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Penn State Public Broadcasting announces appointments
	Ted Krichels, assistant vice president for outreach and general manager of Penn State Public Broadcasting, WPSX-TV/WPSU-FM, announces new appointments: Tracy Vosburgh has been promoted to the newly created position of station manager, Kate Domico has been promoted to director of technology, Tom Keiter has been promoted to associate director of programming and production and director of content, and Carol G. Wonsavage has been named director of marketing and promotions.
TRACY VOSBURGH Tracy Vosburgh has been appointed station manager at Penn State Public Broadcasting. Photos by Penn State Image Resource Center	Vosburgh will oversee Media Solutions, educational outreach, marketing, production and programming services for the University’s public television and radio stations, WPSX-TV and WPSU-FM.   She had been director of programming and production since 1999. She joined Penn State Public Broadcasting in 1997 as production manager for the national PBS series Legendary Lighthouses and was soon promoted to assistant director of production, then to interim director of production overseeing the Multimedia Unit. While at WPSX, she has overseen several major initiatives, including Teacherline and Our Town, as well as served as executive producer for local programs such as Take Note and the nationally distributed series for middle school children What’s in the News.   Her career spans more than two decades of creative and management experience. In the 1980s, she was production manager for local and national productions for WETA in Washington, D.C., and served as production manager for the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. She then joined National Geographic Television, serving as production manager for the National Geographic Explorer series. Subsequently, she was postproduction supervisor at ABC/KANE Productions in Washington D.C., for the ABC/World of Discovery series. She founded the monthly newspaper Family Pages in central Pennsylvania and taught at Penn State’s College of Communications.   Vosburgh is active in several community service organizations. She holds a B.A. degree from Meredith College.
KATE DOMICO Kate Domico has been promoted to director of technology at Penn State Public Broadcasting.	Domico will be responsible for Penn State Public Broadcasting’s technical infrastructure, including information systems, operations and engineering, as well as for WPSX-TV’s conversion to digital broadcasting. Over the next two years, she will oversee the transition to a new broadcast facility at Innovation Park on the University Park campus.   She joined Penn State Public Broadcasting in 1999 as manager of multimedia production. In 2000, she was promoted to associate director of programming and production, responsible for the Media Solutions unit. Under her leadership, Media Solutions developed interactive media production services and surpassed its revenue generation goals. She also participated in several national public broadcasting initiatives, including Reforging the Links, Evolving the Links, Partners in Public Service and the Penn State Conference on Public Service Media.   Previously, Domico spent several years working in systems integration and applications development, most recently as a software product manager for Enron Energy Services. She earned an A.B. degree from the University of Georgia.
TOM KEITER Tom Keiter has been promoted to associate director of programming and production and director of content at Penn State Public Broadcasting.	Keiter will be responsible for the Media Solutions unit and will develop and manage entrepreneurial special projects. Media Solutions provides video, multimedia and teleconferencing production support to University academic units and faculty members. Projects range from Web streaming of lecture series to collaborative efforts with the Penn State World Campus, outreach education support and support of the University’s Grand Destiny Campaign.   Prior to joining Penn State Public Broadcasting, Keiter, an independent film and video producer for 27 years, was president of Resource Communications Group (formerly Filmspace Inc.). For 15 years, he was assistant professor of film and video at Penn State, serving as professor-in-charge for six years. He has created many projects for the University, including national image television spots, Making Life Better and the Grand Destiny Campaign launch videos.   He currently oversees a five-year project with Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection and the Governor’s Green Government Council. His productions have been recognized with a CINE Golden Eagle, 2001 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence and various film festival awards. He holds a B.S. degree in community development from Penn State.
CAROL WONSAVAGE Carol G. Wonsavage has been named director of marketing and promotions at Penn State Public Broadcasting.	Wonsavage will oversee public relations, community outreach, media relations and communications. She joins Penn State Public Broadcasting from WMFE TV/FM in Orlando, where she was director of broadcasting and communications, in charge of TV programming, broadcast operations and publicity and was on the Board of American Women in TV and Film.   Previously, she held several management positions in publicity, programming and national production at the Maryland Public Television network. Her career spans production and management positions at commercial and public stations in Washington, D.C., Denver, Colo., Arkansas and Charlotte, N.C. Her productions have been recognized with a CINE Golden Eagle, a Peabody Award, NATPE Iris awards, PBS Communication awards and various film festival awards. She holds a B.A. degree in journalism and an M.A. in communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.   Member-supported Penn State Public Broadcasting serves 29 counties of central Pennsylvania and parts of southern New York with PBS and NPR programming, educational initiatives and community outreach.
Penn State Great Valley appoints director of Continuing Education
Jean L. Scholz is the new director of Continuing Education at Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies. Photo by David Jwanier—Penn State Great Valley	By David Jwanier   Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies has appointed Jean L. Scholz director of Continuing Education.   Among her duties, she is responsible for developing and directing a wide variety of continuing education programs available at Penn State Great Valley, which are typically geared for specific needs expressed by companies and organizations in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.   Scholz previously was director for planning and analysis for the College of General Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She earned her bachelor of science degree in biochemistry from Millersville University in 1983 and her Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1990.   Great Valley Campus Executive Officer William Milheim said that Scholz’ experience and proven leadership in higher education made her an ideal candidate for the post.   “Jean will be an excellent addition to our campus community, and I am excited about having her lead our continuing education program as we begin a new academic year,” Milheim said.   In addition to continuing education programs that help professionals advance their careers, Penn State Great Valley offers graduate degree programs in four areas: education, engineering, information science and management.
Childers appointed director of Outreach Program Resources
Dr. Jeri L. Childers has been appointed director of Outreach Program Resources in Penn State Outreach and Cooperative Extension. Penn State Image Resource Center	Dr. Jeri L. Childers has been appointed director of Outreach Program Resources in Outreach and Cooperative Extension (O&CE).   She is responsible for leading a staff of program resource managers in linking the academic colleges and faculty to Outreach and Cooperative Extension resources. She and her team will support associate deans’ and colleges’ key outreach initiatives, identify new program opportunities for colleges and O&CE units, manage cross-unit programs that span multiple outreach units and colleges, identify opportunities to disseminate faculty research and support outreach scholarship and facilitate the introduction and adoption of innovative approaches to educational experiences made available through O&CE.   “Jeri Childers has played an important role in Outreach Program Resources as interim director of this office,” Dr. Wayne D. Smutz, senior director of Outreach Program Development and associate director of the Division of Continuing Education, said. “Her leadership will be critical as we implement a new integrated program development approach within Outreach and Cooperative Extension.”   Childers has served as interim director of Outreach Program Resources since September 2001. She joined the Penn State staff in 1993 as a senior program developer with the Outreach Office of Program Development. In 1998, she was promoted to assistant director of the office. While assistant director, she also served as acting associate dean for continuing and distance education in The Mary Jean and Frank P. Smeal College of Business Administration from July 1999 through December 2000.   Previously, Childers was senior continuing education coordinator with the Missouri Training Institute in the College of Business and Public Administration at the University of Missouri. She served in several roles at the institute from 1986 to 1993.   At Penn State, she has served as program chair for two national outreach conferences: 1999 Best Practices in Outreach and Public Service Conference and 2001 Outreach Scholarship Conference. She also has participated in the Penn State Commission for Women’s Mentoring Program. She is a member of the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA) and has served as chair of UCEA subcommittees and conference planning committees for several national associations related to the field of continuing education in higher education.   Childers is the recipient of two Exemplary Program Awards, an Innovative Program Award and a Bronze Marketing Award from the University Continuing Education Association; the 2000 Making Life Better Award from Penn State; the 1999 Associate Vice President’s Team Award from Penn State; and the 1997 Outstanding International Continuing Higher Education Program Award from the Association of Continuing Higher Education.   She is the author of many articles about continuing education and outreach topics and editor of a special issue of the Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement (Spring 2002). She also has made numerous presentations at national and Penn State conferences.   Childers earned her bachelor of science degree in retailing from the University of Hawaii in 1980 and her master of science in retailing in 1989 and her Ph.D. in continuing higher education administration in 1993, both from the University of Missouri.
