Amy M. Becher
Dean of Enrollment
724-589-2182 • abecher@thiel.edu

Sonya Lapikas
Associate Director of Admissions
800-248-4435 ext. 2172 or 724-589-2172 • slapikas@thiel.edu
AIM: TC Admit Sonya

Hometown: Sharon, Pa.
Undergraduate degree: Business Administration, concentration in Marketing from Clarion University
Career goal as a high school senior: Become a Guidance Counselor
Internships while in college: Admissions Office - Clarion University
Hobbies/Interests: Pittsburgh Steelers!, Spending time with my family, especially my daughter, Katie, Spending time with friends
Favorite quote: “Don’t sweat the small stuff!”
Life ambitions: I would still like to become a Guidance Counselor. I believe the experience I have gained through my years of working in admissions would be very beneficial in this field.
Advice for high school students: It’s never too early to start researching your college options, It’s also very important to buckle down and give it your all beginning with your freshman year in high school, because it may be too late to work on/improve your GPA if you wait until your junior or senior year to do so. Campus visits are very important too, so please don’t assume that you want to go to a “big” or “small” college or university without completing the campus visit process.

Kate Bryant
Admissions Counselor
800-248-4435 ext. 2185 or 724-589-2185 • kbryant@thiel.edu
AIM: TCADMITKATE

Recruiting area: Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania, KY, VA, TN, NC, SC, MS, AL, GA
Hometown: Reading, PA
Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Arts-History Minor: Aquatics(Slippery Rock University)
Childhood dream: To become an Olympic swimmer
Career goal as a high school senior: To become a high school history teacher and to coach swimming/water polo
Internships while in college: Slippery Rock University Admissions and Slippery Rock University Residence Life
Hobbies/Interests: I love presenting and public speaking, and I love traveling! I have been a swimmer and in water polo for the majority of my life. I love to teach the sports to young kids.
Life ambitions/goals: To make a difference in a kid's life. To be a coach and a mentor. I want to be someone that people can look up to. Advice for high school students: Never stop learning. Never give up an opportunity to do something new. Most of all, never give up on your dreams.

Jeff Linn
Associate Director of Admissions
800-248-4435 ext. 2757 or 724-589-2757 • jelinn@thiel.edu
AIM: JLinn33

Recruiting Area: Greater Pittsburgh, Washington and Greene (PA) Counties, WV, MD, DC
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa. (City of Champions)
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Arts in History/Elementary Education (Thiel College, 2002)
Graduate Degree: “In Progress” MS in Organizational Leadership (Nova Southeastern University)
Childhood Dream: To become a professional football player
Career goal as a high school senior: To become a forensic scientist or a reality television star (haha)
Internships while in college: Student teaching experience in both first and fourth grade along with special education experience at the high school level
Hobbies/Interests: Weight Training, coaching wrestling, organizing fund raising events to benefit high school athletes, traveling with my wife Kateri to exotic locations, collecting cool t-shirts/hats, dreaming and thinking of that one BIG IDEA that could change everything
Favorite Quote: “Destiny”
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become your actions.
Watch your actions; they become your habits.
Watch your habits; they become your character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
Life Ambitions/Goals: To live my life to the fullest each and every day. To try to be the best husband, father, friend, son, manager, and person I can be. I also want to continue to assist and educate high school students and families with the difficult decision of finding the perfect college or university.
Advice for high schools students: Always give yourself places to compare. The best place for you is often found where the PEOPLE make the place. You have to find: 1). The right academic fit, 2.) The right social fit, 3.) The right financial fit, and finally a place where you feel at home. I visited a lot of colleges before choosing Thiel. After my visit when I shut the car door and ventured back to Pittsburgh, I realized that Thiel was place I was going to call home and it still is to this day.

Emily Marshall
Admissions Counselor
724-589-2838 (office) or 724-456-3247 (cell) • emarshall@thiel.edu

Hometown: Atwater, OH
Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Youngstown State University
Childhood dream: To become a nurse.
Career goal as a high school senior: To become a Physical Education teacher to help children lead a healthy and happy lifestyle.
Internships while in college: Student Teaching Experience at the junior high level and Youngstown State University Admissions
Hobbies/Interests: I love outdoor activities and spending lots of time with family and friends.
Favorite quote: "The struggles make you stronger."
Life ambitions/goals: I would like to always smile and be a positive role model. In the future, I would like to begin working on a Master's Degree in Higher Education.
Advice for high school students: College is a new and exciting step in your life. It is never too early to start researching and preparing for the colleges you have in mind. Pick a place that is going to be the best fit for you. When you get to college, don't be afraid to put yourself out there and get involved.

