New Jersey native Becky Stanko is the Sustainability and Community Impact Specialist, as well as the Interim Conference Services Manager, at Penn State Great Valley.

“I am grateful for the ability to enhance our community with sustainable actions and engaging arts and culture programs,” she said. “I love connecting with people and providing a purpose and location to bring people together. Also, I crave variety, so I relish the opportunity to work on a diverse collection of projects at any given point in time.”

Stanko, who began working at an ice cream shop when she was 14 years old and graduated from Princeton Day School, earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Miami (Fla.) and her J.D./MBA from Villanova University. She credits Mary Fetterman with having the biggest impact on her career.

“She was one of my first supervisors and was one of the first people who showed me that being successful in your career and content with your life are not mutually exclusive,” said Stanko. “She’s warm and empathetic and is incredibly inspiring. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with her early in my career, as I think she helped shape who I wanted to become.”

Stanko said that her proudest professional achievement “cannot be encapsulated in a particular project, objective, or defining moment.”

“I am proud that I have always managed to find purpose, fulfillment, and joy in my work,” she said. “I have shifted my career trajectory more than once, which can be daunting. There’s a Steve Jobs quote that speaks to this idea: ‘For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today? And whenever the answer has been no for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.’”

Stanko’s favorite Chester County restaurant is The Greyhound Café in Malvern.

Stanko and the rest of the 2023 Class of VISTA Millennial Superstars will be honored at the Awards Reception & Celebration on Thursday, May 18 at Penn State Great Valley.

Sponsors are still being sought. Click here to learn more about the various opportunities available to partner with VISTA Today as it celebrates Chester County’s next generation of leaders, or contact Steve Knickerbocker at steve.knickerbocker@acj.today or 484-437-2826.