Jackson Knox joins Management Development Programs and Services faculty
Dr. Bonnie Jackson Knox has joined the faculty of Penn State Management Development Programs and Services as an assistant professor of management development. Photo by Joe Walk—Management Development Programs and Services	Organizational training specialist and consultant Dr. Bonnie Jackson Knox has joined the faculty of Penn State Management Development Programs and Services as an assistant professor of management development.   Created in 1915, Management Development is a division of Penn State Continuing Education and provides training and development programs to local, national and international companies.   Jackson Knox has more than 15 years of experience providing organizational training and consulting services to both private and public sector organizations. Most recently, she served as president of Achievement Dynamics, a business training and organizational company based in Lancaster, Pa.   “We are pleased that Bonnie Jackson Knox has joined our faculty,” said Dr. Wesley E. Donahue, director of Management Development. “We take great pride in conducting world-class research and applying it to real business challenges. Our clients depend on our business experience, as well as our academic background. Dr. Knox brings an exceptional blend of experience to her role as an assistant professor of management development. She has faced many of the challenges she will help organizations address as she delivers programs and consultative services.”   Jackson Knox’s background includes a position as a district manager at Cole National Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio, overseeing more than 100 employees. As a co-owner of Athlete’s International in Lancaster, she helped to launch nearly 30 companies in four states, with annual sales topping $14 million. There she was involved in all aspects of business operations, from site development to strategic planning and marketing. As a training consultant for Fred Pryor Seminars in Shawnee Mission, Kan., she delivered public training seminars to both national and international clients.   In addition to her private business experience, Jackson Knox also has extensive teaching experience in the public sector. She taught management development as an adjunct faculty member and program director for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management at both the Eastern Management Development Center in Shepherdstown, W.Va., and the Western Management Development Center in Denver, Colo.   While at Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, she worked with both the public and private sectors, establishing and overseeing industry training consortia in 34 Pennsylvania counties.   Jackson Knox earned a bachelor of fine arts degree and an education certificate from Bowling Green State University, a master of education in training and development from Penn State, Capital College, and a Ph.D. in workforce education and organization development from Penn State.   She lives in Lancaster, Pa., with her husband.   For more information about Management Development Programs and Services, call 814-865-6341 or visit the Web site at http://mdev.outreach.psu.edu.
Lieb joins Outreach staff, Pearce receives promotion
Jeffrey S. Lieb has been named assistant director for Budget and Finance in Conferences and Institutes. Dick Ackley—Penn State Image Resource Center Janice L. Pearce has been appointed financial officer for Outreach and Cooperative Extension. Dave Shelly—Penn State Image Resource Center	Jeffrey S. Lieb has been appointed assistant director for Budget and Finance in Conferences and Institutes, and Janice L. Pearce has been promoted to financial officer for Outreach and Cooperative Extension.   Lieb’s responsibilities include forecasting budgets, as well as overseeing the unit’s business activities, such as accounting and the registration process. As a member of Conferences and Institute’s senior leadership group, he will be involved in strategic planning and the implementation of pricing and income-sharing plans.   He has more than 14 years of experience working in finance. Most recently, as accounting manager at CEI Networks Inc. in State College, he established and supervised the accounting department and helped prepare a five-year detailed budget forecast for this $25 million subsidiary of D & E Communications Inc. He also was the controller for Schneider-Valley Farms Inc. and an accounting supervisor for Uni-Marts Inc.   Lieb replaces Pearce. In her new position, Pearce is responsible for ensuring the maintenance of policies, procedures and controls for financial and budget issues. That includes management of the general salary increase process, annual budgeting process and auditing.   Pearce has worked in Outreach her entire Penn State career. Prior to her position in Conferences and Institutes, she served as assistant to the financial officer of Continuing and Distance Education.
College of Medicine names leaders in continuing education and professional development By Amy Buehler Stranges
Luanne E. Thorndyke (above), M.D., has been named associate dean for professional development, and Tracy Allgier-Baker has been named director of continuing education and outreach at Penn State College of Medicine.	Luanne E. Thorndyke, M.D., and Tracy Allgier-Baker have been named leaders in the Office of Continuing Education and Outreach at the Penn State College of Medicine. Thorndyke, formerly assistant dean for continuing medical education, has been promoted to associate dean for professional development, and Allgier-Baker has been named director of continuing education and outreach.   In her new role, Thorndyke assumes responsibility for a subset of activities including faculty development, mentorship, postdoctoral fellow/ scholar development, targeted study and sabbatical leave for the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center faculty members, faculty awards and honors, and the educator’s portfolio. She also is responsible for the area of Faculty Public Service and Outreach in the College of Medicine.   “Dr. Thorndyke is an excellent example of a person who truly demonstrates a commitment to the values of respect, trust, teamwork and collaboration, and excellence in her professional life,” said Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., senior vice president for health affairs, dean and chief executive officer. “Professional development should be a core function of academic institutions and of critical importance to their future success. It affects recruitment, development and retention of future academic leaders. We can and should be identified as a leading model of the integration of faculty development with continuing professional education of physicians and other health professionals and outreach to patients and communities to improve the health and lives of people.”   Born and raised in Nebraska, Thorndyke attended the University of Nebraska College of Medicine and completed her internal medicine internship and residency in Philadelphia. She joined the faculty of Penn State College of Medicine in 1993 as assistant professor of medicine and director of Hershey Internal Medical Associates, the first off-site internal medicine practice. In 1996, she was named assistant dean of continuing medical education. She also is a member of the Academic Team on the Unified Campus initiative at Penn State. Thorndyke is married, a mother of two children and an exercise enthusiast.   As director of the Office of Continuing Education and Outreach, Allgier-Baker’s responsibilities include management and supervision of the office, budgetary and fiscal management, new program initiation and implementation and accreditation compliance.   Allgier-Baker joined the College of Medicine in 1984 as publications coordinator in continuing education and moved up the ranks as supervisor of publications and information services and most recently as the interim director. An Annville resident, she is a 1979 graduate of Lebanon Valley College.   “Tracy brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her new role. She is a respected leader who has served our organization well for many years,” Thorndyke said. “We look forward to expanding our program and building our reputation in continuing education both regionally and nationally under Tracy’s direction.”   “This is a challenging time for continuing education,” Allgier-Baker said. “The changing health-care environment and evolving medical technology, coupled with the need for improvements in the quality of health care and its delivery are pressing needs for physicians and all health-care professionals. Our conferences, workshops and activities provide up-to-date information on prevention, diagnostic technologies, the latest treatments and cutting-edge research. Through our programs, we can also showcase the expertise of our faculty to the region, the state and, increasingly, through educational activities offered on the Web to the world.”   Continuing professional education is a fundamental part of the institution’s academic mission. The Office of Continuing Education provides more than 200 seminars, lectures and workshops and self-study activities annually, serving more than 21,000 participants. Ultimately, the goal is to establish a national model for professional development in academic health centers across the nation.
