Academics

Penn State announces tenure-line faculty promotions, effective July 1, 2024

Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The following is a list of academic promotions for tenured and tenure-line faculty members at Penn State, effective July 1, 2024.

The list of non-tenure-line faculty promotions is available here

The following individuals have been promoted to professor: 

  • Jonathan E. Abel, professor of comparative literature and Asian studies, Department of Comparative Literature and Asian Studies, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Eliyana R. Adler, professor of history and Jewish studies, Departments of History and Jewish Studies, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Aliasghar A. Alikhani-Koopae, professor of mathematics, Department of Science, Penn State Berks
  • Daniel Aobdia, professor of accounting, Department of Accounting, Smeal College of Business
  • Andres Aradillas-Lopez, professor of economics, Department of Economics, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Omar Ashour, professor of industrial engineering, School of Engineering, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
  • Sunday Azagba, professor of nursing, Department of Nursing, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
  • Friederike Baer, professor of history, Department of Arts & Humanities, Penn State Abington
  • Joseph M. Beilein, Jr., professor of history, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
  • Brian R. Belland, professor of education, Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education, College of Education
  • Elmer R. Block, professor of political science and African American studies, Departments of Political Science and African American Studies, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Justin L. Brown, professor of biomedical engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Cui-zu Chang, professor of physics, Department of Physics, Eberly College of Science
  • Christian M. Connell, professor of human development and family studies, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Health and Human Development
  • Joseph A. Cotruvo, professor of chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Eberly College of Science
  • Rebekah I. Dawson-Rigas, professor of astronomy and astrophysics, Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Eberly College of Science
  • Paul D. Esker, professor of plant disease epidemiology & field crops extension plant pathologist, Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Karen Gasper, professor of psychology, Department of Psychology, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Swaroop Ghosh, professor of electrical engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Raymond F. Gibney, professor of management, School of Business Administration, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
  • Neerav Goyal, professor of otolaryngology, neurosurgery, public health sciences, and surgery, Departments of Otolaryngology, Neurosurgery, Public Health Sciences, and Surgery, Penn State College of Medicine
  • Corey Gracie-Griffin, professor of architecture, Division of Arts and Humanities, Penn State Altoona
  • Steven Haas, professor of sociology and demography, Department of Sociology and Criminology, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Elizabeth A. Hajek, professor of geosciences, Department of Geosciences, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
  • Andrew C. High, professor of communication arts and sciences, Department of Communications Arts and Sciences, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Indrit Hoxha, professor of economics, School of Business Administration, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
  • Hai Huang, professor of engineering, Division of Business, Engineering, and Information Sciences & Technology, Penn State Altoona
  • Lisa D. Iulo, professor of architecture, Department of Architecture, College of Arts & Architecture
  • Donghui Jeong, professor of astronomy and astrophysics, Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Eberly College of Science
  • Matthew F. Jordan, professor of film/video and media studies, Department of Film Production & Media Studies, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
  • Ann E. Killebrew, professor of classics and ancient mediterranean studies and Jewish studies, Departments of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies and Jewish Studies, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Reuben H. Kraft, professor of mechanical engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Matthew R. Kumjian, professor of meteorology and atmospheric science, Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
  • Janelle B. Larson, professor of agricultural economics, Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Zhen Lei, professor of energy and environmental economics, Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
  • Robert M. Leicht, professor of architectural engineering, Department of Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Qunhua Li, professor of statistics, Department of Statistics, Eberly College of Science
  • Nancy E. Locke, professor of art history, Department of Art History, College of Arts & Architecture
  • Stephen P. Lynch, professor of mechanical engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Yingwei Mao, professor of biology, Department of Biology, Eberly College of Science
  • Molly A. Martin, professor of sociology and demography, Department of Sociology and Criminology, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Kim S. Ménard, professor of criminal justice, Division of Education, Human Development, and Social Sciences, Penn State Altoona
  • Christopher R. Moore, professor of philosophy and classics, Department of Philosophy and Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Kohta Murase, professor of physics and of astronomy & astrophysics, Department of Physics, Eberly College of Science
  • Jennifer Murphy, professor of criminal justice, Department of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Penn State Berks
  • Evelyn F. Nyadwera, professor of economics, Penn State DuBois
  • Esther A. Obonyo, professor of engineering design, School of Engineering Design and Innovation, College of Engineering
  • Heather E. Preisendanz, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Aleksandra Radlińska, professor of civil and environmental engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Ihab Ragai, professor of engineering, Department of School of Engineering, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
  • Ramakrishnan Rajagopalan, professor of engineering, Penn State DuBois
  • Mohammad Rasouli, professor of electrical and computer engineering, School of Engineering, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
  • Dino J. Ravnic, professor of surgery, Department of Surgery, Penn State College of Medicine
  • Anthony C. Robinson, professor of geography, Department of Geography, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
  • Jonas Rubenson, professor of kinesiology, Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Development
  • Cory R. Scherer, professor of psychology, Penn State Schuylkill
  • Michael Schweinberger, professor of statistics, Department of Statistics, Eberly College of Science
  • Sarah E. Shandera, professor of physics, Department of Physics, Eberly College of Science
  • Chaopeng Shen, professor of civil and environmental engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Chan Shen, professor of surgery and public health sciences, Departments of Surgery and Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine
  • Noel J. Sloboda, professor of English, Penn State York
  • Bharath KK. Sriperumbudur, professor of statistics, Department of Statistics, Eberly College of Science
  • Moriah L. Szpara, professor of biology, Department of Biology, Eberly College of Science
  • Peggy N. Van Meter, professor of education, Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education, College of Education
  • Ashton M. Verdery, professor of sociology, demography, and social data analytics, Department of Sociology and Criminology, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Emily E. Weinert, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Eberly College of Science
  • Douglas E. Wolfe, professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
  • Vineeta Yadav, professor of political science, Department of Political Science, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Lauren D. Zarzar, professor of chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Eberly College of Science
  • Hong Zheng, professor of medicine, microbiology and immunology, Department of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine
  • Minghui Zhu, professor of electrical engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering

The following individuals have been promoted to librarian:

  • Benjamin Goldman, librarian, Eberly Family Special Collections Library, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications
  • Mihoko Hosoi, librarian, Libraries Administration, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications
  • Heidi A. Moyer, librarian, Commonwealth Campus Libraries, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications
  • Manuel Ostos, librarian, George and Sherry Middlemas Arts and Humanities Library, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications
  • Stephen Woods, librarian, Social Sciences Library, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications

The following individuals have been promoted to associate professor:

  • Saeed Abdullah, associate professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology
  • Jennifer P. Agans, associate professor of recreation, park, and tourism management, Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, College of Health and Human Development
  • Abigail O. Akande, associate professor of rehabilitation & human services, Department of Social Sciences, Penn State Abington
  • Daniel Allen, associate professor of ecosystem science and management, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Sarah E. Allen, associate professor of biology, Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Penn State Altoona
  • Lauren E. Altenburger, associate professor of human development and family studies, Penn State Shenango
  • Andrea P. Argüelles, associate professor of engineering science and mechanics, Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, College of Engineering
  • Deborah M. Aruguete, associate professor of environmental science, School of Science, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
  • Abu Asaduzzaman, associate professor of chemistry, School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
  • Michelle S. Bae-Dimitriadis, associate professor of art education, School of Visual Arts, College of Arts & Architecture
  • Saurabh Basu, associate professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering, Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Roger E. Beaty, associate professor of psychology, Department of Psychology, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Antonio Blanca Pimentel, associate professor of computer science engineering, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
  • John W. Boney, associate professor of poultry science, Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Janice A. Byrd, associate professor of education, Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education, College of Education
  • Maria del Carmen Carmona Benitez, associate professor of physics, Department of Physics, Eberly College of Science
  • Jessica G. Caron, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Health and Human Development
  • Darrell W. Cockburn, associate professor of food science, Department of Food Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Mohamad Darayi, associate professor of systems engineering, Department of GV Engineering, Penn State Great Valley
  • Zhanel B. DeVides, associate professor of accounting, Department of Social Sciences, Penn State Abington
  • Francesco Di Gioia, associate professor of vegetable crop science, Department of Plant Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Todd J. Eckroat, associate professor of chemistry, Department of School of Science, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
  • Elizabeth A. Elacqua, associate professor of chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Eberly College of Science
  • Vinayak Elangovan, associate professor of computer science, Department of Science & Engineering, Penn State Abington
  • Linlin Fan, associate professor of agricultural economics, Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Maria C. Fellie, associate professor of Spanish, Department of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Penn State Berks
  • Lindsay Fernandez-Rhodes, associate professor of biobehavioral health, Department of Biobehavioral Health, College of Health and Human Development
  • Renee Flasher, associate professor of accounting, School of Business Administration, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
  • Sara Gerke, associate professor of law, Penn State Dickinson Law
  • Melissa M. Gervais, associate professor of meteorology and atmospheric science, Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
  • Jiawei Gong, associate professor of mechanical engineering, School of Engineering, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
  • Sandilya M. Gopalan, associate professor of education and public policy, Department of Education Policy Studies, College of Education
  • Mahanth K. Gowda, associate professor of computer science engineering, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Seonghee Han, associate professor of finance, Department of Social Sciences, Penn State Abington
  • Long He, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Christopher H. Heaney, associate professor of modern Latin American history, Department of History, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Burleigh Hendrickson, associate professor of French and francophone studies, Department of French and Francophone Studies, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Kevin Hockett, associate professor of microbial ecology, Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Louisa M. Holmes, associate professor of geography, Department of Geography, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
  • Hadi Hosseini, associate professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology
  • Charleen Hsuan, associate professor of health policy and administration, Department of Health Policy and Administration, College of Health and Human Development
  • Ting-Hao K. Huang, associate professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology
  • Faisal Husain, associate professor of history, Department of History, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Yuhta Ishii, associate professor of economics, Department of Economics, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Sarah J. Ivory, associate professor of geosciences, Department of Geosciences, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
  • Joyce Jose, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Eberly College of Science
  • Matthew G. Kelly, associate professor of education, Department of Education Policy Studies, College of Education
  • Dariush Khezrimotlagh, associate professor of mathematics, School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
  • Thomas R. Kirkscey, associate professor of English and technical and professional writing, School of Humanities, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
  • Stephen R. Kodish, associate professor of nutritional sciences and biobehavioral health, Department of Nutritional Sciences and Biobehavioral Health, College of Health and Human Development
  • Melissa M. Kreye, associate professor of forest resources management, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Nathan E. Kruis, associate professor of criminal justice, Division of Education, Human Development, and Social Sciences, Penn State Altoona
  • Christopher M. Kube, associate professor of engineering science and mechanics, Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, College of Engineering
