Penn State Scranton Announces Staff Updates

Penn State Scranton has announced several staff updates, including new titles and responsibilities across various departments. These changes reflect the University’s continued commitment to strengthening its leadership and support structures to enhance its academic and administrative operations.

Admissions Office

Alex Ellsworth

• Alex Ellsworth has been named the regional associate director of enrollment management at Penn State Scranton.
• Ellsworth earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Scranton in 2015 and completed a master’s degree in higher education through Penn State World Campus in 2024.
• Previously serving as the interim director of enrollment management at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, he now takes on expanded responsibilities overseeing daily operations for the admissions departments at both the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre campuses.
• In addition to his new role, Ellsworth will serve as a regional leader for the three northeast campuses further supporting recruitment and enrollment efforts across the region.

Aaron Mattern

• Aaron Mattern has been appointed senior regional director of enrollment management for Penn State Scranton, Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre.
• Mattern holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Marywood University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from the University of Valley Forge.
• Previously serving as the director of enrollment management at Penn State Hazleton, Mattern now leads the regional enrollment management team across all three campuses.
• His responsibilities include overseeing admissions and financial aid efforts by implementing strategic recruitment and yield initiatives tailored to each campus while adopting a unified regional approach where appropriate.

Alyssa Russel

• Alyssa Russel has been appointed student aid coordinator and VA school certifying official at the campus.
• In this role, she oversees student aid processes, serves on the Scholarship Committee and helps award institutional scholarships.
• Russel also provides counseling to students and families about financial aid options and assists with the FAFSA and awarding stages.
• Starting March 1, Russel’s title will change to VA Point of Contact, though her responsibilities are expected to remain the same.

Bursar’s Office

Tina Weidele

• Tina Weidele has been named regional financial officer for Penn State Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton.
• A graduate of Kutztown University with a degree in secondary mathematics and a minor in music, Weidele previously served as assistant financial officer at Penn State Lehigh Valley.
• In her new role, she oversees budgeting and financial operations to ensure alignment with University policies and regional planning initiatives.

Center for Business Development and Community Outreach (CBDCO) Office

Jo Ann Durdan

• Jo Ann Durdan has been appointed interim regional lead of Continuing Education for Penn State Scranton, Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre.
• In this role, she is responsible for developing and overseeing continuing education programs, including workforce development, youth programs and budget forecasting.
• Durdan works closely with campus leadership to address the needs of the campuses and the surrounding community while providing project-based learning opportunities for students.
• Durdan holds a bachelor’s degree in corporate communication and a master of education from Penn State

Development Office

Desiree Voitek

• Desiree Voitek has been appointed senior director of campus development, northeast region.
• Previously serving as director of campus Development and Alumni Relations, Voitek will now oversee the development and alumni relations programs at the Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre campuses as well as manage the advancement program at Scranton.
• In her expanded role, she will focus on cultivating and strengthening relationships with alumni and donors to secure philanthropic gifts that support the campuses’ growth and initiatives.
• Voitek holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Penn State and a master’s degree in health care administration from King’s College.

Facilities Office

Michael Chura

• Michael Chura has been promoted to regional facilities manager for Penn State Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton.
• With 40 years of experience at Penn State, Chura now oversees the maintenance, operations and strategic planning for over 200 acres and 27 buildings across the three campuses.
• His expanded role includes managing safety, emergency preparedness and collective bargaining for the facilities teams at each location.

Information Technology Office

Connor Haggerty

• Connor Haggerty has joined as the new IT support specialist in Penn State IT.
• Haggerty has three years of experience in help-desk operations from his time at both Penn State Hazleton and Penn State Scranton.
• In his previous role, he worked as a student worker at the help desk.
• In his new position, he will support both the Hazleton and Scranton campuses while also assisting Wilkes-Barre as needed.Haggerty is working towards completing a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Penn State Hazleton and is expected to graduate in the Spring of 2026.

Rob Notari

• Rob Notari has been named interim IT leader for Penn State Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton.
• A 1999 graduate of Wilkes University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, Notari previously served as a systems administrator at Penn State Scranton, focusing on the campus’ technical environment, security and updates.
• In his new role, Notari takes on expanded responsibilities overseeing IT operations across the three northeast campuses, transitioning from a primarily technical role to a more managerial position that emphasizes leadership and strategic direction.

Office of Human Resources

Aurora Brunovsky

• Aurora Brunovsky continues as a human resources consultant, expanding her portfolio to now support five campuses: Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Schuylkill and Lehigh Valley.
• With a bachelor’s degree in applied psychology from Penn State and a master’s degree in community counseling from the University of Scranton, Brunovsky brings over eight years of HR experience across multiple campuses to her role.
• She focuses on providing strategic HR support and fostering collaborative efforts across her assigned campuses.

Maureen Carr

• Maureen Carr has been appointed HR consultant for Penn State Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Schuylkill and Lehigh Valley campuses following an HR reorganization.
• Carr, who joined Penn State in 2010 and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Beaver College (now Arcadia University), brings years of experience from her work at Penn State Berks and other campuses.
• Her responsibilities include supporting staff and faculty with human resource needs across her expanded portfolio of campuses.

Jonathan Kutka

• Jonathan Kutka has assumed a dual role as senior director of regional campus relations and director of strategic initiatives at Penn State.
• In these positions, he provides operational support for six campuses, including Scranton, and oversees strategic planning, administration, and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives for over 7,300 employees.
• A Penn State alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management and an MBA from Alvernia University, Kutka has over 20 years of leadership experience and has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the University and community.

Matthew Nied

• Matthew Nied,  director of student services and engagement at Penn State Scranton was appointed interim northeast regional director of Athletics.
• In this expanded role, Nied will oversee and support athletic functions across the Scranton, Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre campuses.
• Nied holds a bachelor’s degree in business management with a minor in communications from Alvernia University, earned in 2007, and a master’s degree in organizational and strategic leadership from Neumann University, completed in 2009.
• Previously, he served as assistant director of student services and engagement and began his career as assistant director of Unions, Programs and Student Activities.

Carrie Orlofski

• Carrie Orlofski recently joined Penn State Scranton as the administrative assistant to Student Services and Engagement. Orlofski obtained an associate’s degree in general studies with a focus on accounting from Luzerne County Community College in 2019.
• Prior to this role, Orlofski worked at Penn State Wilkes-Barre as the administrative assistant for the TRIO Student Support Services program. There, she supported first-generation students, those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and students with disabilities—helping to ensure they had the tools and resources needed to thrive academically.
• In her new role at Scranton, Orlofski will be assisting with student engagement initiatives, supporting career services, and health and wellness programs for students.

Nikki Paolicelli

• Nikki Paolicelli has been named assistant director of student services and engagement and coordinator of student activities at Penn State Scranton. A 2019 Penn State graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business management, Paolicelli is also pursuing a master’s degree in strategic communications through Penn State World Campus.
• In her new role, she continues to assist students with campus transitions, advises the Student Government Association (SGA) and manages key events such as the Summer Leadership Training Week and various academic recognition celebrations.
• Paolicelli also coordinates campus-wide student activities, oversees clubs and organizations, serves as an adviser for THON and leads diversity, equity and inclusion programming to foster community engagement.