These graduates completed their Penn State degrees online through Penn State World Campus without having to leave their communities, their careers, and their families to advance their educational and professional goals.
Working full-time in finance, Joana Taka needed a program that allowed her to stay in her community while finishing her degree. She graduated in December 2025 with a bachelor's in health policy and administration. “Penn State has a great reputation, and I was so grateful they offered World Campus because it made graduating on time possible,”
Khalid Nawab, a practicing physician at Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, is bridging the fields of health care and technology. Nawab just graduated with a master's of artificial intelligence he completed online through Penn State World Campus. He wanted to advance his knowledge of AI while continuing to practice. “I was able to continue working full time,” Nawab said. “It enabled me to think of ideas where AI can be applied in my daily clinical work. I also became more involved in discussions with the informatics team and sort of became the default person for anything related to AI thanks to my online education.”
Aja Cramer, of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, is using her skills in design to strengthen Pennsylvania’s hospitality industry. Cramer just graduated with a bachelor's in digital multimedia design that she completed online through Penn State World Campus. She is the membership manager for the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. “My hope is that I can use these skills to help local businesses thrive, strengthen community connections, and contribute to the continued growth of the county and the state.”
Jaisauna Houser, of Pittsburgh, just graduated with a master's degree in data analytics, business analytics option, that she completed online through Penn State World Campus without having to relocate to go to grad school. She has already secured a major role in a project for her company based in downtown Pittsburgh, and she feels she's ready for a data-driven future. “Companies will be looking for individuals that can help them provide data-driven insights and, most importantly, make decisions that improve the business. Data alone is not impactful, but with the help of someone with my expertise, it can become a powerful tool.”
Armand Gjeka, of Havertown, Pennsylvania, went back to school to pursue a master’s degree in health administration so that he could move into leadership roles in operations and systems support with Siemens Healthineers. He needed to balance his job as a remote service engineer with his family, and relocating was not an option. “Being fully online and in a flexible format allowed me to balance my education with family commitments and my work in the community. I didn’t have to choose between my studies and being there for my kids or supporting my parents,” he said. “Plus, I could continue serving customers across Pennsylvania and beyond. Every week, I eagerly applied my new knowledge to real challenges at work, enriching both my learning experience and my professional contributions.”
Leonard Tooks worked for many years in Pennsylvania and completed two associate degrees at Penn State. This fall, he graduated with his bachelor's degree in accounting that he earned online through Penn State World Campus. Tooks is pictured with his academic adviser, Yana Irwin, at a graduation open house during the fall 2025 commencement weekend.
Krystal Lutz, left, had a goal of graduating from Penn State since she was a child. Lutz, who works in security for Amazon, completed that goal, graduating with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice she earned online through Penn State World Campus. “I learn best at my own pace, and Penn State World Campus gave me that flexibility,” Lutz says. “It let me balance a full-time job with being a full-time student.”