Shiels to head Alumni Outreach
Roxanne C. Shiels has been appointed director of Alumni Outreach in Outreach and Cooperative Extension. Penn State Image Resource Center	Roxanne C. Shiels has been appointed director of Alumni Outreach in Outreach and Cooperative Extension.   She is responsible for connecting Penn State alumni with the University by linking them to existing and new programs in collaboration with the four major programming units of Outreach and Cooperative Extension: Continuing Education, Distance Education/World Campus, Public Broadcasting and Cooperative Extension. She also is developing a strategic vision and plan for Alumni Outreach.   The Alumni Outreach unit is a product of the partnership between Outreach and Cooperative Extension and the Penn State Alumni Association, which is designed to extend the University’s educational resources to alumni and the public.   “Roxanne Shiels’ extensive experience in organizing and bringing together diverse stakeholders to reach consensus on complex issues will be invaluable in fostering Outreach and Cooperative Extension’s partnership with the Penn State Alumni Association,” Dr. Wayne D. Smutz, senior director of Outreach Program Development and associate director of the Division of Continuing Education, said.   “We welcome Roxanne Shiels to the Penn State Alumni Association team,” Dr. Deborah J. Marron, director of Program Development and Enrichment for the Alumni Association, said. “She brings a fresh perspective and valuable interpersonal and organizational skills to the team. These skills will serve her well as we collaborate on designing innovative educational outreach activities for our alumni.”   Shiels joins the Penn State staff following five years with the ClearWater Conservancy in State College. From 1999 through 2002, she served as project director for Vision 2020: Living with I-99, and from 1997 to 1999, she was watershed coordinator for the Spring Creek Watershed Community. As head of the Vision 2020 project, she was responsible for developing a community-based vision and action plan that included detailed implementation procedures for educational programs, municipal planning initiatives and policy changes for the communities affected by construction of Interstate 99 through Centre County.   From 1992 to 1997, she was a discipline and project manager and environmental scientist with Geo Decisions, a Division of Gannett Fleming Inc., working in Gannett Fleming’s State College and Harrisburg offices. She also served as a research assistant with Penn State’s School of Forest Resources for more than a year. While a student, she spent summers as a scientific intern with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey in Harrisburg and as a fisheries biologist aide with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Bureau of Fisheries in Carlisle.   In 2000, she helped found Penn State’s Environmental Resources Management Alumni Affiliate Program Group. She serves on the board and was the first chair of the group’s annual meeting and tailgate.   She has made numerous presentations and is the author and co-author of several publications on hydrology and wetlands topics.   Shiels is a Penn State alumna. She earned her bachelor of science degree in environmental resources management in 1990 and her master of science in hydrology in 1993.
Jackson named associate director of Cooperative Extension By Chuck Gill
Dr. Daney G. Jackson has been named associate director of Penn State Cooperative Extension. Ag Information and Communication Technologies	Dr. Daney G. Jackson, associate professor and personnel leader for Ohio State University Extension, has been named associate director of Penn State Cooperative Extension.   “During his 17 years in extension, Daney has demonstrated outstanding leadership and a talent for building effective coalitions,” Dr. Theodore R. Alter, associate vice president for outreach, director of Cooperative Extension and associate dean in the College of Agricultural Sciences, said. “His success in shaping the human resource functions of a large state extension system, combined with his experience in regional extension administration and in conducting educational programs in the field, makes him uniquely qualified to help lead our organization during this time of economic uncertainty.”   Jackson will provide leadership for the day-to-day operations of Cooperative Extension and will be a key member of the College of Agricultural Sciences administrative team. He will assist the director of Cooperative Extension in facilitating collaboration across the College of Agricultural Sciences and with other colleges and outreach units of the University.   Cooperative Extension, with offices in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, transfers research-based information to individuals, families, businesses and communities through nonformal educational programs designed to meet locally identified needs.   Jackson said he is “excited about the direction of outreach programs at Penn State.” He added, “Cooperative Extension has evolved greatly over the past 90 years. Its core mission has not changed, and that is to serve as a link between the people of the state and the land-grant institution. The need for that role has only increased over time. I believe Cooperative Extension must continue to evolve in ways that support our traditional audiences and seek partnerships and resources to reach new audiences to solve the new problems faced by Pennsylvania. We must also become more flexible and agile.”   His first priority at Penn State is getting to know the people, systems, processes and history of Cooperative Extension, he said.   “After that, I want to identify areas of excellence and areas for improvement,” he said. “I want to make sure our staff members are recognized for their teaching, applied research and scholarship. I want to find ways that support and encourage identifying local issues, gathering information, building partnerships and facilitating decision making that addresses those issues.”   Jackson began his extension career in 1985 with Mississippi State University, serving as a 4-H youth agent in Hancock County, Miss. From 1987 to 1991, he was an agriculture and natural resources extension agent in Lauderdale County, Miss.   After a year as a graduate associate at Ohio State University Extension’s Ohio Center for Action on Coalition Development, he returned to Mississippi Cooperative Extension, serving Lauderdale and Kemper counties as an area extension agent for forestry and horticulture from 1992 to 1994.   He joined Ohio State University Extension as director of the 16-county South District in 1995. After being named statewide personnel leader in 2000, he directed the organization’s human resources functions, including needs assessment, job analysis, job design, performance management, recruitment, hiring, compensation and benefits.   He is a member of several professional organizations, including the national extension honorary society Epsilon Sigma Phi, the Society for Human Resource Management, the National Association of County Agricultural Agents and the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents, which recognized him with its 1993 Achievement in Service Award.   Jackson received dual bachelor’s degrees in forestry and banking and finance and a master’s degree in extension education from Mississippi State University in 1984 and 1990, respectively. He earned his doctorate in agricultural education from The Ohio State University in 1994.
