Students make valuable connections during Architectural Alumni & Student Day
Monday, March 3, 2025
Photos by Jennifer A. Cline, writer/magazine editor
Keynote speaker Adam Walker ’08 shares a few of the challenges and opportunities he’s faced and the emotional intelligence the students will need to navigate their own paths. Walker is the sustainability manager for SSM Health, which has nearly 14,000 health care providers in four states.
Students in the college’s architecture and sustainable design majors received a wealth of real-world wisdom and one-on-one time with graduates during the program’s biennial Architectural Alumni & Student Day.
Keynote speaker for the event was Adam Walker, a 2008 Penn College architectural technology grad and a sustainability manager for SSM Health, who shared how a commitment to excellence has helped him to navigate obstacles. Following Penn College, Walker attained a Bachelor of Science in architecture: sustainable design from Boston Architectural College. He accepted his position with SSM Health in 2023, following work as a senior sustainability manager for CRB, which designs and builds life sciences and food and beverage facilities. SSM Health is a health system with more than 40,000 team members and 13,900 providers in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
Presenting, in addition to Walker, were Dustin Bailey, a 2016 civil engineering technology and building science and sustainable design graduate and an architectural designer for GRA Design Studio; Brandon DeHaas, a 2011 architectural technology graduate and a project manager for Larson Design Group; Haley Harlow, a 2023 building science and sustainable design graduate and building certification manager for Phius; and Shawn Strohman, a 1996 architectural technology and 2001 construction management gradate, and a project executive for Roebbelen Contracting.
After sharing their career journeys with students, the alumni served as panelists to answer student questions.
The event also included a Penn’s Inn lunch, during which students dined with alumni and a few others from the architectural, engineering and construction profession.
Ellyn A. Lester, assistant dean of construction and architectural technologies, welcomes alumni and student attendees. Also welcoming the group were Kimberly R. Cassel, college relations director, and Lori A. Boos, alumni and career engagement manager.
Before lunch, Haley Harlow ’23 (left) chats with students Jazmine E. Arzuaga, of Reading (center) and Samantha A. Machuca, of Williamsport. Both are pursuing bachelor’s degrees in architecture & sustainable design.
Dustin Bailey ’16, of GRA Design Studio in New Jersey, shares some of his design work, along with the pros and cons of each of his career steps.
Dorothy J. Gerring, associate professor of architecture, introduces an alumnus.
During a panel discussion, Shawn Strohman ’96, ’01 encourages students to reach out to the alumni in the room for mentorship and advice, noting that one of his biggest career regrets is not returning to campus to connect with students sooner.
Brandon DeHaas ’11 describes the variety of directions an architecture career can take – including his chosen path to leave detail drawing behind and become a project manager.
Jordan K. Ace, a Bachelor of Architecture student from Franklin, addresses the panelists, who traveled from as far as California for the event..