UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) has named Jocelyn Bennett Garraway assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion. Holding three degrees from the University, Bennett Garraway has more than 30 years of experience as a counselor, educator and administrator. She began her new position March 1.
In her role, Bennett Garraway will oversee the college’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. She will lead the IST Office of Inclusion and Diversity Engagement, connecting students, faculty and staff to build a network that involves all constituents in the work of diversity; as well as the IST Office of Undergraduate Recruiting and the IST Office of Student Engagement, enriching the college’s scholarship awarding process, student engagement activities and strategic initiatives to provide equal opportunities to all.
“DEI cannot and should not be done alone,” said Bennett Garraway. “Everyone must be a part. I am excited to provide centralized support for consultation, research, teaching and service.”
Bennett Garraway aims to address disparities in the technology industry, where there are wide gender and diversity gaps. She also will work to introduce programs engaging middle and high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to the college.
“I have a strong interest and passion for exposing students of color and women to STEM education,” said Bennett Garraway. “I want to help underrepresented students pursue academic and career development opportunities that I was fortunate to have, but many peers didn’t have growing up and students now do not.”
Bennett Garraway returns to Penn State from the University of Detroit Mercy, where she served as an associate professor and program director for the School Counseling Program since 2008. She previously served as an assistant director and interim director of the Academic Skills Center at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. Prior to that, she worked at Penn State as director of undergraduate diversity enhancement programs in the Smeal College of Business, and director of scholarships and special programs in the Office of Student Aid.
“Jocelyn’s proven success in positioning students as leaders and advocates for equity and inclusion of underrepresented and underserved populations will be influential in IST’s efforts to maintain a welcoming environment that promotes and values diversity and inclusion for all students, faculty, alumni and visitors,” said Andrew Sears, dean of the College of IST.
At the University of Detroit Mercy, Bennett Garraway was a tenured associate professor in the department of counseling and addiction studies, where she coordinated the school counseling curriculum, recruitment, and Michigan Test for Teacher’s Certification Guidance Counselor test preparation. She has taught higher education courses in counseling at several other institutions, including Penn State, and has presented more than 20 talks on topics of expertise — including multiculturism in schools, understanding bullying and strategies for differentiating and supporting students with disabilities — in community settings. She also served as the keynote speaker for Women in Business 20th Anniversary at Penn State in 2018.
She started her career as a project counselor for the Upward Bound Project at Lock Haven University, providing academic, personal and career guidance to first-generation, low-income high school students.
Bennett Garraway earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology; a master’s of education in counselor education, secondary school specialist; and a doctorate in counselor education — all from Penn State.