  • Anil Kumar Chaudhary, associate professor of agricultural and extension education, Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Yuliya V. Ladygina, associate professor of Slavic and global studies, Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Desiree Lim, associate professor of philosophy, Department of Philosophy, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Alberto Gino Lorenzoni Calvo, associate professor of poultry science and avian health, Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Stephanie Madden, associate professor of advertising & public relations, Department of Advertising and Public Relations, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
  • Mehrdad Mahdavi, associate professor of computer science engineering, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Jennifer L. Moss, associate professor of family and community medicine, and public health sciences, Departments of Family and Community Medicine, and Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine
  • Amanda M. Nelson, associate professor of dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Penn State College of Medicine
  • Samuel Nutile, associate professor of biology, School of Science, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
  • Masataka Okutsu, associate professor of engineering, Department of Science & Engineering, Penn State Abington
  • Brian H. Onishi, associate professor of philosophy, Division of Arts and Humanities, Penn State Altoona
  • Sabahattin G. Ozden, associate professor of information sciences and technology, Department of Science & Engineering, Penn State Abington
  • Ying Pan, associate professor of meteorology and atmospheric science, Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
  • Hee Man Park, associate professor of human resource management, Department of Labor and Employee Relations, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Gregory S. Pavlak, associate professor of architectural engineering, Department of Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Christian Peco Regales, associate professor of engineering science and mechanics, Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, College of Engineering
  • Samantha J. Prince, associate professor of law, Penn State Dickinson Law
  • Elizabeth A. Proctor, associate professor of neurosurgery and pharmacology, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine
  • Jack I. Pryor, associate professor of theater, Department of Arts & Humanities, Penn State Abington
  • David Radice, associate professor of physics, Department of Physics, Eberly College of Science
  • Ola Rashwan, associate professor of mechanical engineering, School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
  • Andrew B. Royston, associate professor of physics, Penn State Fayette
  • Alexis R. Santos, associate professor of human development and family studies, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Health and Human Development
  • Megan K. Schall, associate professor of biology, Penn State Hazleton
  • Stephanie E. Schroeder, associate professor of education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education
  • Jacob Schuman, associate professor of law, Penn State Law
  • Abhronil Sengupta, associate professor of electrical engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Mingfu Shao, associate professor of computer science engineering, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Amir Sheikhi, associate professor of chemical engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Christopher R. Shelton, associate professor of clinical psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
  • Ran I. Shorrer, associate professor of economics, Department of Economics, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Michelle M. Sikes, associate professor of kinesiology and African studies, Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Development
  • Alexey Silakov, associate professor of chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Eberly College of Science
  • Danielle Smarsh, associate professor of equine science and equine extension specialist, Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Glenn Sterner, associate professor of criminal justice, Department of Social Sciences, Penn State Abington
  • Jeffrey M. Sundstrom, associate professor of ophthalmology, neural and behavioral sciences, cellular and molecular physiology, Departments of Ophthalmology, Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Penn State College of Medicine
  • Troy C. Sutton, associate professor of immunology and infectious disease, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Mukul Talaty, associate professor of engineering, Department of Science & Engineering, Penn State Abington
  • Michele Tantardini, associate professor of public administration, School of Public Affairs, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
  • Samantha L. Tornello, associate professor of human development and family studies, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Health and Human Development
  • Guy E. Townsend, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine
  • Susan J. Veldheer, associate professor of family and community medicine, and public health sciences, Departments of Family and Community Medicine, and Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine
  • Meghan E. Vidt, associate professor of biomedical engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Gwendolyn Walker, associate professor of theatre, School of Theatre, College of Arts & Architecture
  • John M. Wallace, associate professor of plant sciences, Department of Plant Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Suhang Wang, associate professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology
  • Sarah Watts, associate professor of music education, School of Music, College of Arts & Architecture
  • Linda B. Westrick, associate professor of mathematics, Department of Mathematics, Eberly College of Science
  • Charles M. White, associate professor of soil fertility and nutrient management, Department of Plant Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • David M. Williams, associate professor of mechanical engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Sarah J. Williams, associate professor of law, Penn State Dickinson Law
  • Shomir Wilson, associate professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology
  • Suzanna R. Windon, associate professor of youth/adult leadership, Departments of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Stephanie Wissel, associate professor of physics and of astronomy & astrophysics, Department of Physics, Eberly College of Science
  • Aiping Xiong, associate professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology
  • Amulya Yadav, associate professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology
  • Xiang Yang, associate professor of mechanical engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Xiangquan Yao, associate professor of education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education
  • Colin M. Zarzycki, associate professor of meteorology and atmospheric science, Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
  • Shouhao Zhou, associate professor of public health services, Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine
  • Timothy Zhu, associate professor of computer science engineering, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Anna Ziajka Stanton, associate professor of comparative literature, Department of Comparative Literature, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Daniel M. Zolli, associate professor of art history, Department of Art History, College of Arts & Architecture