Sheffield retires after 26 years of service
Dr. Donald E. Sheffield, senior instructor at Penn State Beaver and director of Diversity Outreach Programs for Outreach and Cooperative Extension, has retired from the University.	Dr. Donald E. Sheffield, senior instructor at Penn State Beaver and director of Diversity Outreach Programs for Outreach and Cooperative Extension, has retired from the University after 26 years of service.   He joined the Penn State Beaver staff as a counselor for the Educational Opportunity Program in 1976. In 1981, he was appointed director of admissions and financial aid for the campus. From 1984 to 1989, he pursued doctoral studies at University Park campus. He returned to Penn State Beaver in 1989, serving as senior instructor and director of Diversity Outreach Programs for Outreach and Cooperative Extension until his retirement Aug. 30, 2002.   “Don Sheffield has made truly significant contributions to Penn State’s outreach programs,” Dr. Patricia A. Book, associate vice president for outreach and executive director of the Division of Continuing Education, said. “The power of his convictions and deep values of service to others never fail to inspire those he associates with to higher levels of performance. He has deployed his talents in developing very creative and innovative approaches to helping young people see their own potential, rise above their circumstances and believe that they can build a future of promise for themselves and others. He has been a tremendous source of inspiration for me personally, and I can only wish him the very best in this next phase of his life’s work.”   Sheffield, 55, chose to retire early to devote himself to helping youth in western Pennsylvania. As president of TAME Inc. in Beaver Falls, he is continuing the outreach programming he developed during his Penn State career. He also is consulting with school districts about teacher training and diversity in the curriculum.   “I decided to retire, because I wanted to give myself time to write about what I’ve learned working with young people, while I still had my health and could enjoy life,” he said. “I also wanted to give something back to my community by helping others become more productive in society.”   At TAME Inc., he is working with school districts participating in the DARE2XL program. He is the author of the award-winning DARE2XL after-school program and now manages it, hiring teachers and working with students from area colleges and universities, including Penn State Beaver, Penn State Fayette, Geneva College and California University of Pennsylvania. The higher education institutions are using DARE2XL as part of their teacher training programs.   DARE2XL (Dream, Aspire, Reach and Excel) offers comprehensive prevention and intervention activities designed to have a positive impact on children and parents participating in the program. The program provides first- through eighth-grade students with a motivational environment for learning study skills, preventing problem behaviors and developing self-esteem. The key is an excellence-conditioning model, where students learn how to perform well and consistently, in a supervised, supportive environment.   “One of the highlights of my career was the development of the DARE2XL model with Joe Paterno,” Sheffield said.   He created the DARE2XL model while pursuing his doctorate at Penn State. During that time (from 1984 to 1989), he served as administrative assistant to Paterno. The excellence-conditioning model is based on Paterno’s approach to football and his emphasis on practice to develop skills and strengthen potential. Sheffield believes young people can be conditioned for excellence in academics, using the same kind of approach.   He has been conducting DARE2XL programs through Penn State since 1990. During that period, he also has brought in more than $3 million in external funding to support DARE2XL, primarily from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Heinz Foundation in Pittsburgh.   Currently, Sheffield is writing a book with Paterno’s assistance titled Understanding High Performance: Excellence is a Habit. The book outlines the excellence-conditioning model, which Sheffield said can be used by anyone to achieve success in school, home and work.   “One of the greatest benefits to me professionally has been the guidance and support of Joe Paterno,” Sheffield said. “We have very similar beliefs about what makes kids successful.”   During his Penn State career, Sheffield also created a course for education majors to provide them with diversity-related field experiences working with children in the community. He continues to teach the course on a part-time basis at Penn State Beaver. In January 2001, he reported on the success of this field experience to the Penn State Board of Trustees.   He is the recipient of a number of awards for his contributions to outreach and diversity, including the Creativity and Innovation Award from Penn State Continuing Education in 2000, a 2000 University Continuing Education Association Award for Service to Special Populations for the Penn State Drug Elimination Program and a 2000 Best Practice Award for the DARE2XL program from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 1994, he was honored with a Distinguished Service Award from the Geneva College Alumni Association. In 2003, he will be inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame in honor of his high school and college basketball careers.   He earned a bachelor of arts degree in sociology and education from Geneva College in 1969, a master of education degree in secondary guidance from Slippery Rock University in 1974 and a doctorate in higher education from Penn State in 1989. He also holds a Pennsylvania permanent secondary teaching certificate.   Sheffield and his wife Linda, a special education teacher, have three sons: Joshua, a sergeant in the U.S. Army; Jeremiah, a middle school teacher in the Quaker Valley School District; and Jonathan, a senior at Slippery Rock University. Sheffield is one of 18 children of the late Rev. Eugene J. and Bessie Sheffield.
Potter retires after 26 years at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center
Director Gerald “Corky” Potter is setting off for new adventures after 26 years at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center. Photo by Ann Taylor—Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center	For 26 years, Gerald “Corky” Potter has been a part of Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center. Under his leadership, the organization has grown from nothing more than an idea to an award-winning environmental center with a full-time staff of 12, 20 resident raptors (four more raptors will be arriving soon) and an endowment of nearly $1 million. He leaves behind a legacy of environmental stewardship and thousands of educated students around the country and the world.   “Corky has contributed significantly to both the undergraduate teaching mission of this University, with his students now distributed around the nation, as well as to Penn State’s community outreach mission, helping thousands of children and families to learn about and appreciate the environment around them,” Dr. Patricia A. Book, associate vice president for outreach and executive director of the Division of Continuing Education, said. “Students from the colleges of Education and Health and Human Development and the Hotel, Restaurant and Recreation Management School and others have all benefited from the experiential educational opportunities they have had at the center over these many years.”   In commenting on his retirement, Potter said, “I want to find a place where I can continue to be creative and help others. It’s also time to give the Shaver’s Creek staff a chance to explore new ideas, programs and opportunities.”   For Potter, his work at the center has seemed more like a labor of love than a job. “The part of my soul that resonated with this place for so long, that gave me life and vitality, was the creation of Shaver’s Creek—starting from nothing and working with wonderful people to create this amazing place,” he said.   He believes that as the organization has grown, he has also grown as a person by accepting the challenges of building a successful nature center from the ground up.   “It’s really important to think outside our own space, to benchmark with other organizations and to continue to grow professionally by always being out there a little beyond our comfort zone,” he said.   According to Potter, the turning point for Shaver’s Creek came two years ago, with the creation of its strategic plan. The plan helped the center gain greater recognition within Penn State and illustrated how its mission fit into the overall mission of the University. The plan, which is built around five strategic points, was developed by the Shaver’s Creek staff. “Out of that process has come an organization that is a high-powered team, that will be more successful than it has ever been before,” he said.   Looking ahead, Potter sees a clear direction for future planning. “The focus of this place has to be a financial focus. In the last two or three years, there has been a real change in thinking about how this place is organized, about how it needs to work and function as a sustainable and economically important unit,” he said.   Potter is leaving Shaver’s Creek well positioned for the future. In addition to the $725,000 endowment, in August the center was awarded a grant of more than $50,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The organization’s newsletter, Web site and ORION program (an orientation program for first-year Penn State students) have also gained national attention.
