Alumni Awards of Distinction 

Jeffrey Bashore '02

Jeffrey Bashore '02

Jeffrey Bashore ’02 is a transformational financial services executive, innovator, and dedicated alumni who has built a distinguished career safeguarding major institutions and millions of consumers from financial crime.

Since graduating with a B.S.B.A. in General Management from the John L. Grove College of Business at Shippensburg University, Bashore has emerged as a national leader in fraud management and operational risk. He most recently served as a senior executive and Head of Member Protection at USAA, where he oversaw fraud and first-line anti-money laundering for the Association as well as bank claims with an organization spanning 3,200 employees and contractors, safeguarding $1.2 trillion in annual member payments. During his tenure at USAA, Bashore’s team resolved critical longstanding regulatory compliance issues while reducing losses by 64%. His career also includes senior executive roles driving large-scale fraud prevention programs and operations at Bank of America and Citigroup, where he managed global teams exceeding 3,000 employees with loss and operating budgets of $500-600M. Recognized as an industry innovator, Bashore is a named inventor on four approved patents for breakthrough fraud management technologies and has received prestigious corporate accolades, including the Citi Chairman’s Leadership Award and the Bank of America Pinnacle Award.

Bashore’s commitment to leadership began during his undergraduate years at Shippensburg, where he served as Class President (1998–2001), Student Senator (2002), Admissions Tour Guide, and an active member of Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional co-ed business fraternity. His devotion to his alma mater has remained steadfast. Since 2021, he has contributed his strategic expertise as a board member for the John L. Grove College of Business Advisory Board and in 2026 became a member of the Shippensburg University Foundation Board of Directors. Additionally, Jeffrey, with his wife Melissa, established the Bashore Family College of Business Scholarship supporting upper division students pursuing an undergraduate degree administered by the John L. Grove College of Business. Beyond his professional and university contributions, Bashore has served his community through involvement with youth sports coaching, local civic boards, including the Saint Augustine YMCA advisory board, and charitable organizations including Protential Foundation and the Betty Griffin Center.

Matthew D. Binder '99M

Matthew D. Binder '99M

As a part-time broadcast meteorologist throughout Pennsylvania for over 25 years, Matt Binder loves to fill-in with your forecast. Matt is an educator, meteorologist, and communicator.  

Graduating from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology and a minor in mathematics, he earned a Masters in Geoenvironmental Studies from Shippensburg University.  He did his graduate work at NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, where he co-authored an e-text book on ozone studies, and developed web-based educational resources for NASA environmental programs in the late 90s. 

Matt holds many certifications in Secondary Science, Media Technology, and English education, including a graduate Curriculum & Instruction certification from Penn State. For nearly fifteen years, he taught 8th grade Earth Science at Centerville Middle School. Currently, he teaches broadcasting & communications technology for the Hempfield School District. At night, he has also taught meteorology to students at HACC and West Chester University and has developed an online web-based course in meteorology for secondary and post-secondary students.

As a meteorological consultant, Matt has been forecasting for over 35 years and has worked as an on-air meteorologist for WYOU in Northeast Pennsylvania, WGAL in Central Pennsylvania, WFMZ in Eastern Pennsylvania, served as president of the Penn State Campus Weather Service, and spent time with the Pennsylvania State Climatologist Office.

Considering himself a “science geek and space nerd” at heart, he was selected as a finalist for NASA's 2004 Astronaut Class and has served on NASA's Network of Educator Astronaut Teachers. As a finalist for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year in 2020/21, he is now an education advocate with the National State Teacher of the Year organization. In the community he serves as a scouting volunteer and was honored to receive the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in 2023, and the Parkland High School Distinguished Alumni award in 2026.

When not working, his hobbies include performing the trombone with local community bands, curling with the Philadelphia Curling Club, hiking, golfing, and watching the Phillies or Penn State sports. Having already visited all fifty states as well as parts of Australia, Europe, and Asia, he thoroughly enjoys traveling.

