UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Presidential Leadership Academy (PLA) has named Lisa Ford as its acting director for the 2023-24 academic year. She will lead the PLA while Melissa Doberstein — the academy’s director since 2009 — serves an administrative fellowship with Jennifer Wilkes, vice president for Human Resources and chief human resources officer.
"After a thorough search, we are thrilled to welcome Lisa as the Academy’s acting director,” said Patrick Mather, dean of Schreyer Honors College and PLA instructor. “Her experience as an educator and a leader will be a great asset to this year’s PLA students as they develop skills to help ‘navigate the gray’ of life’s complexities.”
Ford joins the PLA from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business where she has served in various capacities since 1999. A Smeal graduate in 1991 with a bachelor of science degree in economics, Ford most recently held the position of associate director of the Borrelli Institute for Real Estate Studies. There she developed and implemented Real Estate Boot Camp programming for undergraduate and graduate students, coordinated numerous events to enhance students’ engagement with real estate professionals, advised the Real Estate Association student organization, and more.
“I am incredibly eager and grateful for the opportunity to work with President (Neeli) Bendapudi, Dean Mather, and this year’s cohort of PLA students,” said Ford. “Leadership in our times is a complex task, and it will be very fulfilling to help our students explore what it means to be an effective leader.”
Founded in 2009 with support from a gift by Penn State alumni and benefactors Edward and Helen Hintz, the PLA focuses on developing students' critical thinking skills and leadership capacity. Each year the academy accepts 30 new second-year students, for a total enrollment of 90. Classes with instruction by Bendapudi and Mather, special events, field trips, and a mentorship program help to prepare PLA students for intricate problems presented by today’s world.
Penn State students can visit the Presidential Leadership Academy website to learn more, including details on how to apply when the application window opens in the spring.