Diane Resides Names Interim Director Of Disability Services
11-8-96University Park, Pa. -- Diane Resides, counselor for the Center for Adult Learner Services at Penn State, has been named interim director of Penn State's Disability Services, effective immediately.
The office helps students with disabilities make a successful transition to and through their University experience. Nationally, about 9 percent of first-year students enrolled in college report having a disability. Yet, with interpreters, additional time to take exams, assistive technology and note taking assistance, many of these students succeed.
The office also helps accommodate employees with disabilities; educates and serves as a resource for faculty, staff and students interested in learning about the needs of persons with disabilities, is an advocate for and on behalf of persons with disabilities and fosters an accepting and affirming environment at the University.
"I am very pleased that Diane has taken on the duties as interim director," says Dr. James Stewart, vice provost for educational equity. "She brings strong counseling and management skills to the position, and we look forward to her leadership as we examine various approaches to improving further the services provided to students, faculty and staff."
As a counselor for adult learners since 1990, Resides managed the daily operations of the Center for Adult Learner Services in the director's absence, and provided professional assistance to adult students and referral services to those with academic, personal, social or psychological problems. She was the liaison with a number of student service offices, such as Admissions, Financial Aid, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Career Development and Placement Services. She also developed a seminar series on women's career and life planning and represented the Center at campus and community events.
In spring semester, 1994, she served as assistant to the director of the Office for Disability Services, where she worked with students with disabilities on their needs assessments and arranged appropriate services. She worked with the scholarship selection committee, collaborated with other University offices to improve services to students, and developed a newsletter and brochure on disability services for students.
Resides has also served as coordinator in the Residence Hall Program, where she supervised the daily operation of a residence hall community of 860 students.
Before joining Penn State, she held several positions in the community, such as training coordinator for the Private Industry Council of Centre County, coordinator of student services and financial aid officer for the Center Business School, and program manager and job placement specialist for Skills of Central Pennsylvania.
A 1981 graduate of Penn State with a bachelor of science degree in administration of justice, Resides received an M.Ed. in counselor education with an emphasis in rehabilitation in 1989 and expects to receive her D.Ed. in adult education from Penn State next year.