J. Mark O'Shea '77

J. Mark O'Shea '77, M.S.W.,LCSW

Mark is an accomplished licensed clinical social worker, healthcare policy advocate, and distinguished leader in mental health practice whose career spans nearly five decades of dedicated service to patients, clinicians, and community organizations. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Shippensburg University in 1977, laying the foundation for a lifetime of clinical impact. He later earned a master’s degree in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1986 as a recipient of a Child Mental Health Fellowship from the National Institute of Mental Health, earning a Commendation for Leadership and Service.

Prior to graduate school, Mark served in the Shan Tai wilderness therapeutic program, living in a camping environment where he built a campsite from the ground up with ten severely emotionally disturbed adolescent young men between the ages of 14 and 17. By age 25 Mark became the program director of this 42-bed facility.

Since 1990, O'Shea has maintained a private psychotherapy practice in Midlothian, Virginia, providing comprehensive clinical counseling and consultation to children, adolescents, adults, and families. A trusted consultant for the Health Professionals Monitoring Program of Virginia (HPMP-VA) and Lawyers Helping Lawyers, he leads specialized group(s) and individual therapy programs to rehabilitate healthcare practitioners facing substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. Additionally, for over three decades, he has served as a frequent expert witness in the Chesterfield County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and Circuit Court, offering crucial testimony on complex family dynamics, child welfare, and international abuse cases. Earlier in his career, he served as Director of the Adolescent and Children's Unit at Poplar Springs Hospital, where he overhauled program manuals, integrated multidisciplinary care teams, and provided vital administrative stability, while also consulting with inner-city group homes to replace punitive discipline with evidence-based therapeutic systems.

O'Shea's extensive impact on healthcare policy earned him election to the National Academies of Practice as a Distinguished Practitioner in Social Work, recognizing his enduring contributions at the national level. As Legislative Vice President of the Virginia Society for Clinical Social Work for seven years, he organized a multi-disciplinary consortium of over 30 clinicians to lead regulatory reform in Virginia, strengthening patient safety standards and updating misconduct guidelines. Furthermore, he played a key role in advancing mental health parity by collaborating with Virginia state leadership, including Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, to improve the state employee health plan, successfully expanding access to mental health services and optimizing provider reimbursement structures.

In addition to his clinical and policy leadership, O'Shea served as an Adjunct Professor in the Master of Social Work program at Virginia Commonwealth University and maintained a deep commitment to community service. He volunteered for over 25 years in his church orchestra, developed training programs for lay ministries to support families in distress, provided critical incident debriefings for emergency first responders, and led outreach initiatives feeding the homeless. Throughout his distinguished career, O'Shea has maintained a lifelong connection to Shippensburg University, returning as a guest lecturer in sociology and sustaining a 50-year bond of alumni fellowship through regular Homecoming visits with close classmates.

Catherine J. Putz '10

Catherine J. Putz '10

Catherine Putz is managing editor of The Diplomat, an online publication focused on Asia. Over the last 12 years, Catherine has reported on a wide variety of developments in Central Asia and Afghanistan, including the deepening of the U.S.-Central Asia relationship, a failed plot to “destroy” Uzbek officials by manipulating the U.S. sanctions system in 2025, the final flights of the Afghan Air Force in 2021, unrest in Karakalpakstan, and the impact of total COVID denial in isolated Turkmenistan. She has interviewed ambassadors, ministers, scholars and activists on a wide range of issues from political reform to bilateral relations.

Catherine has made reporting or study trips to Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Japan (as a member of the 2018 Sasakawa USA Emerging Experts Delegation), Taiwan, South Korea (as a member of the 2023 East-West Center’s Korea-United States Journalists Exchange), and Thailand, covering everything from cultural events and foreign policy, to elections, the demolition of historic neighborhoods and Asian feminism. 

Most importantly, Catherine has shepherded from pitch to publication numerous critical stories written by scholars and journalists based in Asia, primarily Central Asia, many writing for an English-language publication for the first time. These have included detailed reporting on the impact of the U.S. government’s immigration restrictions on Turkmen students studying at American universities, pressure on the press in Central Asia, and the rise of cryptocurrencies in Kyrgyzstan. Catherine has mentored emerging journalists from Central Asia and Afghanistan who have gone on to work with outlets as prestigious as Reuters and the Washington Post.

Since 2021, Catherine has co-hosted The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics Podcast and in 2025 she began voicing The Diplomat’s YouTube video explainer series.

