Name: Kevin Fletcher, kevinfletcher@psu.edu
Undergrad Institution: Penn State University
Undergrad Major: Meteorology
Hello! I’m Kevin Fletcher and I am a fourth-year Ph.D. student working with Dr. Ken Davis on quantifying the uncertainty of greenhouse gas emissions due to errors in numerical models using ensembles. I originally came into grad school without an advisor, as my research interests were still developing. I knew that staying at Penn State would allow for a wide variety of opportunities to apply my skills, as nearly every subfield of meteorology is represented here. The environment in the department is very supportive and collaborative, with many opportunities to work alongside fellow grad students. State College is small but it has a little bit of everything. There are plenty of opportunities for nightlife, tons of local favorite restaurants, and countless hiking trails in the nearby area. I’m now in my 8th year at Penn State and I’m still finding new things to do. Whatever interests you have, somebody here likely shares it. If you have any questions about the department, student life, or living in State College, please reach out!
Name: Sierra Hill, srh6060@psu.edu
Undergrad Institution: Texas A&M
Undergrad Major: Meteorology
Howdy! I am a second-year graduate student working with Dr. Ken Davis. My research focuses on the urban boundary layer and its impacts on boundary layer clouds. I came to Penn State after participating in the 2024 Penn State Climate Science REU, where I was mentored by Dr. Davis. Prior to Penn State, I had lived in South Texas my whole life, so I was excited to see what a real winter was like (State College has not disappointed so far). State College and the nearby areas offer so many outdoor activities, which is wonderful for me as I love being outside. While the campus seems big, it is very walkable, and most of what I need is within a ten-minute walk of me. The department itself feels very homey and welcoming, which I truly appreciate. If you have any questions about what life is like in the department or what the surrounding area is like, please reach out!
Name: Lydia Spychalla, lks5850@psu.eduLydia Spychalla
Undergrad Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Undergrad Major: Physics
Hi! I’m a fourth-year graduate student here at Penn State. I’m working with Drs. Matt Kumjian and Kelly Lombardo to create an idealized hail growth model that can help us understand the controls on hail growth from a very simple perspective. I came to Penn State knowing that I wanted to work my advisors and because I was excited about the adventure of moving somewhere outside the Midwest. I’ve loved the supportive and close-knit culture here in the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science! Since I came from a background outside of atmospheric science, I was unsure of how starting a graduate program in meteorology would go, but the people at Penn State have been so encouraging and supporting. Even though the department here is large (in Atmospheric Science terms), the professors and administrators value us all as individuals, and there’s an incredibly supportive atmosphere among the students. State College is a neat town with a large variety of restaurants, coffee shops and breweries for its size. It’s very bikeable with lots of farmer’s markets and local festivals. I’d love to talk to you if you are interested in Penn State and want to hear more about the student experience!