves as an ROTC Army Cadet in the Engineer Corps of the Army Reserves.Mason shares how he found his way to Penn State, why he took a leap of faith and tried out to be the Nittany Lion, and some of the most memorable moments from his time in the suit.We’ll be back in 2026 with a new season of The People of Penn State podcast, featuring even more stories from alumni making their mark on the world. Thank you to our guests for sharing their journeys, our team for bringing each episode to life, and our listeners for tuning in, subscribing, and supporting the podcast over the past five seasons. We couldn’t have reached this milestone without you.For more alumni stories, visit pennstatermag.com

Football Letter Podcast Episode: Tara Bandy ’03

As communications chair of our Vermont Chapter, Tara Bandy ’03 keeps her lifelong Penn State connection strong as one of our volunteer leaders. She discusses the chapter's inspiring community work in response to historic flooding, the significance of Alumni Association membership, and much more.  Learn more on the chapter's Facebook page. For more alumni stories, visit pennstatermag.com

Episode 99–Pop, Passion & Penn State with Nancy Rosenberg

On this episode of The People of Penn State podcast, we chat with Nancy Rosenberg ('19, Com), Senior Director of Marketing & Creative Services at Crowd Surf. Nancy reflects on her time in the Bellisario College of Communications, what it was like to graduate early, and the real-world lessons that helped launch her fast-paced career.From her early days in digital marketing to helping create unforgettable fan experiences for artists across genres, Nancy shares how she blends creativity, strategy, and a deep love of pop culture to build meaningful connections between artists and their communities.Tune in for an inspiring look at her journey through the music industry — and how staying true to passions can take you further than you ever imagined.For more alumni stories, visit pennstatermag.com

Football Letter Podcast: Theresa Colligon ’93

In serving as president of our Southern New Jersey Chapter, Theresa Colligon ’93 is continuing her lifelong connection to Penn State. She took classes for two years at Penn State Abington (formerly Penn State Ogontz) and finished her degree at University Park. She discusses the significance of being a first-generation college graduate, how the chapter has grown, and much more. Plus, stick around for a special cameo from board member Matt Petersen and his son, Luke. For more alumni stories, visit pennstatermag.com

Football Letter Podcast: John Colwell ’16

This week's episode features John Colwell ’16, social media chair for the New York City Chapter. John received the 2025 Joan M. McLane Recent Alumnus/Alumna Award for “revolutionizing” the chapter’s ability to engage with local alumni through social media.  John discusses the strides the chapter has made and how the group unites Penn Staters, shares his own Penn State story, and much more. Learn more by visiting the chapter's website. For more alumni stories, visit pennstatermag.com