UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has named Kathleen J. Bieschke, head of the Department of Education Psychology, Counseling and Special Education, as interim dean of the Schreyer Honors College, effective June 1.
“Kathy is an experienced administrator, engaged teacher and accomplished researcher, with a long history of service to the College of Education and the University,” said Penn State Executive Vice President and Provost Nicholas Jones. “I have every confidence she will provide outstanding leadership for the honors college as we move forward through this transition.”
Bieschke, professor of education (counseling psychology), joined Penn State’s faculty in 1991. She served as an Administrative Fellow in the Provost’s Office for the 2012-13 academic year.
As head of the Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling and Special Education (EPCSE), Bieschke leads a faculty of 53 and staff of five, and oversees resident and world campus instruction for undergraduate and graduate students in department programs, and the CEDAR Clinic.
In addition, Bieschke is professor-in-charge for the Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies minor, launched in 2015, and its associated courses. She currently serves as chair of the Assessment Committee for the University’s Council on Engaged Scholarship, as well as EPCSE’s Diversity and Climate Enhancement Committee. She also is a member of Penn State’s Network for Child Protection and Well-Being and the Graduate School’s Special Committee for Outcomes, Assessment and Performance Enhancement. She currently serves as chair of the American Psychological Association’s Commission on Accreditation.
Bieschke has published extensively over her career, and serves on the editorial boards of several journals. She is a member of the executive team for the Center for Collegiate Mental Health, a collaborative practice-research network comprised of more than 350 college counseling centers. Her research interests focus on the delivery of services to marginalized populations and the education and training of professional psychologists.
She replaces Christian Brady, who announced May 17 that he is stepping down. A national search will begin soon to find a permanent replacement. Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College enrolls approximately 1,800 students across all Penn State locations and offers more than 200 honors-level courses.