THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY - Key Persons
Aidan Kamowski, a senior studying Supply Chain Management & Information Systems, has excelled during his 3 years at the Sokolov-Miller Family Financial & Life Skills Center. He's delivered over 100 presentations on financial literacy topics, conducted 50+ 1:1 sessions to address students' financial questions, and has earned a FinCert Certification as a Certified Financial Peer Mentor. In his free time, he enjoys music, nationwide travel, and quality time with family and friends.
Aidan is a sophomore studying Finance and Economics. He has worked with the Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center since Fall 2022. Aidan is very passionate about finance and assisting people with personal finances. He focuses on giving financial literacy presentations to classes, working with students in 1 on 1 meetings, and is a part of the center's social media team. Outside of work, Aidan enjoys going to the gym, Philadelphia sports, and spending time with his friends. Aidan is a Certified Financial Peer Mentor as recognized by Fincert.org.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Financial Counseling for the Penn State Sokolov - Miller Family Financial & Life Skills Center
Allie Smith is Assistant Director of Financial Counseling for the Penn State Sokolov-Miller Family Financial & Life Skills Center. Originally from Central Pennsylvania, she earned her B.S. from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in Finance and Human Resource Management. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Organization Development & Change from Penn State's World Campus. Allie oversees the Center's one-on-one financial coaching program and hosts the MoneyCounts webinar series. Allie is passionate about empowering students to lead positive and less stressful lives through the implementation of good financial habits. Outside of work, Allie spends her time playing and coaching tennis and enjoying outdoor activities like camping and hiking. Allie is a Certified Personal Finance Counselor as recognized by Fincert.org.
Job Titles:
- Government and Community Relations
Job Titles:
- the Administrative Support Assistant
Arintha Gillen is the Administrative Support Assistant for the Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center. She provides general office support, oversees purchasing and reconciles the office budget. She is originally from Clearfield, PA and earned her Practical Nursing diploma from the Clearfield County Career and Technology Center. She started at Penn State as part of the Contact Tracing team in 2020. Prior to Penn State she was a home health nurse. Arintha understands how important financial literacy is to our well-being and health. She is excited to join a team that is passionate about helping the Penn State Community understand financial literacy.
Brady is a first-year student studying Finance and Accounting at the Smeal College of Business. He began working at the Sokolov-Miller Financial and Life Skills Center in January 2024. Brady enjoys expanding his knowledge on various topics within personal finance. He loves to debate on these various topics and share his knowledge. Outside of work, Brady loves to stay active by lifting and running. He is involved in various clubs on campus to better himself and the University.
Job Titles:
- Student Care and Advocacy
Christina is a second-year student studying Telecommunications & Media Industries and Spanish. She has been working with the Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center since December 2023 and enjoys learning more and teaching others about financial wellness and independence. Outside of work, Christina is a part of Penn State Mock Trial, Her Campus at PSU, and the Caliente Dance Company. She enjoys reading, baking, and exploring new places.
Clarissa is a sophomore studying Political Science and Criminology. She's worked with the Center since Fall of 2022. In her work as a Financial Literacy Ambassador, Clarissa leads the social media team, presents financial literacy topics to students, and educates the Penn State community on ways to achieve financial wellness. Outside of work, Clarissa enjoys playing music, reading, and competing in mock trial.
Money Question for Clarissa: What is your favorite money conversation to have with students?
"My favorite money conversation to have with students is salary negotiation. I love helping students build feelings of empowerment and self-advocacy as they prepare to navigate internship and full-time employment opportunities."
Job Titles:
- Division of Undergraduate
Eric J. Hunting is the Graduate Assistant for the Sokolov-Miller Financial & Life Skills Center. He is an Odawa native and 4th year doctoral student at Penn State University. He is completing a degree in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education with graduate minors in Latina/o Studies and Comparative & International Education. His doctoral work examines learning and decoloniality in the context of Latina/o punk music. He aims to explore how the intersections of Latina/o punk music and urban soundscapes challenge how we learn and where learning occurs. He is the author of a critical reflection to be published in Río Bravo: Journal of the Borderlands, which explores the work of María Lugones as an Odawa native and the idea of complicating space as an act of decoloniality.
Holly is a junior double majoring in Marketing and Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Media Studies. She has been working at the Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center since Spring 2023 and loves being able to make a direct impact on students' lives and teach skills not typically taught in the college classroom. Outside of work, Holly is very passionate about THON, enjoys listening to music, and can be frequently seen spending time downtown with friends!
Money Question for Holly: What's something you spent/ spend a lot of money on?
"Something I spend a lot of money (and time) on is my videography and DJ equipment. Something many don't know about me is that in my free time I've ran a business since I was 13 shooting videos of people's weddings and special occasions. Additionally, buying turntables, speakers, and amps has allowed me to explore my love of music and make money by DJing. The return is high for the industry because you spend a lot of money at first on the equipment and software, but once you pay it off and build your own brand it is pure profit!"
