A Catalyst for Growth

During her time at The Valley, Katheryn O’Hara ’15 served as a student trustee, track and field team captain, Resident Assistant, and a member of the E.A.T. Research Group. Now, she is putting all the skills she learned to good use. 

O’Hara, who earned a degree in international studies, is a client service analyst for PFM Asset Management LLC. She assists a team of financial advisors to provide independent, objective, and well-informed investment advice and portfolio management for public sectors, charitable institutions, and other clients. 

“The opportunities [at LVC] to take on leadership roles allowed me to hone my ability to work on a team, communicate, and think innovatively,” O’Hara said.

The liberal arts education experience at Lebanon Valley College also served O’Hara well. 

“Historically, liberal arts education was designed to produce a person who was virtuous and ethical, knowledgeable in many fields, and highly articulate,” O’Hara said. “I believe my liberal arts tutelage succeeded in its aim to develop a well-rounded individual with general knowledge of a wide range of subjects and with mastery of a range of transferable skills—preparing me to be a ‘global citizen,’ with the desire and capacity to pursue lifelong learning.

“Most importantly, LVC also prepared me for the challenging social landscapes that exist in the workforce,” she added.

O’Hara is not afraid to admit that LVC was not her first choice for college, but she ultimately decided to come to The Valley when she met with staff and faculty during a campus visit. They helped her realize that she could learn, flourish, and become a catalyst for change on campus. 

As O’Hara reflects on her time at LVC, she circles back to her ongoing connection with Dr. Robert Valgenti, chair and professor of philosophy, with whom she worked on the E.A.T. program. She cited that project as the most exciting, challenging, frustrating, and ultimately greatest learning experience of her college career. Her research design was centered on the investigation of the human cost associated with the global fish industry through a bio-political analysis focused on the how the global demand for fish has provoked unsustainable, and in some cases, illegal practices that harm the global community and the individual.

Years after her graduation, O’Hara remains thankful for the mentorship Dr. Valgenti continues to provide.

“As an alum, our relationship has evolved with a greater appreciation of the personal development we each experience,” she said. “There is a more robust dialogue as I have grown as a person and have additional life experiences. He still has the uncanny ability to pose a question that compels you to think on a subject in a way you had no idea possible. I will always be thankful for that.”

As for long term goals, O’Hara looks forward to one day working as a financial professional in an international capacity. 

 

-- Megan Marron, Marketing & Communications Assistant