Dean's Message
Summer Happenings
This is the time of year where we reflect on the accomplishments of our graduating seniors and the good feelings surrounding commencement. It is also a time for looking ahead to plan for next year. I want to briefly describe an important staff initiative that will begin during the 2007–08 year and a new initiative that we have launched in East Asian studies.
But first, let me say more about our graduating classes. The College had the largest spring commencement ever, and probably the largest College commencement in Penn State history, with more than 1,300 B.A. and B.S. graduates. The Bryce Jordan Center was filled nearly to capacity with proud relatives and friends. Linda Woodbridge, the Josephine Barry Weiss Chair in the Humanities, gave an excellent commencement address, and the College marshal, Mark Taticchi, graduating with bachelor’s degrees in political science, history, and economics, also gave an inspiring presentation focused on his fellow graduates and their shared experiences. Although we had a few more faculty on hand than in the past, I would like to encourage more faculty to attend. I will be asking departments to make sure they are represented well in the future at this ceremony that is so important to our graduates and their families. Our departmental receptions before the ceremony were generally well attended this year and, from all accounts, enjoyed by families. I appreciate the faculty and staff efforts that have gone into these.
Looking ahead to the fall, the College is going to put in place a system of in-grade promotions for standing staff. Meritorious staff who have been at their current grade for a few years and who are performing at a high level will be eligible to be nominated for a “promotion in rank.” This in-grade promotion does not involve a move to a different staff grade. Those given in-grade promotions will, instead, be given a significant incremental salary increase in addition to the normal merit raises. This plan is designed to address the deficit in the SPEC system which provides promotional opportunities for those who bid on new positions or whose positions have significantly changed, but not for staff doing outstanding work over a sustained period whose duties do not change, or change only incrementally. It will also address the frequent complaint of department heads and faculty who want to reward their best staff performers but really cannot within their existing grade classification. Specific plans for this promotional process will be announced in the fall. This promotion system will replace our current staff awards, and those selected for promotion will be honored at our staff awards reception.
I have also appointed a Task Force to make recommendations for ways to strengthen our College’s teaching and research in the area of East Asian studies. I have asked the Task Force, chaired by On-cho Ng, professor of history, to report back in October. The members of the Task Force are focusing on priorities for faculty appointments in this area, as well as ways to strengthen our existing East Asian studies major, including better and more visible institutional arrangements and possibilities for graduate work in this area, among other things. At the same time, the Department of Comparative Literature is considering a new Chinese major, to augment the successful Japanese major launched a few years ago. I am optimistic that strengthening our efforts in this key area, including through new faculty appointments, will better serve our students going out into the world in this decade and beyond.
Have a pleasant and productive summer.
Faculty News
Faculty Grants
David G. Atwill, assistant professor of history, from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, for “Islam in Tibet: Hybridity, Religious Boundaries, and Cultural Adaptation in 19th and 20th Century Tibet.”
Suzanna L. DeBoef, associate professor of political science, from the National Science Foundation, for “Collaborative Research: Conditional Frailty Duration Model for the Study of Repeated Events in the Social Sciences.”
Barry W. Ickes, professor of economics, from the RAND Corporation, for “Market Creation as a Policy Tool for Transformational Change.”
Ann E. Killibrew, associate professor of classics and ancient Mediterranean studies, Jewish studies, and anthropology, for “Landscapes and Links: The Mopsos Project exploring the archaeology of Mediterranean identities in Cilicia, Turkey.”
Kenneth N. Levy, assistant professor of psychology, from the American Psychoanalytical Association, for “Assessing Mechanisms of Change in Psychotherapy for Patients with Borderline Personality Disorders.”
Kenneth N. Levy, assistant professor of psychology, from the International Psychoanalytic Association, for “Borderline Personality Disorder and Stress Reactivity.”
Michael J. Wenger, associate professor of psychology, PI, and William J. Ray, professor of psychology, from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, for “High-level Influences on Low-level learning.”
Faculty Election Results
Richard Carlson, Department of Psychology; Cheryl Glenn, Department of English; Nancy Landale, Department of Sociology; and Denise Solomon, Department of Communication Arts and Sciences; were elected to represent the College in the Faculty Advisory Committee. Other members of the Faculty Advisory Committee include Laura Knoppers, Department of English; Barrett Lee, Department of Sociology; Linda Woodbridge, Departments of English and Women's Studies; and Dennis Gouran, Departments of Communication Arts and Sciences and Labor Studies and Employment Relations. These faculty represent your views; please let them know of your concerns.
