J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School Alumni Awards
The Fox Graduate School presents four awards annually to recognize and celebrate outstanding graduate degree alumni. The Early Career, Outstanding Service, and Lifetime Achievement Awards aim to recognize the accomplishments of advanced degree alumni at meaningful touch points in their lifetime. Learn more about each award and most recent recipients below.
2026 Recipients
Early Career Award
Ashley Kuzmik
Ashley Kuzmik, who earned a doctoral degree in public health in 2021, was honored with the Fox Graduate School Early Career Award. This award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated exceptional success in their chosen field within 10 years of earning their graduate degree.
Kuzmik, who currently serves as the associate director of health services research for the Alzheimer's Association, received the award for her impact on dementia care research and commitment to mentorship. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on environmental, social, and economic influences on physical activity among dementia patients. She seeks to help inform interventions that support well-being and equitable aging. Kuzmik has displayed sustained dedication to mentorship, providing guidance to 43 students and professionals across disciplines and completed two postdoctoral fellowships at Penn State, where she contributed to NIH-funded projects intended to improve dementia care.
Outstanding Service Award
Maya E. Nehme
Maya Nehme, who earned her doctoral degree in entomology in 2009, has received the Outstanding Service Award, which recognizes alumni who have achieved professional success while demonstrating significant service to the University and the Penn State Alumni Association.
Nehme has spent her career as a global leader in sustainable development and remains active in the Penn State community through guest lectures, student mentorship, and support for philanthropic initiatives. Now working as the director of the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative, she has overseen more than 120 community development and reforestation efforts across 275 towns, and has assisted in the planting of over 1.6 million trees. Nehme also has spearheaded efforts to provide youth training, women's empowerment, and agroforestry programs in Lebanon.
Lifetime Achievement Award
David W. Mazyck
David W. Mazyck — who earned a master's degree in 1996 and a doctoral degree in 2000, both in electrical engineering — is being honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes Fox Graduate School alumni who have achieved exceptional success in their profession and have demonstrated loyalty to the University and Alumni Association.
Mayzck, who recently began serving as the inaugural president of a new STEM university, has held a distinguished career as an engineer, educator, entrepreneur and institutional leader. He has made significant contributions in academia, industry, and national research. Mayzck spent more than two decades at the University of Florida, working his way to full professor and leading engineering educational programs that became national models. His research, focused on engineering sorbents for air and water purification, has resulted in a number of publications, patents, and startup companies. Previous students and colleagues cite Mazyck's commitment to mentorship and inclusion.
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