Accomplished Westminster Alumni
A tribute to Westminster's liberal arts tradition alumni are accomplished in, and contribute to, a wide range of fields including; education, research science, medicine, politics, writing, entrepreneurial enterprise, mission, mountain climbing and business. Our most prestigious recognition awarded to accomplished alumni, the Westminster College Alumni Citation, recognizes professional accomplishment, service to Westminster and community service. Accomplishments of graduates of 10 years or less are recognized through the presentation of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Added in 2016, the Rising Titan Award recognizes a junior or senior for their outstanding leadership and potential for impact on the alumni community after they graduate.
Glenn Thompson, a 1968 Westminster graduate in chemistry, built a distinguished career in
the chemical and materials industries. He retired as chief operating officer of Plextronics,
Inc., after earlier leadership roles with PPG Industries and Glidden/ICI.
At Westminster, Glenn was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. His commitment to his
alma mater has continued throughout his life: he served as a Westminster College Trustee
from 2010 to 2024 and was elected Trustee Emeritus in 2025. He and his wife, Linda,
sponsor endowed scholarships in environmental science and nursing, and Glenn has been
a regular participant at URAC as well as a member of the Class of 1968’s 50th Reunion
Committee.
Beyond his professional career, Glenn rekindled his passion for photography during
retirement. His work has earned awards, including recognition in connection with an Ansel
Adams exhibit at the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, and his images are held in
private and business collections across the U.S. and Europe.
Glenn resides in Butler, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Linda. Their children, Deryk ’96 and
Cori, live with their spouses in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, respectively.
R. Lee Hite, a 1966 Westminster graduate in business and finance, built a successful career
leading The Hite Company, where he served as CEO and chairman before retiring. While at
Westminster, he was active in Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and club sports.
Beyond his professional success, Lee has been a strong advocate for entrepreneurship and
community service. He has served on numerous boards and committees, including as a
country club board member and vice chair, and remains engaged in initiatives such as
Penn State’s LaunchBox entrepreneurial program and an angel investment group that
supports new business ventures. His leadership and dedication have earned him
recognition, including being named Kiwanis Man of the Year. Additionally, he serves as a
board member and past president of his local Rotary club and is a third generation
Rotarian, recently celebrating his 50th year of membership.
At Westminster, Lee has continued to give back as a member and Chair of the Board of
Distinguished Visitors, actively providing valuable support and mentorship to students
interested in entrepreneurship and business, and is a proud supporter of Titan athletics,
the student emergency fund, and the Westminster Entrepreneur Center (WEC).
Lee resides in Altoona, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Jane. Together they have three
daughters—Laura, Katie, and Betsy—and are proud grandparents to ten grandchildren.
Christie Leigh Nelson, a 2006 Westminster graduate, has built a remarkable career in
academia, applied data analysis, national security topics, and experiential learning. After
Westminster, she earned her master’s degree in Operations Research from Columbia
University in 2007, followed by a Ph.D. in Operations Research from Rutgers University in
2013. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Rutgers’ CCICADA Center (Command,
Control, and Interoperability Center for Advanced Data Analysis) from 2013–2016, with
projects including impacting the US Coast Guard's fleet allocation planning, anti terrorism
research that partnered with the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and changing metal detector
national standards. Today, Christie serves as an Associate Professor of Professional
Practice at Rutgers University.
As a Westminster student, Christie was deeply involved in academics and campus life. She
was a member of Kappa Mu Epsilon, Omicron Delta Kappa, Eta Sigma Phi, Westminster
History Interest Group and the math club. She received the Harriet Jackson Sarver
Scholarship, presented at regional conferences and took part in student trips to New York
City, Greece, Turkey, and England.
She remains extremely connected to her alma mater. Christie co-founded and co-chaired
the Professional Networking Symposium for more than a decade, establishing both an
endowed award and internship fund. She has also served on Alumni Council, led alumni
networking initiatives, and mentored students through professional invited lectures, mock
interviews, resume reviews, career events, and more.
At Rutgers, Christie founded and directs the Externship Exchange Program, the university’s
largest public private partnership program, involving over 200 organizations such as local
nonprofits, Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, etc. and training thousands of
students. She has also created a summer pilot program to include Westminster students.
Her nationally recognized research in security, operations research, and data science has
influenced government policy, industry practices, and student success.
Christie resides in Princeton, New Jersey, with her husband, Ben ’06, and their two
children.
Veronica Corcoran, a 2015 Westminster graduate with a degree in physics, went on to earn
her Juris Doctorate from Marquette University Law School in 2018. While at Westminster,
she was a member of the Lambda Sigma Honor Society, Phi Mu fraternity, and a student-
athlete on the varsity swim team.
Today, Veronica serves as a staff attorney for the Labor and Industry Review Commission
for the state of Wisconsin. She also volunteers as a moot court coach for Marquette
University, mentoring law students as they develop advocacy skills.
Her professional accolades include induction into Marquette University’s Pro Bono Society
for completing more than 120 hours of pro bono work, winning first place in the State Bar of
Wisconsin’s annual legal writing contest for law students, and serving as articles editor for
the Marquette Intellectual Property Law Review.
Veronica remains an engaged Titan through her role as regional representative for
Wisconsin, her continued support of the Westminster swim team, and her participation in
student mentorship opportunities such as the career writing project.
She resides in Madison, Wisconsin, with her two cats, Archer and Shanti
Christine Rossi, a current Westminster student majoring in physics and mathematics, is
actively involved in both academics and campus life. She is a member of the women’s
tennis team and Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, where she has been recognized as sister of
the year in 2024. This year, Christine served as an Orientation Leader, welcoming our
newest Titans to the family.
Her dedication and leadership have been honored through multiple scholarships, including
the Paul E. Brown Scholarship, the Roger and Helen Metzler Scholarship, the Albright
Scholarship, and the Class of 1962 Scholarship. Beyond Westminster, Christine volunteers
with the Mercer County Food Bank and participates in service opportunities through her
sorority.
Looking toward the future, Christine plans to pursue a career as an architect or designer.
She currently resides in Jefferson Hills with her parents, Sue and Eric, and her sister,
Cathryn.