A Fond Farewell

By: Marlene Sample

Last year we did a complete redesign with the magazine. We expected 2010 to include few changes. Well…that was not to be. You know what they say about “best laid plans.”

As you read this January issue, Editor Erika Isler has already moved on to a career change. She has been bitten by the  “life coach” bug and we wish her only the very best as she most certainly deserves it. Read her adjacent Editor’s Note where she tells you all about her decision.

Erika has been with State College Magazine for 10 years and her footprint will be with us for many years to come. Put aside all the great work she has done to make this a magazine of which we can all be proud. Frankly, for me, she has been a joy. It’s been loads of fun and I will miss her humor, her honesty and her incredible creativity. She promises not to be a stranger and I take her at her word!

As has always been the case with Erika, she made certain that we would be left in good hands. Fortunately, she recommended a colleague at Penn State and two weeks later we had a new editor. Jennifer Zeigler joins us January 4 and we look forward to her new footprint on the magazine as well.

A graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, Jennifer currently lectures at Penn State. She teaches magazine writing at the university as well as other related courses. We are fortunate to have her join our team. She will introduce herself in her first issue in February.

And now, enjoy Erika’s last issue. From a cover story about a hockey player/entrepreneur to keeping up with the latest from Steve Biddle in Orlando, we think you’ll find this issue more than worthy of your time.

Happy New Year!

Marlene