TPC Alumni Spotlight | Issue 2
Summer 2013

Greetings TPC Alumni!  

 

In this issue we're turning the spotlight on an alumna who started her career with an internship at the Phillies and who now enjoys giving back to her St. Louis community as supervisor of the St. Louis Cardinals Community Fund; on a Spring 2013 student who captured her semester in pixels; to the annual open house for alumni  and placement supervisors; and finally, we shine the light our newest TPC Board members. Welcome, and thanks for joining us!

 

-- TPC Faculty, Staff, and Alumni Board
Making a Difference
Alumna Profile: Lucretia Payne
Supervisor of the St. Louis Cardinals Community Fund, Cardinals Care

  

Over a decade removed from her Spring 2002 semester in Philadelphia and two World Series rings later, alumna Lucretia Payne still loves her job with the St. Louis Cardinals, where she is the supervisor for the St. Louis Cardinals Community Fund, Cardinals Care. She says that her semester in Philadelphia was "extremely instrumental" in helping land her "dream job."

  

Payne began her sports management career with the Philadelphia Phillies, working in the sales department. Her TPC academic advisor, the late Gerry Luneburg, suggested that she make a point of networking and scheduling informational interviews with several different departments within the organization to learn more about how the general management of a Major League team functions. It was through these networking interviews that she was turned on to community relations and was able to connect with the Cardinals upon her graduation from DePauw University in 2003.

 

Payne, takes particular pride and gratification from her work with the Redbird Rookies, which was formed in 2004 and is funded through Cardinals Care, to help kids play baseball free of charge. Beyond the field, the program sponsors a reading program, health and education fairs, health screenings, concerts, and scholarships.

 

"Honestly, the best part of my job is knowing that I'm making a difference," said Payne during a recent telephone interview. "To see, first-hand, the kids -- and how much they enjoy Redbird Rookies -- to see them at the fairs and concerts and see them smiling and dancing. I really enjoy what I do."

 

"I'm really glad I had the opportunity to go to The Philadelphia Center to do my off-campus study," said Payne. "Without that internship at the Phillies, it's doubtful I'd be here now." 

Photos by Ashley Esselink


Ashley Esselink attends Alma College and is a new media studies major. "Instead of window panes, I see the letter T, H, or even I. I see cars as trails of light, and tunnels as a frame. My world is all about seeing things differently; taking something that you would never think of as beautiful or picturesque, and making it happen. So get ready to see Philadelphia from a photographer's perspective."

 

   

TPC Annual Open House for Alumni, Placement Supervisors, and Friends
The Philadelphia Center was pleased and proud to honor long-time placement supervisor Nicholas Bisaccia, of the Children's Crisis Treatment Center, with our inaugural Supervisor Appreciation Award. Since 2001 Mr. Bisaccia and his terrific team has supervised over 50 students, providing our student interns with invaluable experience, supervision, mentorship, and guidance. His proud daughters and members of CcTC's executive staff were in attendance.
In This Issue:
Greetings

Alumna Profile: Lucretia Payne

Student Perspectives:
DiscoverTPC: Photos by Ashley Esselink

TPC Open House: Supervisor Appreciation award granted to Nicholas Bisaccia of Children's Crisis Treatment Center
  

Stevens E. Brooks Memorial Fund

Thanks to generous donations from folks like you, the Stevens E. Brooks Memorial Fund has already helped a number of students close the gap between their resources and the costs of city living during their semester at TPC. 

Will you help us reach our $50,000 goal? We're already halfway there! Please consider a tax-deductible contribution.  All donations will directly support students attending TPC.

 

Donations can be made online  or via check payable to The Philadelphia Center.


Upcoming Events:

Annual Open House for Alumni, Placement Supervisors and Friends: Philadelphia, Spring 2014

 

Reunion: TPC's 50th Anniversary, 2017

 

Stay in Touch:

Please join us on LinkedIn!

 

Email:admin@tpc.edu

215.735.7300

 

121 S. Broad Street

7th Floor

Philadelphia, PA  19107

 

If you have story ideas for future issues of TPC's Alumni Spotlight or if you'd like to update your alumni profile, please let us know.

 

Pitch In!

Our Fall 2013 students arrive in late August, if you live nearby and would be interested in helping out during orientation, please let us know!

