Academic Committee
Quote to live by: To whom much is given, much is expected
Passions: Helping others, Technology, making the world a better place
Who is/was your role model? Please explain why they made an impact on you.
My father was my role model. While he was with us, he managed to accomplish much in the 60 years of his life. He graduated from college, and managed to work his way up to regional manager of MAB Paints. After meeting my mother, he started his own business called Ron’s Ribs. The business received best barbecue in Philly for multiple years. While excelling in his careers he was active in the community by being president of his community business organization, a freemason, and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. My father was well respected and well connected. He was a hard worker, and a kind man. He would help anyone if he could. His love and lessons have motivated me throughout my life. Overall, I’ve always strived to live by his example.
What is your full-time position & career history that you would like to highlight?
I grew up in the restaurant business working at Ron’s Ribs. When I was in highschool I worked for an IT company, which later gave me a full time position as a field technician and graphic designer after I graduated college. After working in the IT industry, I decided it wasn’t as rewarding as other professions. I ended up finding a fellowship program, called the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellow. The fellowship allowed me to go back to school to receive my masters in teaching in exchange for teaching 3 years in a high needs school district. I am currently a technology education teacher at Hamilton High School West where I teach Graphic Arts, and woodshop.
Why do you dedicate and sacrifice your time to support the Pete and Jameer Nelson Foundation?
It provides me the opportunity to use my skills and talents to help others. By supporting the Pete and Jameer Nelson Foundation, I feel I am fulfilling my passion. It’s like Fredrick Douglas once said “It is easier to build strong children, than to repair broken men.”
Quote to live by:
Living in the past makes you depressed. Looking at the future makes you anxious. Living in the present moment is to be fully aware and alive.
Passions: Helping others, technology, making the world a better place. My family; my son and husband who bring love, joy, challenge and support into my life. I also love story telling and making people laugh, creativity, and learning!
Who is/was your role model? Please explain why they made an impact on you.
I don’t have a singular role model. I can learn something invaluable from everyone I meet. I appreciate people who show they are their own person, who are brave and afraid at the same time, who strive to be compassionate and respectful and who leave an impact just by being alive. My husband is one of those people. My sister is one of those people. And my friend Steve is one of those people.
What is your full-time position & career history that you would like to highlight?
I tell stories for a living. I am a professional communicator and currently fill the role of communications manager at the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Drexel University. For the six and a half years prior to that I was the managing director of communications at Rosemont College which was my first foray into working in higher education. I have experience in technology, hospitality, entertainment and fashion industries—all which I thoroughly enjoyed.
It’s a great feeling to love what you do and to know you’re good at it. It wasn’t always that way for me. But I live more boldly now and take risks, something, apparently I’m hardwired to do.
Why do you dedicate and sacrifice your time to support the Pete and Jameer Nelson Foundation?
Selfishly, I get a lot of joy from working with this group. It makes me feel good when I can arrange an event, herald the virtues and ambition of the Foundation, or make a difference in anyone’s life.
Let’s face it. I couldn’t do anything on the basketball court but make people laugh, and maybe that’s all I’m supposed to do there. But elsewhere, I can be a role model, I can lend my expertise, I can listen and make suggestions, and I can give my attention and enthusiasm to the kids this Foundation supports.
I respect the commitment Jameer and Imani, Kyle, Ryan, Steve and all the volunteers have made to the work of the Foundation and the kids they assist. It’s an organization I believe in and these are good people who inspire me.
Quote to live by: “Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.” ― William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
Passions: Using my talents to help others through graphic design, website design, social media, photography, etc.
Who is/was your role model? Please explain why they made an impact on you.
I think outside of my mother, I have had two very important role models that helped shape me into who I am today. My first was my high school computer science teacher, she taught me many of the skills I have today and worked with me outside of class to ensure I was engaged in programming and design. I come from a very small town and having the ability at my high school to be taught these programs was something that helped me succeed in college and my current career. The second was a woman who I met during my Undergraduate career and whom I went on to do some freelance work for, her story and striving towards helping individuals learn about the business field encouraged me to volunteer my skills to help organizations like PJN Foundation.
