Student Marshal brings international perspective

Felix Greiner came a long way to earn a B.A. in Global Studies and become one of Penn State Berks? student marshals, a graduating student with one of the highest grade-point averages. Born in Sweden, he met his wife, Dr. Radhica Ganapathy, Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts at Penn State Berks, in 1998 after moving to India with his mother who accepted a position there. They dated but eventually drifted apart when Greiner moved back to Sweden and Ganapathy moved to the United States.

Then in 2006, Greiner decided to move to the United States. It wasn?t long before he and Ganapathy reunited and began dating again, and before long, they got married. In 2010, Greiner decided to pursue his dream of completing his education and enrolled as a full-time student at Penn State Berks.

Global Studies seemed to be a natural choice for Greiner, who is graduating this May with two minors: English and Political Science. He is planning to apply to graduate school programs in international relations or global public health and hopes to eventually work with a non-governmental organization (NGO), a non-profit, voluntary citizens' group that is organized on an international level.

Greiner has already completed an international internship at the Karolinska Institutet, a leading medical university in Sweden, where he worked with professors on research that will soon be published in the American Journal of Public Health.

When asked how his time at Penn State Berks helped prepare him for the future, Greiner stated, ?For me personally, my time here helped me hone my skills in writing and research.?

?I really enjoyed the Global Studies program here at Berks, and I?m very thankful for all the help my professors have given me,? he adds.

While a student at Penn State Berks, Greiner received numerous academic awards including the Berks Scholars Award, the Outstanding Adult Student, the Global Studies Academic Excellence Award, the International Perspectives Award in Global Studies, the Academic Excellence Award in History, and the Evan Pugh Scholar Award. In addition, he was also involved in campus activities including the Student Government Association and the International Club, and he worked as a tutor in the college?s Learning Center.

Greiner?s immediate plans after graduation are to be a full-time father to his and Ganapathy?s newborn daughter, Satyana Greiner-Ganapathy.