A foundation of the Role of the College Union is that it “advances a sense of community, unifying the institution by embracing the diversity of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests.” That call to action earmarks the college union as one of those “third places,” the term coined by urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg denoting public places as “neutral ground where people gather and interact.”
Sarah Kipp has been exhibitions coordinator Penn State’s HUB-Robeson Galleries since 2013. In this role, she is primarily responsible for overseeing art handling and installations, managing student employees, and developing community engagement programs. She has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Penn State and master of fine arts from Queens College in both painting and drawing.
Kade Crittenden is assistant director of development at the Eberly College of Science and a graduate student studying higher education with Penn State’s Department of Education Policy Studies who also recently worked as a graduate assistant in the HUB-Robeson Center. He decided to pursue a career in higher education after serving as student body vice president, government relations intern, and as student alumni association vice president during his undergraduate studies at Weber State University, where he earned a bachelor of science in chemistry.
Steve Chaplin is managing editor of ACUI’s The Bulletin and manager of the ACUI College Union and Student Activities (CUSA) Evaluation Program. A former newspaper writer, editor, and manager, he has volunteered as a student mentor as a member of the National Association of Science Writers, and received awards for his writing and reporting from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, the Kentucky Education Association, and the Kentucky Press Association.