UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As part of Penn State’s spring 2023 commencement activities, nine students will represent the College of Arts and Architecture as student marshals based on outstanding academic achievement and contributions at Penn State.   

The College of Arts and Architecture’s commencement ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. on May 6 in Eisenhower Auditorium and will be livestreamed. Penn State Architecture alumnus and Nike Inc. Chief Design Officer John Hoke will serve as commencement speaker.

College marshal

Bryan Manzano, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Musical Arts, Bachelor of Science in Biology (Eberly College of Science marshal)

Manzano, the son of Patrick and Nancy Manzano, has had a rewarding interdisciplinary undergraduate experience studying both music performance and biology. He is a proud member of the Penn State horn studio under Sarah Schouten, assistant professor, and previously Lisa Bontrager, professor emerita. He wrote his thesis on coral reef biology as a member of the Baums lab in the Eberly College of Science. Manzano has been a member of the Penn State Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Philharmonic Orchestra, and he had the opportunity to perform in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York City and Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh. He also has performed in both the Nittany Valley Symphony and Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra. In the future, he plans to pursue graduate study in biology while continuing to perform as a freelance musician. 

Department of Architecture 

Katherine F. McRury, Baltimore, Maryland

Bachelor of Architecture, Architectural History Minor 

A Schreyer Scholar, McRury has sought out a multidiscipline approach to design through history, sustainability, art and storytelling. She is a two-year alumna of Alpha, the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Workshop for Young Writers, and one of her short stories was published in the “Triangulation: Dark Skies” anthology in 2019. She is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the recipient of the 2022 Golumbic Scholarship for Humanistic Achievement, and an Erickson Discovery Grant awardee. The grant supported her research into place-sustaining architecture, which she continued in her thesis on the next evolution of the library typology as a third place and center for anonymous wisdom. After graduating, she will enter professional architectural practice in Baltimore and eventually pursue a master’s degree.  

Department of Art History 

Abby Mikalauskas, New Hope, Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, Bachelor of Science in French and Francophone Studies (program marshal), Minor in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Minor in Global and International Studies 

During her time at Penn State, Mikalauskas has been involved in many extracurricular activities, although she is most proud of her involvement with THON, through AXIS and most recently as a Rules and Regulations Committee member. Mikalauskas also values her time spent working at the Matson Museum of Anthropology. She studied abroad during her junior year, in Montpellier, France, in the fall semester and in Florence, Italy, in the spring semester. After graduating, Mikalauskas plans to pursue her master’s degree at the University of Oklahoma, and eventually a doctorate in art history, with the hopes of specializing in contact period Indigenous art of North America and the subsequent relationship between the Indigenous and various European influences, namely the French. 

Department of Graphic Design 

Taylor Kuszyk, Sassamansville, Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design 

Kuszyk approached her four years at Penn State with passion, focus, creativity and a healthy sense of humor. During her time as a graphic design major, Kuszyk was involved in Valley Magazine, TedXPSU and Movin’ On, and she was the treasurer for the Design Association. A recipient of the Arts and Architecture Alumni Society Scholarship, she also is a winner of multiple awards from the University and College Designers Association (UCDA), FLUX Magazine and Graphis. Kuszyk interned at Canopy in New York City and was a freelance designer with Dearest Creative. While at Penn State, she sang in the Concert Choir and was a member of the Pickleball Club. Kuszyk is currently working part time as a junior graphic designer for Wayfair and will shift to a full-time position with the company after graduation.  

Integrative Arts Program 

Rachel Pratola, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Arts 

Pratola began her undergraduate journey as an undecided major in the Division of Undergraduate Studies. She soon realized she wanted to broaden her creative studies and transitioned into the College of Arts and Architecture as a bachelor of fine arts pre-major. After taking many arts marketing and publicity classes, Pratola shifted her focus and changed to the integrative arts major. She completed a communications internship with the College of Arts and Architecture in spring 2022, where she found a passion for digital marketing. In fall 2022, Pratola studied abroad at the University of Sydney in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. After graduation, Pratola plans to return to Sydney to begin her professional career in digital marketing and communications.

Department of Landscape Architecture 

Maeve Fogarty, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture 

Over the last four years, Fogarty has served many roles within the College of Arts and Architecture, including sustainability leadership officer of the Arts and Architecture Student Council, Arts Ambassador, and president of the Landscape Architecture Student Society. A highlight of Fogarty’s time at Penn State was serving as teaching assistant for the first-year landscape architecture design studio and the third-year planting methods course. She has studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain, and Bonn, Germany, where she gained knowledge in European landscape architecture and grew a deep appreciation for new cultures and traveling. After graduation, Fogarty will attend the University of Pennsylvania to pursue her master’s degree in landscape architecture.  

School of Music 

Brody Segan, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Music, Minor in Jazz Performance 

There is nothing about music that does not interest Segan. Whether that be performing, writing, recording or film scores, Segan spent the last four years learning as much as he could about the aural art form. He has played trombone in various styles, from classical to jazz to rock and everything in between. He also is an active writer, having composed/arranged for jazz ensembles, trombone choir, film soundtracks and more. A member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Segan also has served as the president of the Trombone Studio and the treasurer of the Jazz Educators Club, where he helped coordinate two of Penn State’s annual jazz festivals. After graduation, Segan will attend the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami to pursue a master’s degree in jazz pedagogy.  

School of Theatre 

Nina Gold, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting 

During her four years at Penn State, Gold participated in eight productions with the School of Theatre, serving as a performer, director, writer and assistant dialect coach. Through these shows, she discovered her love of classical text, voice work, and accents/dialects, all of which she plans to incorporate into her career as an actor. In addition to her studies as an acting major, Gold focused heavily on sustainability and visual arts, expanding her knowledge of what she can do to better our world and herself. Outside of her classes, she explored comedy writing and will direct her original short film based on her experiences with mental health shortly after graduation. She plans to move back to Philadelphia and begin pursuing work as an actor in both film and stage.   

School of Visual Arts 

Gita Passi, New Columbia, Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Design in Digital Arts and Media Design, Minor in Photography 

A Schreyer Scholar, Passi channeled her lifelong love for art into her studies in the College of Arts and Architecture. For almost two years, she has been a graphic design intern with the Bellisario College of Communications’ Strategic Communications team. Earlier in her undergraduate experience, she contributed to the creation of the Happy Valley Animation Festival as a member of the Animation Club. She also has served as an Arts Ambassador and welcomed incoming first-year students as part of the College of Arts and Architecture buddy program. Passi has been a member of the Digital Media Group, including a term as president. Most recently, she spent two semesters as an account associate for Happy Valley Communications. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in multimedia in New York City, specializing in photography and videography.