When she isn’t working, Catherine is an active member of her community in Washington, DC.

Since late 2019, Catherine has been a regular platelet donor for the Red Cross. She donates platelets twice a month at the Charles R. Drew Blood Donation Center, a block from the White House. The procedure to donate platelets takes about 2 hours, unlike a whole blood donation, which takes about 15 minutes. Most platelets are given to cancer patients as chemotherapy treatments typically kill a patient's own platelets. There are no synthetic platelets, and they must be used within 5 days of donation as they cannot be frozen and stockpiled like whole blood -- so there is a constant need for regular donations.

As of August 2026, Catherine has donated 389 units of platelets across more than 120 appointments. Her donations have gone as far as Chicago, Alabama and Puerto Rico, though most have ended up in the DC area.

In January 2026, Catherine began hosting a monthly Silent Book Club at a local brewery. The event brings 50+ people together each month to read quietly.

Catherine is a Dec. 2011 graduate of the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky, where she studied international security and a 2010 graduate of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in history and minored in political science. At Shippensburg, Catherine was a member of the marching band, serving as a drum major for two years and marching two years with the Low Brass section. She also played clarinet and tenor saxophone with the concert, jazz, and pep bands. She was a member of the honors program and represented Shippensburg on the 2008 PASSHE Summer Honors Program trip to China.

Jacqueline A. Paneque '16

Jacqueline A. (Joseph) Paneque '16

Jacqueline Paneque is a visionary data governance leader and corporate strategist serving as the Head of AI Literacy and Engagement at TE Connectivity, a global technology company that designs and manufactures electronic components, connectors, and sensors. In this role, she leads enterprise-wide data literacy strategy, scales tool adoption, and drives AI transformation initiatives that align people, processes, and technology across global teams.

Jacqueline began her career at Deloitte as a Project Controller in Government & Public Services, managing engagement profitability, scenario modeling, and financial operations. She then served as Finance and Operations Controller at PensionPro Software, where she oversaw accounting and HR operations, before joining TE Connectivity as a Product Pricing Analyst and rapidly rising to her current head executive role.

Her path in higher education is defined by extraordinary academic efficiency. She graduated magna cum laude from Shippensburg University in 2016, completing two undergraduate degrees across three majors (Mathematics-Statistics, Finance, and Management) and a minor in Technical Communications in just four years. Supported by numerous merit awards, including the Board of Governors, Fogelsonger, and William Rodruan scholarships, she was deeply involved in campus leadership. She advanced from EIS team member to Senior Manager with University Union & Student Activities (CUB), served as Vice President and Treasurer of the Activities Program Board, and held leadership roles in Phi Sigma Pi, the Investment Club, and the Financial Management Association.

Building on her foundation, Jacqueline earned two master's degrees from West Texas A&M University: a Master of Science in Finance and Economics and an MBA specializing in Computer Information Systems. She also holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) credential.

A prominent voice in the data ecosystem, Jacqueline was honored as the 2025 Data Citizen of the Year by Collibra and recognized in CDO Magazine's Women in Data list for her work in establishing data confidence and literacy. Dedicated to community impact, she regularly mentors through Technovation and Kiron, volunteers with Gemma Angels, and supports local organizations including the Humane Society and the Harrisburg Food Bank.

Lauren E. Taylor '14

Lauren E. Taylor '14

Lauren Taylor is 2014 alumna of Shippensburg University whose career and accomplishments reflect a lifelong commitment to excellence, leadership, resilience, and perseverance. Lauren earned her degree in Exercise Science and competed as a forward for the Shippensburg field hockey team from 2010–2013. During her collegiate career, she became a key contributor to the Raiders, earning All-PSAC honors in 2012 and 2013 and finishing her career with 32 goals and 75 points. Most notably, during the 2013 season, Lauren led the team in goals as the Raiders captured the NCAA Division II National Championship, making her an integral contributor to the university’s first National title.

