What is your background?
I’m a three-time Penn State graduate with degrees in journalism (B.A.), telecommunication studies (M.A.), and instructional systems (Ph.D.). I also graduated from State College Area High School and raised my family in Happy Valley.
I began my career with Penn State in 1991 and joined World Campus at its launch in 1998 as one of the first program managers hired. Since then, I have continued to serve our student community in a variety of roles as World Campus has grown to include more than 200 certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs.
In 2018, I became associate vice provost for online education. In that role, I supported students’ interests through my leadership in Academic and Student Affairs. Together, we’ve built a robust online community with opportunities for engagement and building connections with fellow Penn Staters. I believe online education is a way for students to pursue not only their professional goals, but personal goals, too. Our students are our priority, and we do everything we can to support them. This includes tailored support services offered through the Chaiken Center for Student Success, a special team to advise military students, and donor-supported programs like Smart Track to Success to help them thrive and make impacts in their communities.
What is your current role with Online Education/World Campus?
I was honored to be asked to step into the acting vice provost role in May at the same time Renata Engel became the interim vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor. As acting vice provost, I lead Penn State World Campus and continue to support our current students and the growing World Campus alumni network, which has reached more than 40,000. I am excited to work alongside World Campus leadership, faculty, and staff to provide the Penn State education experience to anyone, anytime. While I am serving in this position, Dawn Coder is the acting associate vice provost for Online Education, Student Engagement, and Chris Millet is the acting associate vice provost for Online Education, Faculty Engagement. Both Dawn and Chris are longstanding, valued members of the World Campus team who have stepped up to cover my former responsibilities while I am in my current role.
How will you engage with alumni?
I’ll attend both in-person and virtual events in the coming months! I will help welcome our newest alumni during our graduation reception in mid-August and meet with the World Campus Alumni Society volunteer leaders in the near future. I’m looking forward to meeting some of you at networking events being planned for later this fall, including in Philadelphia, and at the 2025 Global Impact Forum in Pittsburgh, November 3–5.
I hope to see you at an in-person or virtual event this fall! Stay tuned for updates in upcoming Alumni Newsletters and on Instagram @PennStateWorldCampusAlumni.
Why are you passionate about online education?
Online learning opens the door to career advancement and personal fulfillment in ways that weren’t possible previously. Gone are the days when the range of programs you could pursue was limited by a narrow range of dates and times that didn’t conflict with commitments you had at home or at work. Suddenly, you could pursue study in virtually any field, at any time. That is a mission that is easy to become passionate about fulfilling.