2024-25 Graduate Council

Elected Members (Voting)

College of Agricultural Sciences

• Elizabeth Boyer, Professor of Water Resources (2023-2026)
• Kathy Brasier, Professor of Rural Sociology (2022-2025)
• Edward Dudley, Professor of Food Science (2023-2024)

College of Arts and Architecture

• Andy Cole, Professor of Landscape Architecture (2022-2025)
• Sarah Watts, Assistant Professor of Music (2022-2025)

Smeal College of Business

• Hans Baumgartner, Smeal Professor of Marketing (2022-2025)
• Suresh Muthulingam, Professor of Supply Chain Management (2023-2026)

Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications

• Holly Overton, Associate Professor of Advertising and Public Relations (2022-2025)

College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

• Nasim Alem, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering (2023-2026)
• Kenneth Davis, Professor of Atmospheric and Climate Science - Immediate Past Chair (2023-2024)
• Matthew Fantle, Professor of Geosciences (2023-2024)
• Joshua Inwood, Professor of Geography (2022-2025)

College of Education

• Amber O'Shea, Assisant Professor of Education (2023-2026)
• Dana Mitra, Professor of Education (2022-2025)

College of Engineering

• Reuben Kraft, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering (2023-2026)
• Anne Martin, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering (2023-2026)
• Esther Obonyo, Associate Professor of Engineering Design and Architectural Engineering (2023-2024)
• Susan Stewart, Associate Teaching Professor of Aerospace Engineering (2022-2025)
• Ming Xiao, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2022-2025)

College of Health and Human Development

• Seoki Lee, Associate Professor of Hospitality Management (2023-2026)
• Michael Robb, Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders (2023-2024)
• David Vanness, Professor of Health Policy and Administration (2022-2025)

College of Information Sciences and Technology

• Kelley Cotter, Assistant Professor (2023-2026)
• John Yen, Professor (2023-2024)

College of the Liberal Arts

• Xun Cao, Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy (2022-2025)
• Andrew High, Associate Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences (2023-2025)
• Mary Shenk, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Demography, and Asian Studies (2023-2024) - Chair-Elect
• Nicolai Volland, Associate Professor of Asian Stuides and Comparative Literature (2022-2025)
• Chris Witko, Professor of Public Policy and Political Science (2023-2026)

College of Medicine

• John Flanagan, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2022-2025)
• Anirban Paul, Assistant Professor of Neural & Behavioral Sciences (2022-2025)
• Yang Yang, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology (2022-2025)
• Jessica Yingst, Assistant Professor of Public Health Sciences (2022-2025)

College of Nursing

• Susan Loeb, Professor of Nursing (2023-2026)

Eberly College of Science

• E. Christopher Byrne, Teaching Professor (2024-2026)
• Jan Reimann, Associate Professor of Mathematics - Chair (2023-2024)
• Hong Ma, Professor of Biology (2022-2025)
• Gabriele Monshausen, Associate Professor of Biology (2023-2024)
• Emily Weinert, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2022-2025)

Penn State Behrend

• Brian Boscaljon, Associate Professor of Finance (2022-2025)

Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate and Professional Studies

• Adrian Barb, Associate Professor of Information Science (2022-2025)

Penn State Harrisburg, Capital College

• Renee Flasher, Assistant Professor of Accounting (2023-2024)
• Ovgu Kaynak, Assistant Professor of Psychology (2023-2026)
• Issam Abu Mahfouz, Professor of Mechanical Engineering (2022-2025)

School of International Affairs

• Johannes Fedderke, Professor of International Affairs and African Studies (2023-2026)

University College

• Ramakrishnan Rajagopalan, Associate Professor of Engineering (2023-2026)

Additional Members and Participants in the Council

Dean of the Graduate School (voting)

• Levon Esters, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School

Senior Associate Dean (voting)

• Michael Verderame, Senior Associate Dean of the Graduate School

Associate Dean (voting)

• William Clark, Associate Dean

Associate Dean (voting)

• Stephanie Preston, Associate Dean for Graduate Educational Equity

Assistant Dean (voting)

• Michelle Corby, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services

Senior Vice President for Research (non-voting)

• Andrew Read, Senior Vice President for Research

Associate Vice President for Research and Director of Strategic Initiatives (non-voting)

• Douglas Wolfe, Interim Vice President for Research and Director of Strategic Initiatives

World Campus Liaison (non-voting)

• Karen Pollack, Assistant Vice Provost for Online and Blended Programs

Dickinson School of Law Member (non-voting)

• William Butler, John Edward Fowler Distinguished Professor of Law

Penn State Law Member (non-voting)

• Dara Purvis, Associate Dean for Research and Partnerships, Professor of Law

University Faculty Senate Council Liaison (voting)

• Kent Vrana, Elliot S. Vesell Professor and Chair of Pharmacology

University Registrar (non-voting)

• Robert Kubat, University Registrar

Graduate and Professional Student Association Members (voting)

• Aaron Bonsu
• Mahmudul Hasan
• Gabriel Ricardo Lara
• Carolyn Mariel Henzi Plaza
• Ayah Rub

Participants from the Graduate School (non-voting non-members)

• Robert Bannon, Director of Graduate Council Administration and Secretary to Graduate Council
• Erika Bowser, Director of Graduate Enterprise Resource Planning Solutions
• Lorraine Donahue, Executive Director of Graduate Education Operations and Administration
• Jon Hartzler, Financial Officer, The Graduate School, Undergraduate Education & Millennium Scholars Program
• Lori Hawn, Director of Graduate Admissions
• Fawn Hosterman, Director of Graduate Records
• Liam Jackson, Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications
• Cathy Murgas, Executive Assistant to the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School
• Michael Shanafelt, Director of Network Operations and Data Systems
• Brooke Snider, Director of Graduate Fellowships and Awards Administration
• Jennifer Theiss, Director of Alumni and External Relations

Administrative Support to Graduate Council (non-voting non-members)

• Jessica Aguilar, Graduate Education Curriculum and Assessment Specialist
• Tina Santacroce, Administrative Support Coordinator