Since graduating from Shippensburg, Lauren has built a successful career in healthcare technology and analytics. She joined Independence Blue Cross (IBX) in 2017 and has steadily advanced into leadership, currently serving as Manager of EHR Data and Population Health Analytics. In this role, she oversees the Epic Payer Platform and provider connectivity initiatives supporting Independence Blue Cross, AmeriHealth NJ and AmeriHealth Caritas. Her work has contributed to improvements in healthcare quality, outcomes, interoperability, and the delivery of care across multiple populations.

Lauren’s professional leadership has been recognized through several honors, including the IBX Blue Carpet Award and selection by the IBX CEO to represent the organization by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Citizens Bank Park during an IBX Phillies event.

Outside of her professional career, Lauren has achieved extraordinary success as an adaptive CrossFit athlete. Following a life-altering car accident in 2021, she returned to competitive sport and went on to become a two-time Second Fittest on Earth in the Adaptive Neuromuscular division in 2022 and 2024, before becoming the Fittest on Earth in both 2025 and 2026. She has competed at the CrossFit Games and other internationally recognized competitions, establishing herself as one of the top adaptive athletes in the world while also using her platform to advocate for greater inclusion and opportunity in adaptive sport.

Lauren’s athletic accomplishments have also been recognized through her induction into the Garden Spot High School Athletic Hall of Fame. She was additionally selected for the EXCEL for Emerging Women Leaders program, recognizing her leadership and professional potential.

From her time competing on the Shippensburg field hockey field and helping lead the Raiders to a national championship, to her career in healthcare leadership and success on the world stage in adaptive athletics, Lauren continues to embody the values developed during her time as a Raider. Her journey is defined by perseverance, leadership, achievement, and a determination to turn adversity into opportunity. Through her professional work, athletic accomplishments, and advocacy, she continues to represent the spirit of Shippensburg University and inspires others to pursue what is possible.

Michael E. Mitchell '87

Michael E. Mitchell '87

A proud Shippensburg University alumnus, educator, community leader, and nonprofit founder, Michael E. Mitchell ’87 has dedicated nearly three decades to transforming the lives of students and families through education, mentorship, leadership, and community service. A 1983 graduate of J.P. McCaskey High School, Michael earned his B.A. in Mathematics with a minor in Speech Communication from Shippensburg University in 1987 before returning to Lancaster and ultimately serving the community that helped shape him.

Michael’s commitment to leadership, diversity, and advocacy took root during his years at Shippensburg University. He served as the first black president of the Student Association and held several prominent student government leadership positions, including Treasurer and Sophomore Senator. Through these roles, he advocated for greater student representation and helped advance policies and opportunities that continued to benefit students after his graduation.

Since 1997, Michael has served as a mathematics teacher at J.P. McCaskey High School in the School District of Lancaster, teaching students across the academic spectrum in courses ranging from Algebra and Geometry to Honors Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus, AP Statistics, and IB Mathematics. Over the course of his career, he has taught an estimated 3,500–4,000 students, while extending his influence well beyond the mathematics classroom through mentoring, coaching, college and career guidance, and community engagement.

That commitment extends into his role as Founder and President of Mr. Mitchell for Mathematics, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing underserved youth with opportunities in STEM education, financial literacy, mentorship, civic engagement, athletics, and cultural enrichment. Through innovative initiatives such as Pool School, Michael connects mathematics, geometry, and STEM concepts with hands-on learning experiences designed to make education engaging, relevant, and accessible.

Michael’s community service and leadership have included extensive involvement with the Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster, The Mix at Arbor Place, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and numerous civic and service organizations. Throughout his career, he has worked to connect young people with college opportunities, cultural experiences, community service, mentorship, and academic resources while encouraging them to recognize their own potential.

His service has earned numerous honors, including being named the 2026 Pennsylvania Department Winner of the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award for Grades 9–12, induction into the Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster Alumni Hall of Fame, and the Boys & Girls Club Distinguished Service Award.

Nearly four decades after graduating from Shippensburg University, Michael continues to embody the values of leadership, service, education, and opportunity that shaped his college experience. His legacy extends far beyond mathematics; he is an educator, mentor, advocate, and lifelong champion for young people, committed to ensuring that students from all backgrounds have opportunities to learn, lead, serve, and succeed.

