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Meet the Team

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Give to the Libraries

"We enact our values through the decisions we make and the actions we take. The value of access, especially access to higher education and access to a public research library’s resources, motivates and energizes me as a library leader. It's clear that this value also motivates and energizes our supporters because of the actions they take. We celebrate their generous philanthropy as it enables Penn State Libraries to reach the highest levels of excellence in our services, collections, and personnel."
- Dean Faye A. Chadwell

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Sarah Carey
Associate Director of Development

Sarah’s passion to give to University Libraries grew after seeing the personal impact that philanthropy and volunteering have not only on students, faculty, and staff but also on the greater Penn State community. The University Libraries have the potential to reach and serve every student in every major, which is inspiring. Sarah wants students and supporters to know about the incredible knowledge, friendly librarians and staff, technology, collections, and resources that are just waiting to be discovered when they walk through any of the Libraries’ doors.

Since earning her Penn State degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management in 2001, Sarah has worked in multiple industries in different regions of the country. She has fifteen years of management experience in restaurants, a remote concierge call center, as well as owning a handcrafted jewelry business. A constant throughout her career has been a desire to work with others, give back, and get involved in her community.

With a family history of Penn Staters dating back to 1916, and two future Penn Staters, Sarah is happy to have found her way back to Penn State in 2017. She is grateful to work in development and alumni relations for the University Libraries because it gives her the opportunity to learn from and partner with alumni, donors, and students, as well as to help them connect with each other.

Wendi Keeler
Wendi Keeler
Associate Director of Stewardship and Events

Wendi’s passion to give to University Libraries is inspired by simply coming to work every day. Prior to working here, Wendi hadn’t been to the library in many years. Wendi is amazed by its transformation—and ever-evolving landscape. For Wendi, to give to University Libraries benefits all of the Penn State community. 

As the External Relations Assistant, Wendi is the liaison between the Dean and the Development Office team, and is responsible for event planning, donor stewardship, scholarship awards, and budget management. She works with the Libraries’ Development Board, the Libraries Awards Committee, the Scholarship Committee, and the Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Award Committee. 

Originally from the Philadelphia area, upon graduation she landed her first job in the area and never left. Her career path took her from program director at the Bellefonte Family YMCA to medical technologist at Mount Nittany Medical Center and more recently to the American Red Cross where she coordinated the Penn State blood donation program for the Red Cross for almost fifteen years. She was also the advisor to the Penn State Student Red Cross Club. She began working at Penn State in 2014 with the development team in the College of Health and Human Development before coming to the Libraries in May, 2016. 

Wendi holds two degrees from Penn State:  a B.S. teaching degree in Health and Physical Education with an emphasis in Athletic Training and Sport Medicine, and an Associate Degree leading to a B.S. equivalent in Medical Technology.

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Rick Janac
Director of Development
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Gretchen Little
Assistant Director of Alumni and Donor Relations

Gretchen’s passion for giving to University Libraries is rooted in her family’s passion for reading and Penn State. During her time as a Bednar intern, she was inspired by the University Libraries and how it serves students, faculty, staff, and the greater Penn State community.

With a gift for building relationships and fostering connections, Gretchen has been in this role since 2022. Prior to this, she worked as a Bednar Donor Engagement Intern starting in 2021. Gretchen is dedicated to strengthening the relationship between the Libraries and Penn State alumni and donors through various engagement opportunities such as Library Discovery Hour.

Gretchen graduated from Penn State in 2022 with a degree in Public Relations and Advertising, a minor in Digital Media Trends and Analytics, a Smeal Business Fundamentals Certificate, and a Diversity Studies Certificate.

Portrait of Pam Long with green trees in the background
Pamela Long
Associate Director of Development

Pam’s passion for giving to University Libraries is rooted in her childhood love of her local library as a place to explore possibilities. She credits those weekly visits to the Altoona Area Public Library and reading time with her family as the impetus for her early love of reading, writing and dreaming of one day attending Penn State. As a first-generation student, Pam would spend many hours in the stacks of Pattee studying to earn a B.A. in English in 1988.

Upon graduation, Pam secured a job with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington, D.C. as a speech writer and researcher. Returning to PA a few years later, she put her communications skills to work in the non-profit sector. Pam held principal fundraising positions at Centre County United Way and Skills of Central Pennsylvania, before coming to Penn State College of IST as the director of the college events office in 2014. She continues to serve the community as a volunteer and board member for Mid-State Literacy Council, a non-profit organization that supports adult literacy in Centre and Clearfield counties.

Pam is delighted to continue her career at Penn State with the University Libraries development team, matching donors’ passions to impactful opportunities and benefiting our students and the greater Penn State community now and into the future.

Head shot of Patricia Wenrick with a grey backdrop in the background
Patricia Wenrick
Development Assistant

Patti’s passion to give to the University Libraries is inspired by simply her love for all things Penn State. As a lifelong resident of State College, Patti bleeds Blue and White. It has been ingrained in her since birth. Patti began her career at Penn State in high school and after briefly leaving to start her family, she returned in 2008 and now has almost 20 years of work experience at the University. Patti has worked in the most iconic buildings at University Park: The Nittany Lion Inn, Beaver Stadium, the Hintz Family Alumni Center, Old Main and now the Pattee Library and Paterno Library. Patti is dedicated to building our relationships with donors, alumni, and students.