Behrend Talks: A Penn State Podcast: Recent Episodes
Penn State Behrend
Join Dr. Ralph Ford, Chancellor of Penn State Behrend, and guests for conversations about interesting things happening in the Erie community.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Greg Filbeck, vice chancellor and associate dean for academic affairs, and Dr. Alicyn Rhoads, vice chancellor and associate dean for research and graduate studies, about the college’s new five-year strategic plan. Originally recorded on July 15, 2026.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Cora MacBeth, a 1996 Behrend graduate, about her first year as director of the School of Science. Originally recorded on June 15, 2026.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Bibiana Mayer Steckel, a Fulbright Scholar from Brazil, about her work with the Virtual/Augmented Reality Lab, where she is studying the use of VR technology to connect with children who have autism. Originally recorded on April 30, 2026.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Tiffany Beers, vice president of enterprise innovation at VF Corporation, about her work designing products for Nike, Tesla, Logitech and The North Face. Originally recorded on May 8, 2026.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Julia Cecchetti, a 2020 graduate and recipient of the Alumni Achievement Award, about her work at SpaceX and at Impulse Space, where she is a senior propulsion engineer. Originally recorded on March 19, 2026.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Brandon Mendoza, president and CEO of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, about the Erie 300 strategy and the role of local universities in economic-development work. Originally recorded on January 12, 2026.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Will Walker, director of the college's Women's Health Innovation and Science Translational Lab, about how Behrend's role in the MWRI-Erie initiative is helping to benefit medical research, undergraduate learning experiences, and the broader Erie community. Originally recorded on November 14, 2025.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Ala Stanford, a pediatric surgeon and Alumni Fellow, about her work with the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she served as a regional director. Originally recorded on October 9, 2025.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Christopher Harben, the Toudy Chair of Entrepreneurship and Family Business, about the Center for Family Business and the annual Family Business Conference. Originally recorded on September 15, 2025.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Tiffany Petricini, associate teaching professor of communication, and Kyle Chalupczynski, assistant teaching professor of management information systems, about their work with Behrend's Ad Hoc AI Task Force. Originally recorded on June 26, 2025.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Sophia DiPlacido, a 2025 graduate of the college, about her student experience, including a semester abroad in France. Originally recorded on May 7, 2025.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Joseph Beilein Jr., professor of history, about his new book about Behrend in the years 1980-2010. Originally recorded on May 1, 2025.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Connor Sattely, a 2025 recipient of the Penn State Alumni Achievement Award, about his work in venture capital in the Netherlands. Originally recorded on March 27, 2025.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Vincent Intrieri, founder and CEO of VDA Capital Management and an Alumni Fellow, about the Intrieri Family Student-Managed Fund. Originally recorded on November 7, 2024.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Robert Speel, associate professor of political science, about Pennsylvania’s significance as a swing state in the 2024 presidential election. Originally recorded on October 14, 2024.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Melissa Sulkowski, director of Student Wellness Services, about the Healthy Campus Initiative, which includes new programming at the Counseling Center and Health Center. Originally recorded on September 12, 2024.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Paul C. Lynch, associate professor of industrial engineering, about a three-year, $4.4 million partnership with the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation. Originally recorded on July 26, 2024.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Ken Louie, associate professor of economics and director of the Economic Research Institute of Erie, about inflation, interest rates and economic growth.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Darren Williams, professor of astronomy and astrophysics, and Dr. Mike Rutter, associate professor of statistics, about the April 8 total solar eclipse, which will be visible in totality in Erie.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Andrea Konkol, director of enrollment management, about the FAFSA and other steps in the college admissions process.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with alumnus Marcus Jacobs about his work as the borough manager of Wesleyville.
| Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with alumnus Jeremy O’Mard, senior managing consultant at IBM, about how artificial intelligence is changing the cybersecurity landscape.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Sherri “Sam” Mason, director of sustainability at Behrend, about the college’s new STARS rating for sustainability.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Elisa Beshero-Bondar, professor of digital humanities, about the Frankenstein Variorum and the Mary Russell Mitford Archive.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Emily Dobry, a graduate student who discovered a tree fungus that had not previously been seen in North America.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Yingxin “Cindy” Wu, winner of the 2023 Ralph Dorn Hetzel Memorial Award, about her experience as an international student at Behrend.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Priscilla Hamilton, a retired U.S. Army colonel and former commander of the U.S. Army Dental Command, about her work with the Council of Fellows and the Women’s Engagement Council.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Bishop Dwane Brock, the founder and chief executive of the Word of Faith Development Corporation, about the college’s new partnership with the Eagle’s Nest Leadership Corporation.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Andrea Konkol, director of enrollment management, about the importance of return on investment when considering a college or university. Originally recorded February 7, 2023.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Amy Bridger, senior director of corporate strategy and external engagement, about Project RESOLVE, a regional strategy for reimagining the manufacturing industries. Originally recorded Jan. 13, 2023.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Sue Daley, director of personal counseling, about improving mental health services for college students.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Ken Miller, senior director of administration and student affairs, and Brian Streeter, senior director of athletics, about the new Erie Hall, a $28.2 million fitness, recreation, and wellness center that will open in January. Originally recorded Oct. 25, 2022.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Kris Motta Torok and Clark Tieman, of the office of Student Leadership and Involvement, about the importance of student engagement and the extracurricular experience. Originally recorded Oct. 4, 2022.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Brian Kupchella, CEO of Clarience Technologies, about Truck-Lite’s move to Knowledge Park. Originally recorded Sept. 16, 2022.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Sam Epps, a 1995 Behrend alumnus, about campus diversity, alumni engagement and the future of labor unions. Originally recorded Aug. 23, 2022.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. David Kahl, Jr., professor of communication, about the language and strategy that advances neoliberalism and “post-truth” communications. Originally recorded July 26, 2022.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Kevin Moore, director of development and alumni relations, about Penn State’s six-year capital campaign, “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence.” Originally recorded June 22, 2022.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Tom Hagen, chairman of the board of Erie Indemnity Company, about the restoration and expansion of the Federal House, the new home for Susan Hirt Hagen CORE. Originally recorded June 1, 2022.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Eric Robbins, associate director of corporate outreach and research in the Black School of Business, about being selected for the George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching. Originally recorded May 6, 2022.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Claire Perritano, a Behrend senior, about her experience in student government and as a resident assistant. Originally recorded April 4, 2022.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Eric Corty, director of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, about his 29 years as a Behrend faculty member and administrator. Originally recorded February 28, 2022.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Lena Surzhko Harned, assistant teaching professor of political science, about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Originally recorded February 28, 2022. For a captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with James “JP” Goodsel, a graduate student at the college, about how student-athletes balance their obligations in the classroom and on the court. Originally recorded February 2, 2022. For a captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, discusses sensor-embedded fibers, polymer engineering and robotics with Dr. Tim Kurzweg, director of the School of Engineering. Originally recorded January 7, 2022. For a captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, discusses the life cycle of plastics and the new Advanced Resource Efficiency Center with Dr. Alicyn Rhoades, associate professor of engineering and interim associate dean for research and graduate studies. Originally recorded December 16, 2021. For a captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, discusses the disruption to global supply chains caused by COVID-19 with Dr. Varun Gupta, associate professor of supply chain management and analytics. Originally recorded November 23, 2021. For a captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, discusses the new Center for Family Business with Dr. Christopher Harben, Toudy Chair of Entrepreneurship and Family Business, and Doug Neckers, president and CEO of Maplevale Farms. Originally recorded October 26, 2021. For a captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Laura Guncheon, vice president of the project management office at Erie Management Group, about EMG’s efforts to spur entrepreneurial growth in the Erie region. Originally recorded September 22, 2021. For a captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Christopher Shelton, assistant professor of clinical psychology and director of the Virtual/Augmented Reality Lab, about the use of immersive technology in psychology. Originally recorded August 25, 2021. For a captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Kelly Goodsel, president and CEO of Viking Plastics, and Shawn Gross, the company’s vice president of culture and business development, about lean manufacturing and the plastics industry in northwest Pennsylvania. Originally recorded August 4, 2021. For a captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Erie Mayor Joe Schember about economic growth, Opportunity Zones and diversity-and-inclusion efforts in Erie. Originally recorded June 23, 2021. For a captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Tesha Nesbit, director of diversity, equity and inclusion, and corporate social responsibility at North American Partners in Anesthesia, about the need for diversity and inclusion in the workforce. Originally recorded May 20, 2021. For a captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Darren Williams, professor of astronomy and astrophysics, about the search for habitable planets and extraterrestrial life. Originally recorded May 11, 2021. For captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Mary-Ellen Madigan, former director of enrollment management, about her 34-year career at Behrend. Originally recorded March 26, 2021. For captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Pam