What is your full-time position & career history that you would like to highlight?
Currently, I am a full-time Marketing Coordinator for a utility construction company in Plymouth Meeting, PA. Not only do I handle a lot of the day-to-day marketing, website design, and social media, but I am also involved in several committees. One committee, in particular, that is dear to my heart is the “Christmas Project,” despite its name the project works all year long to help at-risk youth in the city of Philadelphia through various fundraisers and holiday gift giving. Additionally, I am a freelance designer, which is how I become involved with PJN Foundation. Check out my website andreawentzell.com to learn more about my work.
Why do you dedicate and sacrifice your time to support the Pete and Jameer Nelson Foundation?
I don’t think it is a sacrifice to help the PJN Foundation, I see it as an opportunity be involved in spreading the word about the good work everyone does to help children have a healthy stimulating environment to grow into successful leaders.
Intern
Name: Jalen Mitchell
Quote to live by: “You will meet two kinds of people in life: ones who build you up and ones who tear you down. But in the end, you’ll thank them both.” – Unknown
Passions: I have a passion helping others. I love playing sports, much of my life is consumed by basketball and football especially. But the thing I have come to love about sports is the ability athletics have to make an impact on people’s lives. The lessons and experiences I have through athletics are useful in teaching and nurturing other people and helping enhance their lives. I have a desire to have a career in athletics to be around young athletes and have an ability to help them reach their full potential and use their amazing talent to benefit the lives of those around them.
Who is/was your role model? Please explain why they made an impact on you.
My father has been a great role model in my life. He has always been a phenomenal leader, hard worker, and persevering provider. Over the course of my life my family has faced some struggles and he always finds a way to overcome the struggle, stay positive, and encourage the rest of my family not to worry about it. He is selfless, humble, and strong. As a man there is no one else I would want to emulate more, he is an example of a great father and husband.
What is your full-time position & career history that you would like to highlight?
I have worked as a lifeguard in the summers of 2016 and 2017. I have also served as an intern for the Pete and Jameer Nelson Foundation over the spring semester of 2018.
Why do you dedicate and sacrifice your time to support the Pete and Jameer Nelson Foundation?
The Pete and Jameer Nelson Foundation is a great organization with a passion similar to mine. The Foundation’s goal is to use Jameer Nelson’s impact to help teach young people to be better basketball players, but their primary goal is to help these young people excel in school, society, and in their family’s. This is something I happily give my time and effort to support and I’m positive that this effort will pay off as the lives of countless kids in the Philadelphia and Chester area are benefited.
Of Counsel
Personal injury attorney Corey Suda graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a minor in Legal Environment of Business. He received his Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law in 2014, making the Dean’s List multiple times. While in law school, Attorney Suda was a member to the Syracuse University College of Law Criminal Defense Clinic and was a law clerk at Moses & Gelso, LLP in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
While clerking at Meggesto, Crossett & Valerino, LLP in Syracuse, Attorney Suda performed more than 50 hours of pro bono service. He has been certified by New York’s Appellate Division Fourth Department to represent indigent clients in Syracuse City Court.
After clerking, Attorney Suda became a legal consultant in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he assisted corporations in litigation. Attorney Suda returned to Pennsylvania in 2015 to join the personal injury law firm Fellerman & Ciarimbloli where he practices personal injury litigation, in particular car and truck accident litigation, medical malpractice, and workers compensation. Attorney Suda works out of Fellerman and Ciarimboli’s Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre Offices.
Attorney Suda is a member of the Pennsylvania, Luzerne County, and Lackawanna County bar associations. He was admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He is also a member of various legal organizations, including the American Association for Justice (AAJ), the Pennsylvania Association for Justice (PAJ), and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association.
An avid sports fan, Attorney Suda enjoys golfing, physical fitness, and attending sporting events with his father. To learn more about Attorney Suda and Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law visit their website Fellermanlaw.com