Board of Directors

President, David Wolfe ’94, Engl

Born and raised in Orange County, David graduated with a BA in English. He was a Lion Ambassador and Pi Kappa Phi. He’s been involved with our chapter ever since. His parents met at Penn State, his aunt is a Penn Stater, and he has two sons at Penn State. As the current President and Scholarship Chairman, David believes the most important activity we do as an alumni group is supporting the students and families brave enough to leave the bubble of Southern California for the four seasons of Pennsylvania to pursue academic excellence. He enjoys sailing, tennis, bar tours, reading, and being a father. He looks forward to his one pilgrimage per year when he returns to Happy Valley for a football game with his fraternity brothers and friends.

Vice President, Joe Thompson ’24, ESP, EBF

Joe is a California native who attended Penn State through World Campus. Despite being a distance and adult learner, he graduated cum laude in Energy and Sustainability Policy and Energy Business and Finance in 2024. He participated in the Local Climate Action Program, helping Doylestown Borough, PA, inventory its greenhouse gas emissions and plan for climate action at the municipal level from 2022 to 2023. Joe continued this work after graduation, pro bono, working with Chapman University in Orange to develop two sustainability plans for the cities of Orange and Brea. By day, he works as a commissioning coordinator for utility-scale battery energy storage projects across North America. Joe was recently inducted into the PSAA Young Alumni Ambassador Program 2025-26.

Treasurer, Bob Hunter ’58, M.S. PhyChm

Bob Hunter graduated from Westminster College in 1956.  He accepted a Graduate Assistantship at PSU’s College of Science, where he taught freshman chemistry in Recitation classes and labs.  His wife, Barbara, taught elementary school in Boalsburg.  Bob received his master’s in advanced chemistry in 1958 and began work at Colgate Palmolive Labs in NJ.  In 1970, he started a career with Amway Corporation, becoming CEO of Amway’s Nutrilite division in Buena Park and eventually Executive Vice President of Amway. Bob retired in 1999 and lives in Villa Park, where he keeps busy as treasurer of non-profits, including his church and our chapter.  He was one of the Founders of Villa Park’s Community Services Foundation. The Hunters have 3 children, 5 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.

Secretary, Judy Donina Wolfe ’70, GNAS

Judy was born in Monongahela, PA, and moved to California one week after graduating from PSU, where she minored in French.  She wears many hats as chapter secretary, Alumni Recruitment team leader, and unofficial event photographer. She has been a travel advisor since 1978 and has organized two successful chapter cruises and numerous chapter events. She is a volunteer reading tutor, promotes beagle adoption organizations, plans school reunions, raises money for THON, and oversees several Facebook groups. Judy was on the committee for We Are Weekend 2020-2022 and keeps in touch with her Gamma Phi Beta sisters. She enjoys time with her three grandchildren.   In 2023, Judy was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award by the PSAA. 

Pat Donina Nicholanco ‘66, ECEE

Pat attended PSU at the UP campus, majoring in Elementary and Kindergarten Education. She got married and moved to Vineland, NJ, and accepted a teaching position. Pat was active in the teachers’ union, participating locally and in the National Education Association. She also worked for the New Jersey Education Association as a Negotiations Consultant, retiring after 25.5 years. She now works as a Program Coordinator for Hands Across the Water. This affords her travel around the world. Pat served as the President of the PSAA South Jersey Shore Chapter for 6 years and currently serves on the Board of the OCIEA Chapter as a liaison for the Board to the PSAA in State College, PA. Pat loves time at the Jersey shore, collecting seashells, cooking, and anything Penn State.

Caitlin Brennan ’13, Econ, SCIS

In 2009, SoCal native Caitlin began her college journey at University Park. The next four years were filled with football games, new friendships, and personal growth from being far from home. In 2013 she graduated with a B.S. degree in both Supply Chain & Information Systems from the Smeal College of Business and Economics from the College of Liberal Arts. Her education provided a solid foundation to enter the supply chain field, in which she has been ever since. In 2019, she joined our board and served as its president for two years.  She also represents Penn State at college fairs, participates in LionsROAR, and works with the Volunteer Alumni Admissions Network of Ohio University, where she received her MBA in 2021. In 2023, Caitlin was awarded the Joan M. McLane Recent Alumnus Award at Penn State.

Michele Trasport-Gonzalez ’79, Bus  

Michele hails from football-loving Aliquippa, PA.  She attended Penn State Beaver as a Business major and played guard on the women’s basketball team.  After two years, she transferred to the UP campus and refined her major to Marketing and Management.  Upon graduating, Michele moved to California to begin a career at ADP Corporation, where she held several management positions and retired in 2019 after 38 years of service.  Michele became active in our chapter in 2016 by joining the board and served as its president in 2019 and 2020. She returned to University Park in 2022 for her first “white-out”. Michele enjoys gardening, refinishing furniture, and relaxing by her pool. She also helps to plan our chapter events, her favorite being TV football-watch parties!

Rhea Coblentz ‘93, Communications

Rhea grew up in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and knew at age five she wanted to be a Nittany Lion after helping her oldest sister move into East Halls. At University Park, she proudly served as a Lion Ambassador, working alongside chapter president Dave Wolfe. She earned a degree in Journalism with a minor in Exercise and Sport Science. After graduation, Rhea kicked off her career in sports TV production at CBS Sports and NBA Entertainment in NYC. She later earned an MBA in Marketing from Seton Hall, leading to marketing roles at Wakefern/ShopRite and Verizon. In 2021, she moved to Orange County, CA, for her husband’s job. Rhea is a proud mom of 18-year-old twins who share her Penn State pride. She loves exercising and playing sports with her family.

Tiffany Jassel Bevins ’09; Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management

Born and raised in Penns Grove, New Jersey, Tiffany boldly applied to only one college out of high school—Penn State University. She earned her B.S. at the University Park campus. She launched an exciting career in hospitality, which began with Vista Host Hotel Development and Management, where she eventually became the Regional Director of Operations and Talent Development. She moved to Orange County, CA, with her husband, Brandon. She joined Seaview Investors in 2017 and was recently promoted to President. In 2019, she earned her M.S. in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Tiffany and Brandon welcomed their first child, Naomi, in 2019 and their second (and last), Calvin, in 2023. Tiffany loves yoga, traveling, and spending time with her family. She believes in being curious, extending generosity, and empowering others.