Smeal Update: July 5, 2022
Provost Nick Jones to step down
Nick Jones, Penn State executive vice president and provost, has announced he will step down Aug. 15 and transition into a new role as special assistant to the president through the end of 2022. He will return to the College of Engineering, where he has an appointment as a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. On Aug. 15, Justin Schwartz, Harold and Inge Marcus Dean in the College of Engineering, will assume the role of interim vice president and provost following a transitional period that will begin in mid-July. The University will conduct a nationwide search for Jones’ permanent successor.
Posey appointed as Smeal academic integrity officer
Lisa Posey, associate professor of risk management, has accepted an appointment as Smeal’s academic integrity officer. Duties of the position broadly include ensuring compliance with University Policy G-9, meeting with instructors and students on procedures, sanctions, questions, and concerns, and an array of other specific responsibilities.
Promoting faculty expertise and research
A special information session on the topic of promoting Smeal faculty expertise and research is scheduled for 1 p.m. July 11 in 217 Business Building. In-person participation is preferred, but Zoom (https://psu.zoom.us/j/93932971096) is available for those who cannot attend in person. The presentation will feature Rick Ayers, Smeal’s chief marketing officer and assistant dean for strategic communication, and Erin Colbourn, director of media strategy in Penn State’s Office of Strategic Communications. Rick and Erin will share a general framework and process for raising awareness of research and faculty expertise as well as tips on how you may engage with Smeal’s marketing and strategic communication team. If you plan to attend in person, please complete this Doodle poll: https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/eVmrvNXd.
Smeal celebrates retiring faculty and staff
The college held a retirement reception on June 22 in the Business Building Atrium for faculty and staff who will be leaving Smeal. Those who were recognized included: Ed Babcock, Orie Barron, Frank Chelko, Doris Confer, Sharon Cox, Denny Gioia, Gary Gray, Tena Ishler, Teresa Lehman, Lori McCracken, Ralph Oliva, Paul Poissant, Cindi Satterfield, Jeff Sharp, and Debbie Weaver. Congratulations to all!
Save the Dates: SAC Meet and Greet, Travel Spotlight
The Smeal Staff Advisory Committee has planned two upcoming events, which are scheduled for the last week in July. A meet-and-greet event is planned for 5 p.m. July 27 at Axemann Brewery, 2042 Axemann Road, Suite 125, in Bellefonte. The next day, Juan Veruete will present SAC’s first Travel Spotlight from noon to 1 p.m. in 124 Business Building. There’s no need to RSVP for either event. For the Travel Spotlight, just show up with your lunch, if you like, and enjoy!
Smeal in the News
Moritz interviewed on WTAJ-TV about federal gas tax cut
Brent Moritz, associate professor of supply chain management, talked about the implications of gas tax cuts in an interview with WTAJ-TV in Altoona. Watch the interview.
Ghadar interviewed by WBRE about effects of inflation
Fariborz Ghadar, William A. Schreyer Chair in Global Management, Policies and Planning, was interviewed on WBRE in Wilkes-Barre about the reasons behind the Federal Reserve’s decision to raise its key interest rate. Watch the Ghadar interview.
Penn State Online MBA graduate featured
Penn State Online MBA graduate Jeff Hanley, the management officer at the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana, Mexico, is featured in a Penn State News story titled “World Campus MBA graduate helps move 22,000 Ukrainians across U.S.-Mexico border.” Read the story.
Know someone who rocks? Nominate them!
Each month the Smeal Staff Advisory Committee names a You Rock! Award recipient. The YouRock! honorees for May are Karen Serago, senior academic adviser, and Sue Ayers, special events coordinator in the Office of Undergraduate Education. The YouRock! honoree for June is Kayla Horting, administrative support assistant in the finance office. Congratulations, Karen, Sue and Kayla.You all rock! You can nominate a co-worker for the You Rock! Award online.
The Smeal Community Weekly Poll
Click this link to participate in this week’s survey. Results will be shared during the next Smeal Community Zoom, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. July 11.