Alumni Updates & Recognitions

Joanne McFall '98, market president at Keystone First, Pennsylvania's largest Medicaid managed organization, was a recipient of City & State Pennsylvania's 2024 Impact Award. In this role, McFall manages the health plans of over 600,000 Pennsylvanians. She has worked at Keystone First’s parent company, AmeriHealth Caritas, since 2000, shortly after earning her master's in business administration from Widener University. 

Under her leadership, Keystone First has seen its membership expand across Southeastern Pennsylvania and recently negotiated an ongoing partnership with Temple Health.

Markevis Gideon '10 has been named to the Delaware Business Times' Delaware 222 List of the state's most impactful business, civic, and nonprofit leaders. Gideon, the CEO of NERDiT NOW, a computer and electronics repair and recycling business, founded the company based off a simple idea: what can donating 100 computers do? From there, he launched the first electronics recycling company in Delaware, while also opening a shop to repair computers. Through the company’s nonprofit arm, it has donated more than 10,000 computers to at-risk communities in the state and started an apprenticeship program for those who live in the community.  

Gideon earned a degree in accounting from Widener University.

Mary Sortino, PsyD '98 has been named dean of graduate studies and professional education at Fairmont State University in West Virginia. In this role, she will oversee all of the university’s master’s degree and continuing education programs, including curriculum development, recruitment, and retention. Previously, Sortino served for over a decade as the dean of business and education at Gwynedd Mercy University in Pennsylvania. With over two decades of higher education experience, she previously held leadership roles at Delaware Technical and Community College, Rosemont College, Cabrini University, and Wesley College.

A graduate of West Chester University in Pennsylvania, Sortino holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology, a master of health administration degree, and a doctorate in clinical psychology from Widener University.

Michael Brady '97 '00 has received the Excellence in Business Award from the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, which awards exceptional business leaders who play a pivotal role in driving business growth in Delaware County. Brady began his career with LPL Financial Services in 2001 and has run his own Financial Planning and Services practice located in Broomall, PA. 

Brady, who holds a degree in accounting and an MBA from Widener University, has also served as an adjunct instructor in the Graduate Program, where he has taught Introduction to Financial Planning, as well as serving two terms as President of the Alumni Association. Brady has been a member of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce since 2001 and was named Board Chairman in 2008, and later President in 2009. During his tenure he was responsible for a reorganization effort that led to a more engaged board and membership.

Richard Roberts III, '85, '89, '00 is the executive director of Young Men and Women in Charge, a West Chester, PA nonprofit, which seeks to empower and prepare economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented youth so they can pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, math, art, music, and entrepreneurship. Roberts, a three-time Widener graduate who earned degrees in the School of Engineering and School of Business Administration, provides these opportunities to youth from third grade through high school. 

Young Men and Women in Charge guides over 300 young people through tutoring, mentoring, financial assistance, and a host of projects including science fairs, and community service. The nonprofit also raises money for scholarships for college-bound students and provides them with SAT prep courses, help applying for admission and financial aid, as well as a career and college expo.

RTI Surgical, a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing company in regenerative medicine, announced the appointment of Chad Croasdale '97 as Chief Commercial Officer. Croasdale will play a pivotal role in executing RTI Surgical's commercial vision.

Prior to joining RTI, Croasdale served as President and Chief Commercial Officer of 270Surgical, a product development, branding, commercial strategy and business development company. Croasdale also held leadership positions at Stryker, where he spent 18 years in roles of increasing responsibility in sales and marketing before serving as VP and General Manager of Stryker Communications. 

He earned a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from Widener University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hobart College.

Danielle Dougherty, Ph.D. '97 joined Cantor Colburn, a leading intellectual property law firm, as a patent agent. Dougherty will assist clients in important patent prosecution matters and intellectual property management. Prior to joining Cantor Colburn, she was a patent agent at Revlon, where she drafted patent applications, patent amendments, and responded to domestic and foreign office actions for chemical formulations involving polymeric materials. She also has experience as a patent and research analyst focusing on patentability, freedom to operate, invalidity, semiconductors, white space analysis, and competitive intelligence in areas of chemical engineering and polymer synthesis.

Dougherty earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Widener University and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Connecticut. 