Jennifer Pruzinsky
Senior Admissions Counselor
800-248-4435 ext. 2756 or 724-589-2756 • jpruzinsky@thiel.edu
AIM: TCADMITJENNIFER

Recruiting Area: Transfers, Military, Post-Baccalaureate, International Students
Hometown: Painesville, Ohio
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Arts - Biology and Psychology (Waynesburg University)
Graduate Degree: Master of Arts - Student Affairs in Higher Education (Indiana University of Pennsylvania)
Childhood Dream: To become a marine mammal veterinarian and dolphin trainer.
Career goal as a high school senior: To be a Director of College Admissions.
Internships while in college: Education Intern at Sea World Orlando, Florida and Marine Mammal Training Intern at the National Aquarium in Baltimore
Hobbies/Interests: I love the beach, playing and watching sports, traveling, animals, listening to music, surprises, trying anything once, smiling, and making a difference in people's lives!
Favorite Quotes: "The rest of your life is being shaped right now with the dreams you chase, the choices you make and the person you decide to be. The rest of your life is a long time and the rest of your life starts right now."
"Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do."
Life Ambitions/Goals: I plan to become a Vice President of Enrollment for a college. On that journey, I would also like to obtain a Ph.D for Higher Education Management. Following other passions - someday I'd love to open an animal rescue shelter and travel to every continent.
Advice for incoming students: Search for a college that you will be happy at and be proud to call home for four years. Find what you are passionate about and pursue that as a career. Above all else, be a dream catcher and always strive to leave a legacy! If you are a transfer and/or military student, Thiel has so many amazing opportunities waiting for you. Your own unique experience and background will enhance the Thiel community and we are ready to welcome you to our family! I found my passion in helping students and their families through the college search process, and I hope Thiel will be the place you will discover and fulfill your passions.

Andrew Walizer
Admissions Counselor
724-589-2177 (office) or 724-456-4048 (cell) • awalizer@thiel.edu
AIM: TCADMITANDREW

Recruiting area: Northern Ohio, MI, IN, IL, WI
Hometown: Johnstown, PA
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Arts-Psychology with a Spanish Minor from Washington & Jefferson College
Hobbies/Interests: Skiing, soccer, videogames, riding my bicycle, and visiting amusement parks.
Life ambition: I just want to enjoy what I do and be happy, everything else will hopefully fall in line if I can attain that.
Advice for high school seniors: This is a busy time in your lives, with all the applications, filling out the FAFSA, and eventually making the big decision on where to attend. Don't forget to enjoy your last year of high school though. Start your search early and you will make this decision much easier and still have time to enjoy your senior year before this new stage in your life begins.

Stephanie Wilson
Admissions Counselor
800-248-4435 ext. 2111 or 724-589-2111 • swilson@thiel.edu
AIM: TCADMITSTEPHANIE

Recruiting area: Mercer and Lawrence Counties (PA), FL, IL, WI, MN, IA, MO, AR, LA, TX, OK, KS, NE, SD, ND, MT, WY, CO, NM, AZ, UT, ID, WA, OR, NV, CA, AK, HI
Hometown: Greenville, PA
Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Thiel College, 2004)
Childhood dream: To become a famous concert pianist and to open an orphanage.
Career goal as a high school senior: Opera Singer
Hobbies /Interests: Spending time with my husband, Joe; playing with my three dogs; my church; singing and playing the piano; reading; working around my house; game nights with friends.
Favorite quote: “God grant me the wisdom to accept the things I cannot change, change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Life ambitions: I hope to always strive to become a better person and to have a positive effect on the people I encounter during this wonderful journey called life; to become more patient; to be an excellent wife, mother, co-worker and friend.
Advice for high school students: Cherish your high school years, they will fly by quicker than you realize. Remember, it’s never too early to start preparing for “the next step” in your life. Your grades matter as early as your freshman year, so get the right start in continuing your education by earning good grades. Visit any school you are interested in; ask a lot of questions; meet as many people on the campus as you can before you make a decision. Often it is not the strong academic or athletic program that will make the four years you spend in college so meaningful, but it will be the people you meet who will have a lasting effect on your life! Finally, you only get out of college what you put into it, so once you make a decision, jump in, get involved, stay on campus, and most of all HAVE FUN!