Silver, associate dean of academic affairs, about the college's transition to remote and mixed-mode learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally recorded March 5, 2021. For captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Ashleigh Walters, president of Onex Inc., about her new book, “Leading with Grit and Grace: A Journey in Organizational Culture Change.” Originally recorded February 3, 2021. For captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Ivor Knight, associate dean of research and graduate studies, about the importance of research and the partnership with the Magee-Womens Research Institute of Erie. Originally recorded January 6, 2021. For captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Greg Filbeck, director of Behrend's Black School of Business, about the school’s role in a financial literacy initiative at more than 400 high schools. Originally recorded December 9, 2020. For captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Robert Speel, associate professor of political science, about the 2020 election and the transition ahead. Originally recorded November 12, 2020. For captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Tim NeCastro, president and CEO of Erie Insurance, about the company's commitment to community engagement and corporate stewardship. Erie Insurance was named Penn State University's 2020 Corporate Partner of the Year. Originally recorded October 12, 2020. For captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with former Gov. Tom Ridge, the first secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, about civility in politics, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the 2020 presidential election. Originally recorded September 16, 2020. For captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, talks with Dr. Melanie Hetzel-Riggin, professor of psychology, about the mental-health challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally recorded August 24, 2020. For captioned version, visit behrend.psu.edu/behrendtalks.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chanellor of Penn State Behrend, discusses the local and national economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with Dr. Ken Louie, associate professor of economics and director of Behrend's Economic Research Institute of Erie. Originally recorded July 28, 2020.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Dr. Ken Miller, senior director of administration and student affairs, and others about plans for returning to campus. Additional guests are Dr. Marty Kociolek, director of the School of Science; Emily Cassano, chair of Behrend's Faculty Senate and Council and assistant teaching professor of theatre, music, and visual arts; and Michelle Hartmann, director of Community and Workforce Programs. Originally recorded July 10, 2020.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Dr. Sherri "Sam" Mason, sustainability coordinator at Behrend and a leading researcher in freshwater plastic pollution. Part of Mason’s job is implementing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals at Behrend. Originally recorded June 12, 2020.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Dr. Chuck Brown, associate professor of accounting and associate director of Behrend's Black School of Business. Brown, who also serves as faculty athletics representative to the NCAA, received a 2020 Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching. Originally recorded May 12, 2020.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Jason Williams, assistant teaching professor of engineering and head of the Medical Plastics Center of Excellence at Behrend. Williams helped design a new COVID-19 face shield that is being produced in Erie. Originally recorded April 17, 2020.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Dr. Marty Kociolek, director of the School of Science at Behrend. Originally recorded March 13, 2020.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Dr. Ken Miller, senior director, administration and student affairs, about the plans to replace Erie Hall on the Behrend campus. Originally recorded August 30, 2019.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with John Jarecki, president of Behrend's Student Government Association. Originally recorded February 14, 2020.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Kevin Moore, director of Development and Alumni Relations. Originally recorded December 20, 2019.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Dr. Lena Surzhko-Harned, assistant teaching professor of political science, about U.S.-Ukraine relations as well as other political topics. Surzhko-Harned's research focuses on comparative politics and the politics of the post-Soviet space. Originally recorded November 22, 2019.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Mark Rose, director of aerospace operations at Lord Corp. An Erie native, Rose has managed several Lord facilities in the Erie region as well as in Dayton, Ohio. He also has served as vice chairman of the Industrial Advisory Board for Penn State Behrend’s Master of Manufacturing Management program. Originally recorded October 25, 2019.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Dr. Carolynn Masters, associate teaching professor of nursing. Originally recorded July 5, 2019.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, discusses the Behrend and Magee-Womens Research Institute partnership with Charles "Boo" Hagerty, chief development officer of Hamot Health Foundation, and Michael J. Annichine, chief executive officer of MWRI. Originally recorded Sept. 3, 2019.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Joe Snyder, president of Process and Data Automation. Originally recorded January 17, 2020.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Melanie Ford, director of Youth Education Outreach and the Engineering K-12 Outreach Center at Penn State Behrend. Melanie Ford is also an assistant teaching professor of computer science and software engineering. Originally recorded August 9, 2019.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Dr. Courtney Nagle, associate professor of mathematics education. Originally recorded June 7, 2019.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Tom Ridge, former governor of Pennsylvania and the first secretary of Homeland Security. Originally recorded February 28, 2019.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Matt Totzke, CEO of Larson Texts. Totzke earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics with a concentration in computer science from Penn State Behrend in 1996. Originally recorded April 16, 2019.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Dr. James J. Hodge, director of the Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Community Outreach, Research, and Evaluation (CORE) at Penn State Behrend. Originally recorded May 10, 2019.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Dr. Diane H. Parente, professor of management. Originally recorded February 15, 2019.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Caitlin Handerhan, executive director of the Public Policy Fund at Penn State Behrend. Originally recorded December 21, 2018.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Dr. Timothy Krause, assistant professor of finance and director of the Intrieri Family Student Managed Fund. Originally recorded January 18, 2019.
Dr. Ralph Ford, chancellor of Penn State Behrend, speaks with Jake Marsh, industry relations coordinator at Penn State Behrend, about the Innovation Commons. Originally recorded November 23, 2018.