Tim Newby ’96 published The Original Louisville Slugger: The Life and Times of Forgotten Baseball Legend Pete Browning, which has been named as a finalist for the CASEY Award. The Original Louisville Slugger explores the life of Louis "Pete" Rogers Browning, who was one of the greatest baseball players of the nineteenth century. Browning was also recognized as the namesake for the famed Louisville Slugger since the first ever custom-made bat was created according to his instructions.

The CASEY award is an annual literary award that is given to the book that has had the greatest impact on baseball literature each year and is the most prestigious honor that a baseball book can receive. Newby's book is among this year's ten finalists and the winner will be announced in January 2025. The Original Louisville Slugger can be purchased on Amazon.com.

The Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA) is honored to announce the selection of Tina Kane, Ed.D. '94, '98, '04, Superintendent of the Marple Newtown School District, as the 2025 Pennsylvania Superintendent of the Year. Kane has led the Marple Newtown School District since 2019, after serving in various leadership roles, including Principal at both the middle and high school levels. 

During her tenure, the district has implemented key innovations, such as district-wide K-12 STEM education and the introduction of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programming. These hallmark achievements integrate STEM and SEL through classes at the elementary and middle school levels, while the high school’s in-house STEM Academy, focuses on developing 21st-century skills and fostering student well-being.

Kane holds degrees from Widener University including a bachelor's in psychology, master's in educational psychology, and doctor of education in Educational Administration.

Louis Rodriguez, PE ’91 was recently recognized by The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia for his contributions to workforce development. In 2020, Rodriguez launched Rodriguez University, a workforce development initiative, designed to create career pathways in infrastructure for young adults from under-served communities. This initiative began by training six individuals and eventually grew to include 16 participants, with funding from the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Commerce. 

Rodriguez is the president and founder of Rodriguez Consulting and graduated with a degree from Widener University in civil engineering. He has also served as a University trustee since 2017.

Lydia Flinner ’21 was named the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) of the Year by University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Flinner, who earned a nursing degree from Widener’s Family Nurse Practitioner graduate program, is a nurse practitioner who specializes in general surgery and breast surgery at Leader Surgical Associates-UPMC in central Pennsylvania. 

This award recognizes Flinner as an outstanding APP who demonstrates the highest commitment in supporting the vision, mission, and goals of UPMC through her work and clinical practice. As a nurse practitioner, Flinner exhibits an exemplary performance as a role model, mentor, collaborator, and relationship builder across the spectrum of health care delivery.

Robert Hickey, PhD. '07, associate professor of materials science and engineering in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State University, will receive the American Physical Society’s 2025 John H. Dillon Medal. The medal, awarded annually since 1983, recognizes the exceptional early career research accomplishments of young polymer physicists. Hickey will receive the award at the APS Global Physics Summit in March 2025 in Anaheim, California.

Hickey’s research involves pioneering nonequilibrium structured soft materials. He previously received a National Science Foundation Early Career Development Award for this work. 

Prior to joining Penn State in 2016, Hickey was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Minnesota. He received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from Widener University and his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania.

Sean Wagner ’02 was presented with the prestigious Hank Nuwer Anti-Hazing Hero Award at a recent Phi Delta Theta event in Atlanta, Georgia. Wagner, the Phi Delta Theta Executive Vice President and CEO, was recognized for his leadership in anti-hazing initiatives within Phi Delta Theta and the Greek community. His work has raised awareness about the dangerous consequences of hazing and promoted a safer environment for fraternity members. Wagner is dedicated to fostering a brotherhood built on respect, safety, and mutual support, reinforcing its ongoing mission to lead the way in eradicating hazing.

Wagner graduated from Widener University with a degree in communications. He currently serves on the Alumni Council. In addition, he holds a Master's in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management from Northern Kentucky University.

Valerie Stacy ’03, was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the United States military in front of the flag pole located outside of Old Main on Widener's Chester campus. Stacy graduated from Widener University with a degree in nursing and participated in the ROTC program as a student. Upon graduation, she was stationed at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, DC, and later at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. 

Stacy was also deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom, and was later deployed to New Orleans, Louisiana to assist with rescue and clean-up efforts after Hurricane Katrina. She is currently stationed in San Antonio, Texas at Fort Sam Houston Army Base with her husband and two children, Lauren and Chase.