The following individuals have been promoted to associate librarian:

  • Andrew M. Dudash, associate librarian, Social Sciences Library, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications
  • Ana E. Enriquez, associate librarian, Office of Scholarly Communications and Copyright, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications
  • Tara M. Grove, associate librarian, George and Sherry Middlemas Arts and Humanities Library, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications
  • Sarah M. Hartman-Caverly, associate librarian, Commonwealth Campus Libraries, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications
  • Andrea L. Pritt, associate librarian, Commonwealth Campus Libraries, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications
  • Theresa K. Tarves, associate librarian, Penn State Law Library, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications
  • Kelly Thormodson, associate librarian, Harrell Health Sciences Library, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications

The following individuals have been promoted to associate extension educator: 

  • Lauren Kauffman, 4H Youth Development
  • Jodi Sulpizio, Agronomy and Natural Resources Programs

The following individuals have been promoted to extension educator:

  • Susan Boser, Agronomy and Natural Resources Programs
  • Leanna Duppstadt, Agronomy and Natural Resources Programs
  • Leah Fronk, Horticulture Programs
  • Justin Mansberger, Agronomy and Natural Resources Programs

The following individuals have been promoted to senior extension educator:

  • Timothy Abbey, Horticulture
  • Samantha Gehrett, Animal Systems Programs
  • Laura Kenny, Animal Systems Programs
  • Paula Lucas, 4H Youth Development
  • Nicole Santangelo Thompson, Agronomy and Natural Resources Programs

The following individuals have been promoted to distinguished extension educator:

  • Melanie Barkley, Animal Systems Programs
  • Thomas Butzler, Horticulture Programs
  • Ginger Fenton, Animal Systems Programs
  • Mary Alice Gettings, Food, Families and Communities Programs
  • Andy Hirneisen, Food, Families and Communities Programs
  • Stacy Reed, Food, Families and Communities Programs
  • Kelly Weisner, 4H Youth Development Programs
Last Updated June 3, 2024