UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Big Ten Academic Alliance's (BTAA) Department Executive Officers (DEO) program has gained five additional fellows from the Penn State ranks.

The BTAA is the academic consortium of the Big Ten universities and the United States’ preeminent model for effective collaboration among research universities. Through its leadership program, participants who have demonstrated exceptional ability through University administrative assignments or other significant positions in public, private or professional organizations are aided in further developing their leadership and managerial skills.

Penn State’s participants for the 2024 program were selected based on their significant contributions and potential to achieve even more as University leaders. The participants are:

• Kimberly Cornaggia, head, Department of Finance, Smeal College of Business

• Paul Markowski, head, Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

• David Mazyck, head, School of Engineering Design and Innovation, College of Engineering

• Mauricio Terrones, George A. & Margaret M. Downsbrough Head of the Department of Physics, Evan Pugh University Professor, Eberly College of Science

• Robin Thomas, head, Department of Art History, College of Arts and Architecture         

The DEO Fellows will participate in a seminar Nov. 14-16 at the Big Ten Conference Center in Chicago. The event will focus on departmental leadership skills, the challenges facing DEOs, and broader issues.

For more information about this program, visit the BTAA Department Executive Officers Program website and the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs website.