University, Cooperative Extension honored for environmental consciousness
	Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, representative for the 171st District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, has presented Penn State and Penn State Cooperative Extension with House of Representatives’ citations for winning the 2002 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.   “The environmental stewardship of these organizations serves as an example to the Commonwealth,” Benninghoff said. “This is the kind of consciousness that will guarantee future generations of Pennsylvanians a sound environment in which to live.”   The University was honored for taking an innovative approach to pollution prevention by implementing a thermometer exchange program. As a result of the program, the University is able to rely on environmentally safe alternatives to the traditional mercury thermometer. To date, Penn State has collected more than 5,900 thermometers containing 356 pounds of mercury.   “Penn State’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety has implemented a comprehensive set of pollution prevention initiatives,” Maurine G. Claver, director of Environmental Health and Safety, said. “These initiatives have been successful, because of the cooperation and concern for the environment by all members of the Penn State community. These initiatives not only reduce the risk of pollution, but also teach Pennsylvania’s future leaders environmental stewardship.”   Penn State Cooperative Extension was honored for offering backyard compost education and bins to Pennsylvania residents. Nearly 90 percent of the participants in Cooperative Extension’s program who had not previously composted or recycled organic waste due to their lack of knowledge are now adopting best practices and nurturing them in their backyards.   “It is the dedicated work of more than 200 county extension agents and Master Gardener volunteers all across the Commonwealth that makes this composting education program possible and highly successful,” Richard Stehouwer, specialist and composting program coordinator with Penn State Cooperative Extension, said.   Each year since 1996, the governor has presented the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence to Pennsylvania’s leaders in innovative green technologies and environmental management. The awards honor individuals, employers, municipalities and institutions that are working to benefit Pennsylvania’s environment and economy.
Four earn national recognition for extension work
	Four Penn State Cooperative Extension agents have been honored by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents with service awards: Gary Sheppard, Westmoreland County Cooperative Extension director, and Thomas Murphy, Lycoming County extension agent for agronomy, received the Distinguished Service Award, and Michael Harteis, Cambria County extension agent for agriculture, and Mary Concklin, Montgomery County extension agent for horticulture, received the Achievement Award.   The Distinguished Service Award is presented to the top 2 percent of experienced agents in each state for excellence in programming. This year, 83 agents won the award. The Achievement Award is presented to the top 1 percent of younger agents in each state for excellence in programming. This year, 60 agents won the award. Selections for both awards are made by the agents’ peers in each state.   Sheppard’s major program focus has included pasture production, dairy husbandry and farm financial management. His accomplishments include work with intensive grazing systems and farm business planning. He also has participated in a six-month assignment with the Polish American Extension Project. His involvement with the Pennsylvania Association of County Agricultural Agents includes serving as treasurer, extension programs committee chair, Search for Excellence Winner in 4-H and Farm Income, and Achievement Award winner.   Murphy is responsible for conducting educational programs in agronomic production, integrated pest management and the direct marketing of agricultural products and commodities. His direct marketing programming has included efforts in the field and through seminars on effective customer service, profitable pricing, signage, development of employee handbooks and market administration. He also works with commercial and private pesticide applicators, guiding them in the proper use of personal protection equipment during pesticide use, as well as crop management options. As a member of the Pennsylvania Association of County Agricultural Agents, he has served as regional director, chair of the Program Resource Council and member of the host committee for state PACAA meetings and extension programs committee.   Harteis serves as a four-county farm management agent based in Cambria County. He has concentrated his educational efforts on helping farmers with financial aspects of their businesses, especially in farm business planning. He also has made a significant impact in helping farmers incorporate computers into their operations. His involvement with the Pennsylvania Association of County Agricultural Agents includes serving on the Program Resource Development Council and as director for the south central region.   Concklin is responsible for commercial and consumer horticulture, vegetable, fruit and Master Gardener programs in Montgomery County. She initiated a quarterly newsletter, bringing readership to 5,100 in nine issues. Master Gardener numbers have increased from 25 to 95 in three years. She delivers courses, symposiums, workshops and conferences as a chairperson, educator, facilitator and committee member. She also initiated research in “Developing Nutrient Management Guidelines for Woody Ornamentals.” She had been an active Pennsylvania Association of County Agricultural Agents member and also is a member of a number of other horticultural associations.
University wins lion’s share of awards in continuing and adult education By Karen Tuohey Wing
	Penn State was recognized for outstanding achievement in the field of continuing and adult education at the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA) Mid-Atlantic Region 2002 awards ceremony, receiving 10 of the 16 awards presented. The awards honor a wide range of outreach and continuing education activities and include:
Program Director Jim Fong received an award in Applied Research for his studies titled The State of Continuing Education Marketing II and The Changing Roles of CE CEOs. The State of Continuing Education Marketing II is a survey, analysis and directional effort that shows major changes in the field of marketing in continuing education; while The Changing Roles of CE CEOs examines the evolving role of continuing education leadership and the key competencies that are critical in these turbulent times. The 14th Annual Scientific Session of the Eastern Nursing Research Society held at Penn State University Park received an award for Outstanding Non-Credit Program Development. Project Director Pamela Logan and team members Donna Havens, Ph.D., RN, and Terry Fulmer, Ph.D., RN, developed this project, which was a collaboration between the Eastern Nursing Research Society and Penn State’s School of Nursing. It led to a conference that contributed to the continuing education needs of the nursing profession and allowed for the dissemination of research findings in special topics. Project Directors Jeff Covino and Patricia Wood received an Outstanding Non-Credit Program Development award for their Recycling Professional Certification Program at Penn State Altoona. This model program is a public/private partnership involving the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Penn State and the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania. It promotes high professional standards for recycling and solid waste managers and helps establish a career path for these professionals. The 2002 Workshops for Science Educators held at University Park campus received an award for Outstanding Credit Program Development. Chriss A. Schultz is the project director of this program, which focuses on the professional development of teachers in the science disciplines. The project team is comprised of leading University researchers and educators, including Dr. James Kasting, Paul Knight, William Syrett, Dr. Gregory Jenkins, Dr. Eric Feigelson, Dr. Ronald Redwing, Dr. Jacqueline Bortiatynski, Andrew Greenberg, Dr. Loida Escote-Carlson, Dr. Rebecca Peterson, Dr. Neil Brandt, Dr. Lisa Brown and Angela Phillips. Project Director Betty Esposito won the Faculty and Staff Development award for the 2002 Hendrick Best Practices for Adult Learners conference held at University Park campus. This annual event is a unique opportunity for Penn State faculty, staff and students from all University locations to share best practices for adult learners. Last year, the conference attracted almost 200 participants representing continuing education and resident instruction. Project Director Sally A. McGuire won the Programs for Special Populations award for Migrant Students: The Road to Success developed at Penn State Hazleton. This program was developed as an outreach program for children of Latino migrant workers in the greater Hazleton area. The project and partnership brought together the Northeast Migrant Education programs and was in response to various educational needs of this rapidly growing population. A Marketing Plans, Campaigns and Materials award went to Penn State for You. Project Director Andy Petkac and project team members Jim Fong, Trish Hummer, David Maser, Scott Moore, Tara Tallman and Marie Young developed this message based on marketing research. It places the potential adult learner directly into the advertising with an underlying message that Penn State is approachable and will assist the adult student back into the classroom. A Marketing Plans, Campaigns and Materials award honored the World Campus General Portfolio under Project Director Jesse Trahan. Cole Hons, Tara Tallman, Sarah Garancosky and Chris Walsh were on the project team for this campaign, which had the objective of discovering new audiences for the General Course Portfolio and increasing enrollments for the World Campus General Course Portfolio. The results were impressive—a 225 percent increase in enrollments from 2000–01 to 2001–02. A Marketing Plans, Campaigns and Materials award honored the marketing and promotion for the second year of the Penn State Nutrition Conference. Project Director Brian K. Heckman and project team members Stephanie Tyworth, Susan LeWay, Carolyn Andersen, Ryan Badowski and Phyllis Harbst developed a comprehensive promotion program consisting of a brochure, Web site, listserv postings and news releases.
