Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Career and Professional Development Center has announced its fall 2025 Outstanding Organizational Partners, who join the CPDC’s Partner Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame program, introduced in spring 2024, is designed to recognize the dedication and support of organizations or faculty members who demonstrate an exceptional level of partnership with the office. Recipients join the CPDC Partner Hall of Fame; Hall of Fame recipients are featured on the CPDC website.
“Our partners remind us that student success is a shared endeavor,” Executive Director of the Career and Professional Development Center Tammy Manko said. “Their dedication and collaboration help our students bridge the gap between college and career, and such impact lasts long after graduation.
“We look forward to continuing this tradition of recognizing partners who make a measurable difference in students’ professional growth and the broader university community,” she said.
The fall 2025 Organization Partner Award recipients are:
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Dawn Smith-Sherwood, director of Liberal Studies and director of First Learning Year (FLY), professor of Spanish
Dawn Smith-Sherwood, professor of Spanish in the Department of Language, Literature, and Writing, director of Liberal Studies at IUP, and inaugural director of IUP’s First Learning Year (FLY) program. Smith-Sherwood was recognized for her leadership of FLY and IUP’s Liberal Studies Workgroup, her commitment to including career readiness concepts within the Crimson Core framework, her willingness to engage with and promote the CPDC and its programs and services, her presentations at the CPDC’s Career Ready Seminar Series programs, and her many contributions to students’ career readiness.
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Mike Kosicek (posthumously). Kosicek, who passed away in 2023, was an associate professor in the Department of Management and a longtime coordinator of the PhD in Business program. He was honored for his legacy of mentorship and commitment to students’ career and professional development, including his dedication to supporting students’ academic, professional, and personal growth and preparing them for life beyond the classroom; and for his support of CPDC programs and outreach, including welcoming CPDC speakers into his classes, inviting employers to campus, and encouraging students to attend career fairs.
Smith-Sherwood and the late Kosicek join 2024 Hall of Fame recipients Enterprise Mobility, Associate Vice Provost for Libraries and Research Support Services Kelly Heider, Talent Acquisition Manager and Early Career Talent and University Relations at Highmark Health Jill Kirsch, IUP Distinguished University Professor and professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice Alida Merlo, and Interim Dean of the College of Health Sciences Lisa Newell.
“Each honoree has played a vital role in connecting our IUP students to meaningful career paths, offering opportunities such as internships, inviting our department in for classroom presentations, promoting and sharing professional networking experiences and CPDC-sponsored events, and more,” Manko said.
Family members of the late P. Michael Kosicek. Seated, from left, Linda Waitkus (sister), Rose Bush (sister), Kimberly Altmire (sister), and Sharon Albert (special companion). Standing from left, Jeff Bush (nephew), Kim Bush (brother-in-law)
“Overall, these honorees have been dedicated to supporting students’ career readiness, and their commitment to this piece of the student experience has not gone unnoticed. We are fortunate at IUP to have faculty, staff, and employer partners who are dedicated to student success both in and out of the classroom.”
The CPDC functions as a comprehensive career planning resource within the university.
The Center offers more than 35 programs throughout the academic year, ranging from business etiquette dinners to mock interviews, career coaching, and a variety of professional development programs. The Center also offers a professional photo booth service for students, employees, and alumni.
The Center team includes Kelsey Pilotta, associate director; Jeremy Risinger, assistant director of academic and career success; Kristen O’Hara, director of workforce development; and Celia Barber, administrative assistant. A number of graduate students are part of the team, as well as undergraduate students who are Career Development Advocates. The CDAs engage in work that supports the front desk and general operations of the CPDC, as well as social media content creation.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. As IUP celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025, the university honors a legacy of educational excellence while looking toward a future of innovation, leadership in healthcare education, and public service.