Dover Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce that Alisha Cooper, MPA '15 has joined the Credit Union, as a Mortgage Loan Originator. Cooper brings a wealth of knowledge and 25 years of experience in the mortgage industry.

Cooper holds an MPA from Widener University and comes with a plethora of experience and passion about increasing homeownership.

Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP is excited to announce that Corey Smith '96 has joined the law firm as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Smith comes to Klehr Harrison after nearly 16 years at Dechert LLP, where he also served as COO. Smith has over 27 years of experience in financial and operational management, performance improvement and regulatory compliance. 

In addition to his former role as COO at Dechert, he previously served as Chief Financial Officer and Director of Global Financial Operations, where he was instrumental in centralizing and consolidating the financial functions to support the firm’s growing global footprint. He is adept at successfully completing key strategic initiatives, including operational performance improvement, revenue enhancement and cost reduction initiatives.

Smith holds a degree in accounting from Widener University.

Donna Dorozinsky '89, the Founder and CEO of Just in Time GCP, was recognized by Inc. 5000 for her fourth consecutive year. Just in Time GCP focuses on optimizing the quality of clinical research, and was named to the list for consistently driving rapid revenue growth while successfully navigating inflationary pressure, the rising costs of capital, and hiring challenges. The prestigious ranking provides a data-driven look at the country's most successful independent entrepreneurial businesses. 

Dorozinsky attended Gwynedd Mercy University where she earned both an A.D. and B.S. in Nursing and later received a Master’s in Nursing from Widener University. Recognized as a leader in the industry, she was a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Philadelphia region in 2022 and a finalist for the PACT Life Sciences CEO of the Year in 2024. The company was also named one of JP Morgan's 50 Fastest Growing Woman-Owned Companies in 2021 and 2022. 

Joseph Mancuso, DEd. '14 was recently inducted into the Connellsville Area Falcon Foundation Hall of Fame as a distinguished graduate of Connellsville Area High School. Mancuso was chosen for this honor due to his professional achievements in the field of education. He attended Edinboro University on a football scholarship and earned a history degree, later returning to teach and coach at Connellsville. Mancuso served the district in a variety of roles including as an assistant principal, high school principal and assistant superintendent.

In 2018, Mancuso accepted a position as superintendent of the Eastern York School District, which has received national recognition for its educational excellence, including being ranked as the best high school in Pennsylvania for seven consecutive years.

Mancuso also holds a master's degree from Shippensburg University and a doctorate in education from Widener University.

Michael Birdsall '97 CPA, CFE, was named the 2024 Beta Alpha Psi Distinguished Accounting Alumnus. Birdsall is Vice President of Credit Risk and Fraud Mitigation for Comcast Cable, leading all aspects of consumer risk mitigation strategies and operations. Since joining Comcast in 2002, he has been a driving force behind several significant risk-focused initiatives, such as developing and implementing the company’s whistleblower program and forming several risk management teams, including his current team. Birdsall has extensive experience in fraud risk management and was a task force member involved in developing COSO’s 2016 Fraud Risk Management Guide.

Prior to his current role, Birdsall held several senior leadership positions within Comcast’s Global Audit team, where he led CGA’s data analytics and automation programs, as well as a business integrity team, focused on investigating whistleblower complaints and conducting proactive fraud reviews. 

Before joining Comcast, Birdsall worked at KPMG LLP in their assurance and advisory practices. He holds an undergraduate degree in Accounting from Widener University. Birdsall resides in Malvern, PA with his wife and three children.

Central Bucks School District is proud to announce that Robert Freiling '08 has been appointed Director of Human Resources. Freiling comes to the district from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where he served as director of human resources for the hospital's food services provider. 

As the principal leader for an on-site team serving 330-plus members in a complex Ivy League healthcare environment, Freiling implemented strategies to optimize internal job posting, external recruitment, pre-employment hiring, and on-boarding processes. His responsibilities included overseeing compensation, benefits, workplace safety, labor relations, and employee recognition and engagement. Freiling has also worked at Franklin & Marshall College and the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.

He graduated from Widener University in 2008 with a degree in government and politics and earned his Master of Business Administration from Holy Family University in 2014.