Nelson named Teacher Educator of the Year
Dr. Patricia A. Nelson Penn State Image Resource Center	Dr. Patricia A. Nelson, associate dean for Outreach, Cooperative Extension, International Programs and Technology in the College of Education, has been named Teacher Educator of the Year for 2002 by the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (PAC-TE). The award honors her exceptional leadership, scholarship and professional experience in the field of education. Her service to her communities and to other professional organizations also factored into the selection.   Jim Flynn, executive director of PAC-TE, said the award is “the most prestigious award given by the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators” and that it is given to the person “who has the largest impact on teacher education in the state.”
Student wins community service award
	Jesse Hunting, a third-year Penn State student in landscape architecture, has been awarded the Distinguished Community Service Award from the City of Harrisburg, Pa.   In his award letter, Mayor Stephen Reed recognized Hunting for “the excellent work, which [he] organized and undertook, with the help of others, to establish the two lot community parks at 16th and Market streets in the City of Harrisburg’s Allison Hill area.” The mayor commended Hunting for catalyzing community efforts to address the pervasive physical disorder in Allison Hill, noting, “[His] neighborhood-based effort not only created a public amenity for all to enjoy but, equally important, served to inspire others. Citizens can take charge of their surroundings and can create their own destiny when like-minded citizens band together in common cause to achieve public good. This is an important example and message to send, especially in Allison Hill.”   Hunting first developed the park plan while participating in the interdisciplinary service-learning course titled Community Assessment, Planning and Design, taught by Dr. Samuel F. Dennis Jr., assistant professor of landscape architecture. Hunting and two third-year landscape architecture students, Luke Sinopoli and Chris McKenna, worked in partnership with community residents and organizations to develop alternatives for several vacant lots in Allison Hill.   Hunting continued working with the community during the summer, supported in part through the Department of Landscape Architecture’s Milton Berg Memorial Scholarship. He spent the summer living at the St. Martin De Porres Catholic Worker House, eating at the local soup kitchen every day and working with community residents, including neighborhood youth, to develop the park.   Development of this service-learning studio course was made possible through a grant from the Fund for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, administered by the Penn State Office of Undergraduate Education’s Public Scholarship Associates initiative. The course pairs University students with grassroots community groups in Harrisburg to mutually identify community challenges, assets and solutions. These partnerships are facilitated through the Community Action Commission, led by Linda Figueroa, executive director, and its 10-year partnership with the South Allison Hill community. Elaine Burns is the community’s neighborhood plan coordinator.   For more information about the Office of Undergraduate Education’s Public Scholarship Associates initiative, visit http://www.psu.edu/dept/oue/ps/index.html.
Distance Education/World Campus faculty and staff receive awards   The Department of Distance Education/World Campus has honored University faculty and staff members with awards. Winners are:

Bright Future Award: Andy Sharp, program assistant, Distance Education/ World Campus. Leadership Award: Rick Shearer, assistant director, Instructional Design and Development, Distance Education/World Campus. Diversity Award: Gail Foster, information systems support analyst, Distance Education/World Campus. University Partnership Award: Academic Programs Planning and Management unit in Distance Education/World Campus: program managers Karen Pollack, Janet May and Blake Withall; and program assistants Sarah Cook, Andy Sharp and Crystal Straw. Stellar Program Award: Adult Education team: Dr. Gary W. Kuhne, associate professor of education and lead faculty member, master’s degree in adult education program; Distance Education/World Campus staff members Ann Luck, senior instructional designer; Alicia Spong, instructional designer; Jane Ireland, academic adviser; Andy Sharp, program assistant; Natalie Harp, assistant instructional designer; and Karen Pollack, program manager; and Outreach Office of Marketing Research staff member Angela Rogers, senior marketing associate. Outstanding World Campus Teaching Award: Dr. Al Turgeon, professor of turfgrass management and senior faculty coordinator, World Campus program in turfgrass management. Innovation Award: Brad Kozlek, senior applications programmer/analyst, Center for Educational Technology Services in Information Technology Services. Valued Support Award: Instructional Design and Development (ID&D) information technology team and Carol Hendershot, admissions counselor, Distance Education/World Campus. ID&D team members: Allan Gyorke, instructional technology manager; Laurie Hackenberger and Nancy Hallberg, instructional technologists; Jamie Mundie, senior microcomputer systems consultant; and Brad Kozlek, senior applications programmer/analyst, Center for Educational Technology Services in Information Technology Services. Customer Service Award: Sandy McClain, office information specialist, Distance Education/World Campus. World Campus Communications Award: Chris Walsh, marketing strategist, Outreach Office of Marketing Research; and Heather Chakiris, assistant director, Student Services, Distance Education/World Campus.

