Education

Longtime member of College of Education, Edwin L. Herr, dies

The Penn State College of Education mourns the passing of Edwin L. Herr, 82, who died April 23 at Foxdale Village in State College.

“Dr. Herr spent many years as a faculty member with us and served in just about every academic position imaginable, including interim dean. He is much beloved by faculty, staff and students, and we are deeply saddened by his passing,” said College of Education Dean David H. Monk.

Herr began his Penn State career on Aug. 15, 1968, and retired June 30, 2003, as distinguished professor emeritus of education (counselor education and counseling psychology), and associate dean emeritus of the College of Education. He became associate dean for research, graduate studies and technology, and served as head of the Department of Counselor Education, Counseling Psychology and Rehabilitation Services Education or earlier department iterations for 24 years. During this time, he also served as University director of vocational teacher education and director of the Center for Professional Personnel Development in Vocational Education.

In 1975, and 1998-99, he was interim dean of the College of Education, and in 2000-2001, he also served as interim head of the Department of Adult Education, Instructional Systems & Workforce Education and Development.

He received his bachelor’s degree in business education from Shippensburg State Teachers College (now Shippensburg University) in 1955 and his master’s degree in psychological foundations, professional diploma in coordination of guidance services, and doctorate in counseling and student personnel administration from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1959, 1961 and 1963, respectively, where he was an Alumni Fellow.

In 1990, he received the Professional Development Award of the American Association for Counseling and Development for national and international scholarship and research on systems of counseling and he received the 50th Anniversary Professional Leadership Award of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision for his scholarship and leadership in counselor preparation.

He was chosen the Visiting Scholar of the University Council of Vocational Education for 1990-91 for his scholarship and leadership in that field. In 1993, he received a Government Relations Award for outstanding achievement in legislation and public policy from the National Employment Counselors Association and the American Counseling Association, and he was chosen the Distinguished Scholar for 1993 by Chi Sigma Iota, the Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International.

In 1995, Herr received the Career Achievement Award from the College of Education. In 1996, he received a Special Presidential Award and Governing Council Resolution from the American Counseling Association for his Distinguished Commitment to the Counseling Profession and specifically for his "unique and important research and theoretical contributions."

In 1998, Herr was selected one of the first four Overseas Fellows of the National Institute for Careers Education and Counseling, Cambridge, England. In 1999 he received a Leadership Award from Alpha Tau Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa and a Leadership in International Collaboration Award from the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.

In 2000, he received the National Career Development Association President's Award and the Distinguished Senior Contributor Award from the American Psychological Association; in 2001, he received the Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award from Penn State and the Dare to Lead Award from the International Learning Network. In 2003, Herr received the Extended Research Award from the American Counseling Association. In 2004, he was designated one of the first four Fellows selected by the American Counseling Association for his scientific and governance achievements.

He also received the Counseling Innovation and Vision Award from the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision and the Presidential Recognition Award of the National Career Development Association.

He had been elected to Fellow status in the American Psychological Association (Division 17, Counseling Psychology), the American Psychological Society, the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, the American Association for Applied and Preventive Psychology and the National Career Development Association. He was a member of several honorary scholastic societies including Chi Sigma Iota, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Kappa, Phi Sigma Pi, Iota Lambda Sigma, Phi Sigma Pi, and Beta Gamma Sigma.

In addition, Herr provided or received fellowships including The Edwin L. Herr Fellowship for Excellence in Counseling Leadership and Scholarship through Chi Sigma Iota, which was created to recognize and honor his career contributions to Chi Sigma Iota and to the counseling profession as a whole. Other fellowships include the Edwin L. Herr Scholarship for the Education of Counselors through the College of Education and the Edwin L. Herr Counselor Education Fellowship to Study Abroad at Shippensburg University.

Herr was past president of the American Association for Counseling and Development, (American Counseling Association); past president of the National Vocational Guidance Association, past president of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision and past-president of Chi Sigma Iota, the international academic honor society in counseling.

He served as a member of the Executive Committee of the International Round Table for the Advancement of Counseling (1976-84) and a member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Educational and Vocational Guidance (1991-99). He was the author or co-author of more than 33 books, numerous monographs, 300 refereed journal articles and technical reports, and 50 invited book chapters.

He was the past Editor of The Journal of Counseling & Development (1993-1996) and of Counselor Education and Supervision (1971-74), and a member of several other Editorial Boards, including the British Journal of Guidance & Counselling.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 250 East College Ave., State College, with the Rev. Eric Shafer officiating. Burial will be in Pine Hall Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to: Edwin L. Herr Scholarship for the Education of Counselors, c/o College of Education, 247 Chambers Building, University Park, PA 16802; The Edwin L. Herr Fellowship for Excellence in Counseling Leadership and Scholarship through Chi Sigma Iota Chi Sigma Iota, P.O. Box 1829, Thomasville, NC 27360; Edwin L. Herr Counselor Education Fellowship to Study Abroad at Shippensburg University, SU Foundation at 717-477-1377; St. Paul's United Methodist Church; or a favorite charity. Arrangements are under the direction of Koch Funeral Home, State College.

For the full obituary from the Centre Daily Times, visit http://bit.ly/1MZ2SJk.

Last Updated October 17, 2019

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