Obituaries
Dale Benner Harris, professor emeritus of psychology and human development, died in Newport, Vermont, on April 28, 2007. In 1959, Dale became professor of psychology at Penn State. He was chairman of the department from 1962–1967. The following year, he was a Fulbright Visiting Professor at Ochanomizu University in Tokyo. Best known for his text, “Children’s Drawings as Measures of Intellectual Maturity (or “Goodenough-Harris Draw-A-Man Test”), Dale was also editor of three professional journals and published many papers on children’s development and education. Serving on three Minnesota governor’s committees and five national boards of professional organizations relating to child education and welfare, Dale belonged to Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, and numerous other organizations. He retired from Penn State in 1979.
Robert W. Green, professor emeritus of European history, from 1952 until his retirement in 1983, died March 30, 2007.
WebEvents Calendar
The WebEvents Calendar features lectures, talks, and conferences sponsored by units within the College of the Liberal Arts and by the College. If you have something that you would like posted to the calendar for your department, please send entry submissions to Katy Heltman.
Staff News
Ice Cream Social To Honor Staff
All faculty and staff are invited to attend the ice cream social from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18, in the lobby and on the steps of Sparks Building. Please join us for a summer treat and an opportunity to visit with your colleagues.
New Colleagues
Annie Mahoney, Research Technologist, Anthropology
Promotions
Sandi Moyer, Administrative Assistant I, Departments of History and Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, and Programs in Religious Studies and Jewish Studies
Connie Ripka, Accountant Aide, financial office, Office of the Dean
Departures
Gabriel Welsch, Assistant to the Dean for Advancement and Manager of Publications and Public Relations, Alumni Relations and Development
Retirements
JoAnn Harris, Administrative Assistant I, Department of Psychology
Judy Mitchell, Accountant Aide, financial office, Office of the Dean
Staff Congratulations
We are pleased to announce the accomplishments of two of our staff members. Sandy Wingard, manager of ITLA, recently completed the IT Leadership Program. In addition, academic counselor, Richard Brungard, completed his master’s degree in Adult Education in December. If you have the opportunity, please congratulate these individuals on their achievement.
Dean’s Staff Advisory Committee
Newly elected representatives to the Dean’s Staff Advisory Committee were announced at the College-wide staff meeting held on May 16. The representatives for the 2007–08 year are as follows:
Anthropology—Melissa Strouse
Associate Dean/Research, AR&D, Finance, Administration—Faye Maring
Associate Dean, Undergraduate and Graduate Studies, Outreach—Christine Laur
Communications Arts and Sciences, Philosophy—Kristie Kalvin
Economics—Michele Moslak
English—Karen Davis
French, Spanish Italian Portuguese—Barbara Brinkman
Languages and Literatures—Bonnie Rossman
Information Technology—Ed Smiley
Political Science—Abby Smith
Psychology—Amy Larimer
Sociology—Jodi Ripka
Weaver Building Support—Barby Singer
Willard Support, Africana Research Center, Rock Ethics—Vernett Brooks
Steering committee members Becky Cross and Greg Halpin will continue to serve this year. Also, Jennifer Morris will serve as an ex-officio member of the committee.
The first meeting of the committee was held on June 14. Officers were elected and term limits were determined. Suggestions received to date were discussed. Please see the committee’s Web site (http://dsac.la.psu.edu) for meeting minutes, suggestions, future meeting dates, and other information on the committee. Suggestions may be submitted through this Web site, through your representative, or through any representative.
A special thank you is extended to the steering committee members for all of their hard work and efforts in bringing the idea of a Staff Advisory Committee to reality—Vernett Brooks, Wendy Clark, Becky Cross, Greg Halpin, and Faye Maring.
If you need to obtain or exchange parking permits, please come to Room 111 Sparks Building, Monday through Friday, from 9 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. only. Please remember to bring your license plate number(s) with you when you register for your permit. Once you have a permit, please be sure you report new or changed license plate numbers to Heather Summerlin at 865-7691. As a reminder, if you are leaving the College, you will need to return your parking permit to 111 Sparks Building.
July 2007 Issue
LA Times is compiled by Carol Sonenklar, Alumni Relations and Development Office, 13 Sparks, 865-8085.
Past LA Times issues are also available on the Web here.
This publication is available in alternative media on request.
Penn State encourages qualified persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please consult the Liberal Arts dean's office at 814-865-7691 in advance of your participation or visit.
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U.Ed. LBA 07-238