UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Amber Grove, Title IX coordinator at Penn State, has been named the University’s chief ethics and compliance officer, effective Feb. 1. She has served in her current role in the Office of Ethics and Compliance since November 2022.
Grove succeeds Tabitha Oman, who has served as chief ethics and compliance officer since January 2022 and was appointed to the position of vice president and general counsel in August 2023. Ashley Owens, director of student accountability and conflict response at Penn State Altoona, has been named interim Title IX coordinator, effective Feb. 12.
As Title IX coordinator, Grove has led University-wide compliance efforts regarding federal law, particularly Title IX, and has provided ongoing consultation regarding Title IX requirements, grievance issues and compliance programs to central administration units across all Penn State campuses. She has enhanced the University’s services, education and outreach for students, faculty and staff on the topics of sexual misconduct and harassment, and has overseen the University’s response to Title IX reports, including investigations.
“Amber brings a wealth of expertise from her experience overseeing Title IX compliancy efforts at Penn State, combined with her background leading ethics and compliance initiatives at several other institutions of higher education,” said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi. “I look forward to her critical leadership overseeing ethics and compliance efforts across the University, and guiding members of our community in ethical decision-making and in living the Penn State Values.”
In her new role, Grove will lead the Office of Ethics and Compliance, which oversees compliance efforts across Penn State, including privacy, athletics integrity and the NCAA, University ethics, Title IX and youth programs, among others. She will work collaboratively with units across the University to grow existing compliance practices, reporting, policies and procedures, and training, while encouraging the highest ethical standards of conduct for administrators, faculty, staff and students across the University.
"Being a first-generation college student, I never imagined my career path would lead to my being selected as the chief ethics and compliance officer for such a prestigious university as Penn State. I am so thrilled to continue in service to others to support access to education, particularly in my home state,” Grove said. “I am most looking forward to continuing the collaborative relationships I've built throughout Penn State, and to working together to contribute positively to the culture on campus through a proactive compliance approach.”
Highlights of Grove’s tenure as Penn State’s Title IX coordinator include leading an effort to centralize online information to increase access to reporting and resources. Additionally, in collaboration with the Gender Equity Center and the Office of Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Response, she recently secured a $60,000 “It’s On Us” grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to address and improve sexual violence awareness, reporting and response on campus.
Prior to Penn State, Grove was the director of Title IX and Clery compliance at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) from 2016 to 2022. She also served as interim ADA compliance coordinator during her tenure at UNCW. Previously, she worked as director of student engagement and responsibility and Title IX coordinator at Bethany College and as resident director at Duquesne University.
Grove holds a juris doctor degree from the Duquesne University School of Law and has practiced law as an associate attorney at two firms in Pittsburgh. She is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Combining her passion for law and educational access, Grove has served as an adjunct faculty member, teaching graduate-level courses on such topics as legal issues in higher education. Additionally, she regularly presents webinars and podcasts about compliance and access issues, with a particular focus on Title IX.
Throughout her time in higher education, Grove has been a member of the Association of Title IX Administrators, the National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals, the American College Personnel Association and the Higher Education Resource Services Leadership Institute.
Grove received a bachelor of arts degree, magna cum laude, from Duquesne University.