CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — In recent months, Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSU-LV) welcomed several new full-time staff and faculty members to the campus community.
The new faculty and staff members are: Justin Kresge, director of Lehigh Valley LaunchBox powered by Penn State; Jonathan Mahoney, ITS support specialist; D. Edward Malinzak, assistant teaching professor of biology; Josh McAuliffe, assistant director of strategic communications; Katie Schneck, director of finance and business; Tiffany Valdes-Madera, faculty affairs coordinator; and Jennifer Waidelich, campus nurse. In addition, David Livert was promoted to professor of psychology.
Justin Kresge, Lehigh Valley LaunchBox director
A Penn State alumnus, Kresge founded his first business building websites and consulting for small businesses prior to going to college. While at Penn State, he participated in the Entrepreneur Network and Innoblue, the University’s community for entrepreneurs and change-makers, and served as a student director for 3-Day Startup.
With an extensive background in business startups, Kresge joined the LaunchBox Advisory Board two years ago. Now excited by the opportunity to expand LaunchBox’s reach throughout the Lehigh Valley, he will remain on the Advisory Board in addition to his duties as director.
David Livert, professor of psychology
Livert received his bachelor’s and master's degrees in psychology from Vanderbilt University and his doctorate in social psychology from the City University of New York Graduate Center. As an accomplished survey and qualitative methodologist, Livert has conducted more than 50 studies for clients such as the New York Department of Education, National Science Foundation’s GK-12 project, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Fighting Back Project, the Sloan Foundation and the Allentown School District.
Among the few social psychologists who studies the preparation of food and professional kitchens, Livert has researched chef personalities, conflict, teamwork and how workers flourish in stressful settings. His paper examining conflict among kitchen teams won a Best Conflict Paper award from the Academy of Management. He is author of the book “Making Dinner,” published by Bloomsbury, and is currently working on “The Psychology of Cooks and Cooking.” Livert’s research articles have appeared in scholarly journals including American Journal of Preventive Medicine, American Journal of Public Health, Journal of Drug Issues and Sociological Methods. Since 2017, he has served as the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues’ main representative to the United Nations, leading a team of representatives who advocate, author statements and conduct events at the United Nations pertaining to the application of psychological research to national policy and social issues.
Jonathan Mahoney, ITS support specialist
A former PSU-LV student, Mahoney graduated from Penn State Berks with a dual major in information sciences and technology and security and risk analysis. Initially hired at the campus as a part-time ITS support specialist, he joined the staff full-time in early October.
D. Edward Malinzak, assistant teaching professor of biology
Malinzak earned a bachelor's degree in biology from St. Vincent College, a master's degree in biology from Duquesne University, and a doctorate in geology focused in vertebrate paleontology from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
A vertebrate paleontologist, Malinzak specializes in anatomy and evolutionary biology. He previously served as an instructor of biology at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota.
Josh McAuliffe, assistant director of strategic communications
A 1999 Penn State graduate, McAuliffe served two-and-a-half years as a marketing communications specialist at Penn State Scranton before coming to PSU-LV.
McAuliffe spent 17 years as a reporter at The Times-Tribune, a daily newspaper in Scranton, primarily as a features writer for the paper’s lifestyles department. While at Penn State Scranton, he wrote and edited numerous news articles, feature stories, press releases and social media posts promoting campus events, initiatives and student, faculty and staff accomplishments. He also served as chair-elect of the campus’ Staff Council, and for seven years was an adjunct lecturer in the English department, teaching courses in journalism, rhetoric and composition, and professional writing.
Katie Schneck, director of finance and business
Schneck is a graduate of Lafayette College, where she was a double major in economics and business and Asian history. She started her career at Goldman Sachs in New York City, then worked as a private equity specialist for a hedge fund founder.
In addition, Schneck has worked as a senior financial analyst for a distressed private equity-backed turnaround company, a senior financial analyst and pricing manager at building products manufacturer CertainTeed, and a sales controller at Knoll Inc. Most recently, she worked as a finance manager at Bosch Rexroth.
Tiffany Valdes-Madera, faculty affairs coordinator
Valdes-Madera is a 2013 graduate of the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Professional Studies’ communication and culture degree program (now known as the bachelor of arts in communication and media). She was the commencement speaker of her class, and in 2013 was awarded the Bob Martin Memorial Scholarship.
For the past several years, Valdes-Madera has spent significant time volunteering on district committees at her kids’ school, advocating for education focused on diversity and inclusion.
Jennifer Waidelich, campus nurse
Before arriving at PSU-LV, Waidelich served as campus nurse at Penn State Berks for two years. Prior to that, she was a registered nurse at Reading Hospital Tower Health Medical Group and Lehigh Valley Health Network. Earlier in her career, she was a senior research technician II at Air Products and Chemicals Inc.
Waidelich received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences and earned associate degrees in nursing, natural and life sciences, and chemical technology from Lehigh Carbon Community College. She is a member of the American College Health Association.