Jaiden is a Sophomore majoring in finance with a minor in economics. Jaiden has been working at the Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center since Fall 2022, where he's provided presentations on various financial topics across the Penn State campus. In his free time, he likes to keep himself active through playing basketball, cooking, hiking, and traveling!
Job Titles:
- Chief Investment Officer, Office of Investment Management
Job Titles:
- Director of the Penn State Sokolov - Miller Family Financial
Julie Heaton is Director of the Penn State Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from the College of William & Mary, VA, a Master of Public Administration, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Health Administration from the University of Montana. She began her work in financial wellness while working for a violence prevention non-profit in North Carolina. Helping survivors rebuild their lives, she observed how financial knowledge can self-empower and improve wellbeing for individuals. Since then, her work and research has focused on how to make financial education accessible, affordable, and inclusive for all learners. Before coming to Penn State, Julie taught personal finance at the University of Montana and served as Director of the University of Montana's Financial Education Program. Julie is committed to putting student success at the center of her work and hopes to share with Penn State the strength that can be achieved through financial fitness.
Lance is a first year student studying Mechanical Engineering. Lance has been working with the Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center since December 2023 and enjoys teaching his peers about the benefits of and the path to financial wellness. Outside of work, Lance enjoys playing D&D and going hiking in the woods around State College.
Nick is a sophomore studying Economics and Mathematics. He's been working with the Sokolov-Miller Family Financial & Life Skills Center since Fall 2022 and enjoys teaching others about financial literacy. In his work at the Center, he focuses on giving financial literacy presentations to classes and working with students on a 1:1 basis in the financial coaching space. Outside of work, Nick powerlifts and enjoys watching Penn State Football. Nick is a Certified Financial Peer Mentor as recognized by Fincert.org.
Peter is a first year student at the Smeal College of Business studying finance. Peter has been working with the Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center since December 2023 and has enjoyed seeing growth in his own personal finances as well as in his professional career. Outside of work Peter enjoys spending time with friends and family, going to the gym, and golfing.
Robert is a first-year student studying Economics and Finance. Robert has been working with the Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center since December 2023 and enjoys teaching his peers about the benefits of and the path to financial wellness. Outside of work, Robert enjoys playing tennis, getting involved with THON, and hanging out with friends.
Ryley is a first-year student studying Finance at the Smeal College of Business. He started working with the Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center in January 2024. He loves working with students, learning about personal finance, and making connections with people all across campus. Outside of work, Ryley is passionate about classic rock, golf, and Penn State athletics.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Outreach and Special Programs of the Penn State Sokolov - Miller Family Financial & Life Skills Center
Sarah DeWolfe is Assistant Director of Outreach and Special Programs of the Penn State Sokolov-Miller Family Financial & Life Skills Center. She grew up in the Chicago suburbs and holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Master's in Social Work from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Sarah liaises with the Commonwealth campuses to promote the Center's programs and services across the University; meets with students one on one to coach them in their financial journeys; and oversees the Financial and Life Skills Mentoring Program. Sarah is dedicated to helping Penn State students understand that financial literacy, while an integral part of well-being and success, is a lifelong adventure which requires acquiring knowledge and skills that will inform positive financial behaviors. With this in mind, she approaches financial coaching sessions from the viewpoint that personal finance is inherently holistic in nature.
Money Question for Sarah: What's something you spent/spend a lot of money on?
"FOOD! And not grocery food. I LOVE eating out: fast food, sit-down restaurants, movie-theater hotdogs, baseball-stadium hotdogs, Sam's Club hotdogs...I digress. I don't mind cooking, but it takes time and often feels like the 7 minutes I spend eating what took me over an hour to cook isn't worth it. I grew up poor, so when I was in college, I'd spend $3 here, $5 there on fast food because it was cheap, and I only had like $10 in my account at all times. The first time I sat down to budget, I found out I was spending over $400 a month on my "cheap" food! So I got in the habit of giving myself eat-out money in my budget that I can track so I actually KNOW how much I'm spending, which is usually the same amount or more than I give myself for groceries. And that's ok."
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the Penn State Sokolov - Miller Family Financial & Life Skills Center
Sarah Metzger is Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the Penn State Sokolov-Miller Family Financial & Life Skills Center. She is a native of Chicagoland and holds a B.A. in Secondary Education from DePaul University and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University. Sarah has over a decade of experience teaching learners in secondary, post-secondary, and professional settings. She specializes in instructional design and delivery, support for learners, and educational technology. As lead presenter, Sarah oversees the workshop and first-year seminar programs. She is committed to helping Penn State students meet their financial and academic goals through customized, authentic learning experiences.
Saraiha is a junior studying Management and Marketing at Penn State Hazelton. She is new to the Sokolov- Miller Family Financial Life and Skills Center as of Jan 2024. She started working at the center so she could help others learn about financial wellness and better prepare for the future. When she is not working at the center she enjoys snowboarding, reading, cross-stitching, and cooking.