Featured Professional Partner: Jennifer and Matt Ishler
"Matt and Jen are the ultimate volunteers. No matter how small or large the task may be, they see the importance and benefit to helping. Their involvement has morphed through the years, but the constant is their commitment to our kids and the willingness to lend a hand."
- Jeremy Fegert, Program Director, The Second Mile
"Jennifer inspires students through her teaching…..She gets her students involved in service to the community and then ties those experiences back to the classroom."
- Steven Zarit, Professor and Department Head, Human Development & Family Studies, Penn State University
"Matt is one of the most caring and helpful people that I have ever met. He always lends a hand when he can and is very understanding and compassionate. Those are some of the qualities that make him such an amazing person."
- Karen Zawitkowski, Program Director, The Second Mile
Perhaps they might be named the "Swooshes" after the Nike logo because they "Just do it." Jennifer and Matt Ishler have been supporting Second Mile program efforts for over a decade. They have participated in The Second Mile's early intervention and prevention programs including Summer Challenge, Leadership Institute, and the Friend Program.
The Second Mile is fortunate to have attracted the interest of the Ishlers. Many campers, Young Friends, and other program participants--as well as Penn State staff and students--have been truly blessed by their contact with Jennifer and Matt. Due to their incredible enthusiasm and dedication to helping others, it is a pleasure to recognize Matt and Jennifer Ishler as The Second Mile's Featured Professional Partners!
Their commitment to The Second Mile seems to be a product of their broad commitment to young people overall. Matt Ishler decided to leave his career as an accountant to enter the world of Career Development because he wanted to work more closely with young individuals. He has been part of Penn State's Bank of America Career Services Center for nine years. Recently retired Career Services Senior Director Jack Rayman said, "I have absolute confidence in Matt...Over the past 25 years I have found Matt to be one of a very few out of hundreds who have worked here who just step up to help out." The same thing could be said about Matt as a Second Mile College Friend, an office volunteer, a Camp Counselor and Director, a presenter for the Leadership Institute, and as a Career Counselor for one of the modules of our SMILE Camp Program. Many have worked for and volunteered for the agency, but few step up time and time again to help, and at such a high quality, as Matt Ishler.
Dr. Jennifer Ishler teaches at Penn State University. She began her teaching career in the College of Education and transitioned into a position in the College of Health and Human Development focusing on Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS). She welcomes Second Mile staff members to guest lecture in her classes, and conversely, encourages student candidates she believes may be a good fit to apply for an internship, a camp counselor position, or a volunteer slot with the agency. She is keenly aware of the needs of the agency, and the interests and professional opportunities that students are looking for, and then gets to work as a matchmaker. Additionally, she serves as a professional volunteer for The Second Mile, most recently at April's Leadership Institute, where she led 200 high school sophomores through sessions on Consensus Building and Conflict Resolution.
When you speak with and meet the Ishlers, it's easy to understand why Jack Rayman said "They are just happy people." They are easily excited by talk of young people and they share a keen sense of humor. Jennifer also has a unique technique for evaluating her own teaching. She says, "I know I am getting them excited when they turn off their iPods!" Those who know Matt and Jennifer are struck by the charisma each of them possesses – a charisma and a knack for making others relax which together have a positive effect on those around them.
Both Matt and Jennifer approach their work with a belief that they need to excite young people, help them develop skills, and then press them to be accountable for their performance. Each has had much success in their work, regularly receiving awards and recognitions, yet both are quite humble. Jack Rayman related a story which illustrates Matt's readiness to learn and willingness to do what is necessary to become more competent. Matt was concerned that he did not have enough knowledge about the personal issues younger students bring with them to college. With eagerness to learn more he began to volunteer at CAPS, a counseling program for Penn State freshmen. Rayman said, "When Matt does not know something, he asks." Matt says he is rewarded for his work when he can "contribute to the growth and development of others...to support people as they extend beyond themselves." Similarly, Jennifer is motivated to "help push and challenge students to higher achievement and help them be accountable for their performance."
Family is a shared value for the Ishlers, a value that they have already begun to instill in their six-year old daughter, Emily. She, too, is learning about service to others and seems well on her way to a sincere commitment to the community. She participates in the selection of items from the home to be donated to local service providers such as the Food Bank or the Shoe Bank. Emily is also a budding music enthusiast, evident by her love of music at Bible School.
Jennifer and Matt share their love of Emily and the experiences which took them to Guatemala in the process of her adoption. Prompted by that experience, Jennifer developed a course on adoption which was offered on a trial basis last year and was wildly successful. It will become a regular offering in the HDFS major. Together, they have dedicated much of their time to the community and helping others. Matt and Jen continue to learn and grow together so they can provide a positive environment for their daughter, their students, and others that they work with. The Second Mile is proud to honor this dynamic couple as its Featured Professional Partners!
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