UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Three graduates of the Penn State Smeal College of Business — Jean Oelwang, Larry Raiman and George Strickler — were among the 14 Penn State alumni to receive the Penn State Alumni Association’s Alumni Fellow Award on Sept. 28.

The Alumni Fellow program is administered by the Penn State Alumni Association in cooperation with the University's academic colleges, campuses and the Office of the President. Since 1973, alumni have been  nominated by a college or campus as leaders in their professional fields and accept an invitation from the president of the University to return to campus to share their expertise with students, faculty and administrators.

Jean Oelwang

Jean Oelwang believes in disruptive detours.

Wanting to explore the overlap between the business and social sectors, Oelwang’s personal detours, while working on six continents over 17 years to help start up mobile phone companies, have included working with homeless teens in Chicago as a VISTA Volunteer and the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife in Sydney, Australia.

“These detours grounded me in humility so I could better understand other sectors and the importance of bridging divides for the greater collective good,” she said.

They also helped prepare her for her role as founding CEO and president of Virgin Unite, an entrepreneurial foundation that builds leadership collectives, incubates ideas and re-invents systems for a better world — a position she’s held for nearly 20 years. Oelwang has worked with partners to lead the incubation and start-up of several independent impact initiatives, including The Elders, The B Team, The Carbon War Room, Ocean Unite, The New Now, The Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator, 100% Human at Work, The Virgin Unite Constellation and the Africa Donor Collective.

“Jean has spent much of her life working with some of the world’s most recognizable and influential leaders, and we are incredibly fortunate to benefit from her talents and her extraordinary experience here at the Penn State Smeal College of Business,” said Charles H. Whiteman, the John and Karen Arnold Dean. “She is renowned as someone who fosters important partnerships that create impact and acts as a tireless champion for people from all walks of life.”

Oelwang called it an honor to be recognized as an Alumni Fellow.

“Penn State was a truly transformational life experience for me, opening the door to a world of possibility.  I’ll be forever grateful for the meaningful opportunities that emerged from my time at Penn State — from having the chance to study abroad, to securing a dream job, to sparking my passion for community service and most importantly for nurturing lifelong friendships who have made me whom I am in this world,” she said.

Larry Raiman

Larry Raiman said that the lessons he learned outside of the classroom at Penn State gave him a broader perspective on how to be a positive community member, a charitable individual and how to “pay it forward.”

One way Raiman is paying it forward is by mentoring Penn State and Smeal students.

“My relationship with each of these young adults has been a gift far beyond my wildest expectations. It’s incredibly rewarding to stay connected and celebrate with them as they accomplish their goals in both life and business,” Raiman said.

Raiman graduated from Penn State with a degree in accounting in 1982 and earned an MBA from Columbia Business School in 1989.

He has more than 30 years of experience in the real estate industry, starting as a research analyst covering real estate investment trusts. He was a managing director at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette/Credit Suisse Group for more than 15 years, running the firm’s Global Real Estate Securities business before he founded investment advisory firm LDR Capital Management in 2011. Today, Raiman is managing principal, chief investment officer and portfolio manager of the firm.

He has also served as an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School, teaching Introductory real estate finance.

“Larry’s had a very successful career as a real estate investor and has graciously shared his experience and expertise with our students and faculty,” Whiteman said. “Beyond his business acumen, Larry’s a man of great integrity and someone who is driven to make a difference at his alma mater through his membership on several boards and committees, his philanthropy and his mentorship.”

Raiman said that being named an Alumni Fellow is one of the great honors of his life.

“I’m so proud of my Penn State roots, and I feel such a tremendous loyalty, passion and appreciation for the University,” he said. “When I consider there are more than 700,000 living graduates, I am just so humbled to be included among such a distinguished group as Penn State’s Alumni Fellows.”

George Strickler

Penn State has been a part of the Strickler family for more than 70 years, and George Strickler could not be happier.

“My father graduated with a degree in agronomy after serving in the Korean War. We eventually moved to Ohio and I even enrolled at a certain university there, but a last-minute visit to Penn State changed my mind and I attended Penn State instead,” he said. “It was, by far, the best choice that I ever made for my education. Now, my sons are also proud Penn State graduates.”

Strickler earned a degree in accounting from Penn State in 1969 and began his career at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. He spent 30 years with the company in a variety of finance and treasury positions, culminating as vice president of finance and chief accounting officer. He joined BorgWarner as its executive vice president and CFO in 1999 and later served as executive vice president and chief financial officer with Republic Engineered Products. In 2006, he joined Stoneridge Inc. as executive vice president and chief financial officer and retired in 2018 as executive vice president of strategic growth.

He is chairman of the board of directors of Summa Health, a $1.8 billion non-profit health organization in Ohio. He has been a member of the Smeal Board of Visitors since 2002.

“George had a long and distinguished international career, and he remains active and engaged through his volunteer commitments, including his position with Smeal’s Board of Visitors. His business acumen, world view and dedication to Smeal and its students are extraordinary and have helped make him a powerful advocate for a 21st-century business education,” Whiteman said.

Strickler said it’s easy to give back to places that are an important part of his family’s life.

“My mother believed in education and in giving back to the organizations and people who have helped me throughout my career, and I’ve never hesitated to share my success with Penn State,” he said. “To be honored by a place I love as an Alumni Fellow is one of the greatest honors in my long career.”