Heart and Soul Award: Dietetics Program team: dietetics staff members Ellen Barbrow, assistant professor of dietetics and director, Dietetic Programs through Distance Education; Beth Egan, academic adviser and instructor; Janet Raytek, program director, Dietary Manager Certificate program; and Carol Barner, program staff assistant; and Distance Education/World Campus staff members Peggy Keating-Butler, instructional designer; Andrew Sharp, program assistant; Tammi Crissman, academic adviser; and Karen Pollack, program manager; and Outreach Office of Marketing Research staff member Angela Rogers, senior marketing associate. Management Teams Outstanding Achievement Award: iMBA team: Distance Education/World Campus staff members Janet May, program manager; Jane Ireland, academic adviser; Gail Foster, information systems support analyst; Stevie Rocco, instructional designer; Carol Hendershot, admissions counselor; Dr. Peter A. Rubba, director of Academic Programs; Dusty Hasselman, program specialist; and Lynne Johnson, lead instructional designer; and Dr. Deborah Klevans, retired director, Outreach Office of Program Development; Chris Walsh, marketing strategist, Outreach Office of Marketing Research; Dr. John Fizel, iMBA program chair and professor of economics, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College; Dr. Veronica Godshalk, assistant professor of management and organization, Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies; and Rita Graef, client development manager, Outreach Office of Marketing Research, Office of Client Development. Executive Director’s Award for Excellence: Process Improvement Initiative team: Ellwood “Woody” Kerkeslager, chief executive officer, Information Futures, Madison, N.J.; and Dr. Melody Thompson, director, Quality and Planning, and Dr. Modupe Irele, project associate, Distance Education/World Campus. Enthusiasm and Creativity Award: Ian Riddell, instructional materials designer, Distance Education/World Campus.

Irele wins distance education award
	Dr. Modupe Irele, project associate in the Quality and Planning unit of the Penn State World Campus, has won the William Rainey Harper Award for research in distance education from the University Continuing Education Association. The award, presented during the association’s annual conference, is for her dissertation in adult education titled “Institutional Mainstreaming of Distance Education: Guiding Policies.” She received her doctoral degree from Penn State in December.
WPSX’s Weather World hosts honored
Weather World hosts Fred Gadomski (left) and Paul Knight have been honored with the Award for Outstanding Service by a Broadcast Meteorologist from the American Meteorology Society.	Weather World hosts Fred Gadomski and Paul Knight have been honored with the Award for Outstanding Service by a Broadcast Meteorologist from the American Meteorology Society for “the scientific quality and stimulating nature of Weather World and for their devotion to educating broadcasters in the classroom and on the air.”   Penn State Public Broadcasting’s public television station, WPSX-TV, produces the 15-minute live weather show at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday on WPSX, Channel 3. Weather World observed a milestone in early 2003: its 5,000th show. This fall, the program will celebrate its 20th anniversary.   Gadomski is instructor of meteorology, and Knight is instructor of meteorology and the Pennsylvania state climatologist. They host the program, along with other members of the University’s Weather Communications Group. Gadomski and Knight also are among the co-founders of the group, which develops meteorology students’ communication skills and also provides forecasts for The New York Times.
New book details how to manage projects
	Jack Gido, director of the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program at Penn State, and James Clements, executive director of the Center for Applied Information Technology, Towson University, are the authors of Successful Project Management, second edition, published by South-Western College Publishing.   The textbook has been adopted for use at Penn State campuses statewide for the course Project Management and Planning for Business, which helps students learn the essential skills to make effective contributions to the accomplishment of projects in which they are involved.   Gido, who earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at Penn State, will donate the royalties he receives from books sold to Penn State students to the University.   A leading textbook in project management, the first edition was published in English, Spanish and Chinese and is being used at universities and in professional development programs in more than 40 states and more than 25 countries. Intended for working professionals as well as students, the book is used in undergraduate engineering, business and MBA programs.   The new edition contains real-world examples, critical success factors, World Wide Web exercises, case studies and a trial version of Microsoft Project. An Instructor’s Resource CD-ROM also is available which contains a syllabus, chapter outlines, PowerPoint slides and a test bank.
Penn State astronaut addresses Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on NPR By Jeff Bundy
	Dr. James Pawelczyk, assistant professor of applied physiology and kinesiology at Penn State and former Space Shuttle Columbia astronaut, addressed the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy Feb. 1 on National Public Radio (NPR) from the studios of WPSU-FM, Penn State Public Broadcasting’s NPR affiliate.   Shortly after learning of the disaster, the staff at WPSU-FM began producing special coverage of the day’s events. WPSU staff assisted Pawelczyk in going on the air live from WPSU studios in the morning with Scott Simon, host of NPR’s Weekend Edition, and on the evening broadcast of NPR’s All Things Considered with Steve Inskeep.   Throughout his time on the air, Pawelczyk provided listeners with valuable insight into the scientific experiments that took place aboard Columbia, which included an experiment on the effect of heart mass in rats that was being conducted by fellow Penn State professors Dr. Scott Kimball and Dr. Chester Ray. Pawelczyk also discussed the importance of manned space flights, as well as his relationships with three members of Columbia’s crew.   His most current space mission was as a payload specialist on STS-90 Neurolab aboard Space Shuttle Columbia. He took part in the 16-day Spacelab flight, in which the seven-person crew served as both experiment subjects and operators for 26 individual life science experiments. He logged more than 381 hours in space, orbiting the Earth 256 times.   Broadcasting 24-hours-a-day to nearly 500,000 homes, WPSU-FM can be heard at FM 106.7 in Altoona, FM 100.9 in Bradford, FM 91.5 in central Pennsylvania, FM 104.7 in Clearfield, FM 92.1 in DuBois, FM 92.3 in Huntingdon, FM 90.1 in northern Pennsylvania and FM 95.1 in Treasure Lake.
Cooperative Extension nutrition program benefits Girl Scouts
	Penn State Cooperative Extension offices in Elk and Cameron counties united to help Girl Scouts in north central Pennsylvania earn an In the Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness Interest Patch during October, national Breast Cancer Awareness Month.   Jeanette E. Stumpff, nutrition education adviser in Elk and Cameron counties for the Nutrition Links Education Program, and Barb Miller, family living agent, presented a nutrition education program to Keystone Girl Scout Council Troop 11 at the Family Center in Emporium, Pa. They focused on the importance of adopting healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle. The scouts also learned about breast cancer prevention.   Many community and health groups partnered to offer the educational program, including Cooperative Extension, Keystone Girl Scout Council Troop 11, American Cancer Society, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Cameron County Family Center for Child Development, Cameron County Health Care Center, Charles Cole Memorial Hospital and Potter County Educational Council. In addition, survivors of breast cancer talked with the scouts.
Barb Miller (left photo, standing), family living agent with Penn State Cooperative Extension, serves up a dish of meatless chili to Girl Scouts at the Family Center in Emporium, Pa., during a nutrition education program she and Jeanette E. Stumpff, nutrition education adviser for Cooperative Extension in Elk and Cameron counties, presented to the scouts.