 
New Placements 
We are always working to expand our internship placement opportunities, and if you work in the Greater Philadelphia region, we hope that you'll share our information with your friends and colleagues. For more information visit our website or contact our placement director.

 

Alumni Stories
Visit our website to read up on your fellow alumni and see what they have been doing. If you'd like to add your story to the mix, contact our marketing director.

 

About the Board:

TPC Friends Committees:

Recruitment

Engagement

Networking

  

If you're interested in learning more about TPC Friends or getting involved, please contact us.

 

TPC Friends Board Members:

Ryan Arey (Albion, Summer 2010)

 

Charles Catania (Hartwick, Fall 1998)

 

Theresa (Miller) Doggett (Alma, Spring 2003)

 

Viviana Gordon (Whitman, Fall 2005 and Spring 2006)

 

Peter Kellepourey, President (Hope, Fall 2000)

 

Bryan Kerr (Hanover, Fall 2008)

 

Marisa McClellan (Whitman, Spring 2000) 

 

Josh Merchant, Vice President (Albion, Fall 1995)

 

Thomas Poole (Whitman, Spring 2007)

 

Michele Porterfield, Secretary (Denison, Fall 1987)

 

Yashika Krutik Shah (Ohio Wesleyan, Spring 2010) 

 

Maeesha Saeed (Earlham, Fall 2010)

 

Scott Travis (Hope, Spring 2005)

 

Meet the New Board Members

Ryan Arey, Albion College, Summer 2010

Ryan completed a Marketing and Event Planning Internship at the Radisson Plaza Warwick while attending TPC.  She recently graduated from Penn with M.S.Ed in Higher Education Administration and is currently looking for a job. Participating in TPC was the best decision of Ryan's undergraduate career. Coming from a small town in Michigan, she was eager to explore a big city and the experience at TPC gave her the push she needed to apply to graduate school at Penn. Ryan is eager to give back to the place that taught her so much and is honored to serve on the Alumni Board.

 

Marisa McClellan, Whitman College, Spring 2000

Marisa's TPC internship was at the Seaport Museum on Penn's Landing. She researched, wrote, and gave tours on the Olympia (Navy Cruiser from the Spanish American War) and the Becuna (WWII submarine). Marisa currently lives in Center City Philadelphia and works as a food writer, cookbook author, and cooking teacher.  She is final stage of publishing her second book.  She has participated in Alumni Panel discussions and is eager to continue help and support on the Alumni Board.

 

Charles Catania, M.D., Hartwick College, Fall 1998

Charles was a genetics intern at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and is currently working as a family medicine doctor in Woodbury, NJ.  Charles credits TPC with playing a large role in him fulfilling his dream of becoming a doctor, meeting his wife and continuing to live in the Philadelphia area.  Charles has two boys and is excited to help strengthen the program to afford more students the incredible opportunities TPC offers.

 

Bryan Kerr, Hanover College, Fall 2008

Bryan interned in the Education and Management departments of the Arden Theatre Company where he continues to be employed today. Bryan currently lives in West Philly and has participated in several Alumni Panel discussions with current students.  While reflecting during these discussions, Bryan is amazed at how much the TPC was a crucial stepping stone in his life and how it propelled him along a path he never knew existed. He is grateful for the opportunity to give back to TPC as a member of the Alumni Board and looks forward to continuing to aid the students beyond the initial program.


Maeesha Saeed, Earlham College, Fall 2010

Maeesha worked at Public Health Management Corporation, interning with two projects: Preventing Aids through Live Movement and Sound, and Sisters Informing Healing Living and Empowering. She currently lives in Philadelphia and is a graduate student of Social Work at University of Pennsylvania. Her TPC semester was essential in helping carve Maeesha's path after college.  She loves the work that TPC does in bringing students from all over the country and world together, using their rich knowledge and expertise to expose students to the beautiful life of the city.  Maeesha is excited to contribute to the Alumni Board,giving back to TPC.

 

Staff list

Rosina S. Miller, Executive Director

 

Ilene Baker, Director of Information and Student Affairs 

 

Ruth Bottoms, Office Manager and Director of Alumni Relations

 

Mark Andrew Clark, Faculty Advisor

 

Michael Edmondson, Director of Marketing and Adjunct Faculty

 

Deborah Leibel, Faculty Advisor

 

Emily Nemeth, Marketing and Recruiting Assistant

 

Char Vandermeer, Placement Director 

 

Diana Waters, Faculty Advisor