Gary A. Crissman '64-'66M

Gary A. Crissman '64-'66M

Gary A. Crissman is a dedicated educator, school administrator, and community leader with over three decades of service in Pennsylvania public and higher education. He spent 35 years in various roles within the Central Dauphin School District, advancing from Art Teacher and Coordinator of Curriculum and Federal Programs to Deputy Superintendent, Acting Superintendent, and Superintendent. In addition to his K–12 career, he served as an Adjunct Professor at both Temple University (1990–2003) and Widener University (1996–2003). Crissman holds a Bachelor of Science in Education (1964) and a Master of Science in Education (1966) from Shippensburg University, along with doctoral program coursework and a Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from Bucknell University (1978). He holds multiple professional credentials, including superintendent, principal, and curriculum specialist certifications.

Throughout his career, Crissman spearheaded numerous structural, educational, and employee-focused initiatives. He established ESL (English as a Second Language) programs for the Central Dauphin School District and Fort Indian Gap, developed the educational school and curriculum for the Dauphin County Youth Schaffner Detention Center, and implemented a staff wellness program alongside the Differential Supervision Model. Strategically, he negotiated six labor contracts without a strike and created the first Central Substitute Replacement System model in the 10th largest school district in Pennsylvania. A lifelong advocate for the arts and higher education, he established the Crissman-Lauver Scholarship at Shippensburg University, was recognized as the Pennsylvania Art Teacher of the Year in 1966 and was commissioned to produce two artworks for Shippensburg State College's permanent collection in 1964.

Beyond his professional career, Crissman has maintained extensive leadership roles in community service, civic governance, and youth organizations. A deeply active Rotarian, he has served as Assistant District Governor, Chair of the Rotary District 7390 Youth Leaders Conference Program at Messiah University, and Past President of the Colonial Park Rotary Club. His civic contributions earned him two Rotarian of the Year awards (2000–01, 2017–18) and the Paul Harris Fellow recognition. He has served on the Lower Paxton Township Board of Supervisors, the Lower Paxton Township Authority, and spent over 15 years as Chairman of the Lower Paxton Township Friendship Center Operating Board.

Additionally, Crissman has lent his expertise to the Dauphin County Children and Youth Board, the Dauphin County Youth Detention Center Citizen Advisory Board (as Chairman from 2000–2011), the Shippensburg University College of Education and Human Services Advisory Board, and as President of the Central Pennsylvania Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Geoff and Linda Taylor

Geoff '71,'74 and Linda (Knoll) '67-'68M Taylor

Exceptional Service Award recipients Geoff and Linda Taylor did not meet on campus as students but instead were introduced by their mutual friends and Shipmates Don ’70 and Linda (Naugle) ’68 Dickinson.

Now married forty-nine years, Geoff and Linda are retired educators. Geoff taught English in the Waynesboro School District, while Linda taught Business Education in the Chambersburg Area School District.

As undergraduates at Ship, Geoff and Linda were both active students. Linda was a member of the choir and Geoff was a member of Phi Sigma Epsilon fraternity. As alumni, Geoff and Linda renewed their passion and love for Ship and have maintained their engagement with the university, the alumni association, and with the Shippensburg University Foundation.

The Taylor’s both served on their respective fiftieth class reunion planning committees and can be seen participating in and volunteering at a myriad of activities annually during Alumni Weekend including leading the singing of the alma mater at the annual Golden Raider Reunion Lunch, ensuring the annual ice cream social runs without a hitch, and also experienced the joy of renewing their wedding vows on campus inside the Spiritual Center. Not only are the Taylor’s regular attendees at Alumni Weekend, they return to campus often to enjoy shows-in their favorite seats none the less, at the Luhrs Performing Arts Center. Avid supporters of the Luhrs Performing Arts Center since the Center’s opening in 2006, they are members in the Luhrs Center Circle of Friends.

As was shared in a ShipMates Shippensburg University magazine feature, the Taylor’s credit Ship with establishing their vocations, comfortable livelihood, education, and rewarding activities in retirement and thus are heavily involved at their alma mater. They shared, “We have met many wonderful people who work at Ship or have also attended the university. And of course, through fellow ShipMates, we met each other.”

Geoff and Linda have shared their love of Ship with their son Jordon. Joining the many alumni who are Ship legacy families, their son Jordon is a member of the class of 2004.