Penn State Public Broadcasting supports citizen engagement in Election 2002 By Celena E. Kusch
Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidates appear with IssuesPA Gubernatorial Debate Host Patty Satalia (far left). Candidates are, from left, Mike Fisher, Ken Krawchuk, Mike Morrill and Gov. Ed Rendell. Penn State Public Broadcasting coordinated and broadcast the debate from University Park campus. Behind the scenes at the IssuesPA Gubernatorial Debate broadcast, WPSX-TV production crews film the live audience, student questioners and gubernatorial candidates. Photos by Greg Grieco—Penn State	At the height of the fall 2002 campaign season, the four candidates on the ballot for governor of Pennsylvania met at Penn State for the IssuesPA Gubernatorial Debate, the first major debate of the year. Republican candidate Mike Fisher, Libertarian candidate Ken Krawchuk, Green Party candidate Mike Morrill and the new governor, Democrat Ed Rendell, all participated in the forum. Penn State Public Broadcasting coordinated and broadcast the debate, with WPSX-TV’s public affairs host Patty Satalia serving as moderator.   The audience for the debate filled Eisenhower Auditorium at University Park campus. Pennsylvanians who could not attend received live broadcast of the event on WPSU-FM radio and statewide throughout the Pennsylvania Public Television Network, a network of eight public broadcasting stations, including Penn State’s WPSX-TV Channel 3.   “Being able to work statewide on the gubernatorial debate gave Penn State Public Broadcasting an incredible opportunity to bring important and relevant information to viewers in our coverage area and across the state,” Tracy Vosburgh, station manager of Penn State Public Broadcasting, said. Vosburgh served as the IssuesPA Gubernatorial Debate executive producer and worked with Penn State Public Broadcasting producers/directors Marie Hornbein and Topher Yorks.   “Live programming of the IssuesPA debate allowed us to focus on issues of concern both to the students on campus and to all of our local communities,” Vosburgh added. “This kind of programming really does have an impact on people’s daily lives, and that’s an important part of Penn State Public Broadcasting’s mission of informing, engaging and entertaining.”   The IssuesPA debate at Penn State responded to its University venue by focusing on education issues and the voices of young people. The program featured pre-taped and live questions from a panel of students representing Penn State, University of Pittsburgh, Lock Haven University, Franklin and Marshall College, Cheney University of Pennsylvania, as well as the State College Area High School. Steve Jones, play-by-play announcer for Penn State football and host of WPSX-TV’s 15 Minutes, and Debbie Hoy, local news producer for WPSU-FM, conducted live interviews with student panelists both during and after the debate.   A postdebate analysis with Burwood Yost, director of the Center for Opinion Research at Millersville Univerity; Russ Eshleman, managing editor of capitolwire.com and senior lecturer in communications at Penn State; and host Katie O’Toole, producer and writer for Penn State Public Broadcasting, addressed the focus on young people and their issues.   “The questions the students asked the candidates are the same questions of interest to all Pennsylvanians,” Yost said. “They make up 12 percent of the electorate. If we don’t include their issues and address the campaigns to them, it will be hard to encourage them to vote.”   Student questions ranged from concerns about the costs and uneven quality of education to issues of sexual assault, environmental protection and the employment outlook in Pennsylvania. While the candidates differed widely in the policies they advocated, they did share many important values, including an emphasis on the importance of education, support for early childhood education and a call for greater community partnership in providing meaningful education to all Pennsylvanians.   All four candidates also recognized that meeting the economic needs of education from preschool to postbaccalaureate would be a great challenge for the current budget.   In the postdebate analysis, O’Toole asked what the candidates’ comments in support of education might mean for the prospect of cutting tuition for higher education.   Eshleman replied, “As the candidates all said, higher education is something that is so important, but it’s moving out of the range of the average person. To [cut tuition] requires that the state step up to the plate to pick up the responsibility for raising taxes to pay for education. It’s much easier to force local government to raise taxes instead. The interesting thing about this debate was that the candidates didn’t lie to the audience about funding education. Ed Rendell came right out and said he may not be able to do anything about education next year, with the economy we are facing.”   In their comments on the forthright and civil tone of the student-centered debate, Eshleman and Yost also noted that the participation of the two third-party candidates enriched the debate. They pointed out that student voters tend to be more open to third-party candidates and that the audience responded more favorably than other groups to the independent candidates.   IssuesPA is a nonpartisan, statewide awareness project focused exclusively on raising the issues most critical to Pennsylvania’s future during the 2002 governor’s race. Launched by the Pennsylvania Economy League and funded in part by Pew Charitable Trusts, Pittsburgh Foundation and Heinz Endowments, IssuesPA aims to focus political races away from personality contests, partisan attacks and point spreads and toward the issues that will ultimately shape the future of the Commonwealth.
NSF official discusses university-community engagement during Dubin Lecture
Dr. Judith A. Ramaley, assistant director for Education and Human Resources with the National Science Foundation, presented the 2003 Lydia S. and Samuel S. Dubin Lecture in Continuing Education Research and Retraining during Outreach and Cooperative Extension’s annual Outreach Professional Development Conference. Dave Shelly—Penn State Image Resource Center	Dr. Judith A. Ramaley, assistant director for Education and Human Resources with the National Science Foundation, presented the 2003 Lydia S. and Samuel S. Dubin Lecture in Continuing Education Research and Retraining.   “You have set in motion the reinvigoration of the land-grant mission here at Penn State by bringing together Cooperative Extension with Continuing Education, Distance Education and Public Broadcasting,” Ramaley said. “This will be the future of engagement.”   During her presentation, she discussed the philosophy of engagement that land-grant and other higher education institutions are embracing, a philosophy she helped to shape as a member of the W. K. Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-Grant Universities.   The Kellogg Commission defined engagement as “something that goes well beyond Cooperative Extension and conventional outreach. It even goes beyond most conceptions of public service. ... By engagement, the commission envisions partnerships, two-way streets defined by mutual respect among the partners for what each brings to the table.”   Ramaley added, “This is a profound revolution in the basic relationship between higher education and society.”   She said a fully realized university-community relationship would be characterized by a common agenda and sharing of risks and rewards by both partners; the ability of the university to share power and resources with the community; the creation of community-based service-learning opportunities for students; and the inclusion of community concerns as legitimate issues for research and knowledge-generation to improve the community.   “Engagement is reciprocal, has a shared agenda and is mutually beneficial,” Ramaley said. “It generates something of real value for communities.”   The Dubin Lecture was part of Outreach and Cooperative Extension’s annual Outreach Professional Development Conference for Outreach faculty and staff.   Dr. Samuel S. Dubin established the lectureship in 1992, shortly before his death. He was internationally renowned for his expertise in the field of retraining. A psychologist, consultant and lecturer on industrial and organizational psychology, retraining and continuing education research topics, he retired from Penn State in 1979 as professor emeritus of psychology. Dubin spent 18 years at the University as a teacher of industrial and organizational psychology and project director in Planning Studies.