Currently: 34°F
Several Millersville University alumnae were recently recognized by Central Penn Business Journal. Michele Christensen ’04, Kimberly Kreider Umble ’80 and Diana Escalante ‘08 were named to the publication’s Women of Influence list, and Emily Lazar Kreider ‘15 was among the Women to Watch (under the age of 35). Women of Influence identifies high-achieving women for their professional experience, community involvement, leadership and sustained commitment.
Michele Christensen ‘04
In her role as assistant vice president, casualty claims for Donegal Insurance, Michele Christensen visits her alma mater on occasion to attend job fairs and recruit soon-to-be graduates for open positions.
“At Donegal, I wear several hats – claim training manager, quality assurance, claim service center manager,” she says. “In these roles I get to utilize various skills; I teach and lead our employees, I work with numbers and spreadsheets, and I help guide our customers through their claims. I’ve also had the opportunity to attend several job fairs at MU to recruit new employees, which brings my college experience full circle!”
Christensen did not envision this career when she was a student. “I actually entered MU as an accounting major but realized that I’m more of a people person, even though I enjoy numbers. I switched my major and graduated with a B.A.in English.”
What brought her to Millersville? “I grew up in Bucks County, and we came to Lancaster County to camp annually as a family. We really enjoyed the area, and I didn’t want to be far from home.”
Christensen made some wonderful friends and spent quality time with them at Millersville. “My college experience was amazing,” she says. “While I wasn’t involved in a ton of activities, I met my best friends – who are now considered family – and I married one of them! A few had radio shows, so we spent time in the studio with them. We attended football games in the fall, went to lunch and dinner as a group daily, and played pool in the basement of Gilbert after dinner. We spent time by the pond and generally just really enjoyed a wholesome college experience. In July 2023, my husband (Ryan ’03) and I hosted a large group of MU alumni/friends for our 20-year college reunion.”
Christensen’s experience at Millersville “made me fall in love with Lancaster and allowed me to realize that I wanted to stay in the area after graduation,” she says. She has given back to her community by volunteering with Junior Achievement, at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and through her support of the Mechanicsburg-based Homeward Bound Animal Rescue, from which she adopted her two beloved dogs, Corduroy and Tira.
Diana Escalante ’08
Diana Escalante is director of operations and client services for Color & Culture, a multicultural marketing and advertising agency. She oversees strategic planning, process optimization and client relations.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Millersville and an MBA from Northcentral University in Arizona. Escalante began her career as a bilingual mental health worker with WellSpan Philhaven and then worked as a care connector for AmeriHealth Caritas, as a program and service director for Keystone Human Services, as a senior bilingual community engagement specialist for Gateway Health, and as a senior bilingual community engagement specialist for Highmark Wholecare before taking on her current role in 2024.
She serves on the board of Tec Centro York and as a commissioner for Gov. Shapiro’s Advisory Council on Latino Affairs. She has volunteered for Salem Square Community Association, Spanish American Multicultural Resource Center, 2023 Latino Convention Planning Committee, Stop the Violence York, and the YMCA of the Roses’ Diversity Inclusion and Global Committee. She also serves as youth and children ministry leader at her church.
Kimberly Kreider Umble ’80
An engaged student, Kimberly Kreider Umble loved her time at Millersville State College, as it was known then. She was a student representative “to help secure social work as a major” and was introduced to numerous volunteer and internship opportunities during her time on campus.
It was through these experiences that she developed a desire for advocacy work, community engagement and leadership, she says. “I also found through my volunteer work and internship that I had a passion for working with vulnerable populations. I’m driven by a strong commitment to equity, inclusion and advocacy, and I find purpose in helping people access resources and build resilience. I have been motivated by these driving forces for my entire career.”
That career includes serving for 39 years as president and CEO of Lebanon Family Health Services. A Facebook post by the organization indicates that “Kim is a passionate and dedicated leader in Lebanon County! She is a strong mentor for women and has an unwavering commitment to cultivating the next generation of female leaders. Throughout Kim’s tenure at LFHS, her mission-driven advocacy for patients and clients has always been at the heart of her work.”
Umble was “deeply honored and incredibly grateful” to be recognized among the Women of Influence but was quick to share the accolades with others. “I firmly believe this recognition is not just a reflection of my own efforts, but also of the support, collaboration and inspiration I’ve received from those around me,” she says. “The work I have done has always been about lifting others up, not seeking recognition. Knowing that others see and value that effort is both motivating and deeply rewarding. I am often reminded of a quote by Helen Keller, ‘Life is a caring adventure or nothing.’ Indeed, how true!”
Emily Lazar Kreider ‘15
Emily Lazar Kreider ’15 is the learning and development manager for The Hershey Company. Her client group, she says, is the retail team, “the individuals who have selling conversations; those who go to Walmart and other retailers where Hershey products are sold.” The retail team gets these products on shelves and in the right areas by using data and insights, according to Kreider.
In her role, she creates training around different systems that the retail team uses. She also creates leadership development content and resources to help team members advance and plan their careers. And she works with project managers and the leadership team to help with the implementation of change management. “On the people and technical sides, I explain the benefits and new expectations through communications and training,” she says.
Kreider previously served as talent management manager and training and associate development leader for Turkey Hill and as senior technology educator and clinical information system educator for Penn State Health.
At Millersville, she majored in speech communication with an option in public relations and a minor in marketing while being concurrently enrolled in the Honors College. Outside of the classroom, she served as a resident assistant, business tutor and intern at the Ware Center and the Winter Center on campus.
After graduation, Kreider began her career by taking a position as a training and communications developer for The Hershey Company, doing internal communications on the change management team. She also earned an MBA in digital marketing.
Kreider was very flattered when she received notice that she had been nominated for Women to Watch. “It was an honor to be nominated,” she says. “I followed up and sent my application, focusing on my volunteerism and my work philosophy, and got three letters of recommendation from my colleagues.”
Kreider’s volunteer activities have taken her into her community as well as around the globe. A few years ago, she was a volunteer open water diver for Reef Conservation International in Belize to control the invasive lionfish populations in the Meso-American Barrier Reef and survey marine life alongside scientists. As a Partner in Food Solutions volunteer, she consults with African companies in the food industry, such as providing a communication strategic plan for a lab in Côte d’Ivoire or a label redesign for a soybean oil manufacturer in Uganda.
How did Millersville contribute to her nomination as a Woman to Watch? “What I really loved about my studies were the projects that we did with nonprofits,” Kreider says, “like PR campaigns and market research projects. I wanted to make a positive change, and Millersville helped me do that. After graduation, I remained interested in being an active member of my community and volunteering.”
