UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Tracy Langkilde has elevated Kathleen Bieschke to senior vice provost, effective as of July 1, in recognition of the important role she plays in supporting the many functions of the provost's office. In her new role, Bieschke will now lead both the Office of Faculty Affairs — formerly the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs — and the Office of Undergraduate Education. This new role recognizes the important connections between the two offices and will provide opportunities to align work and collaborate on strategic priorities. Bieschke has served as vice provost for faculty affairs since August 2017.
“Kathy has excelled in every role she’s undertaken at Penn State, and in her new role she will lead efforts to better connect our programs and services that support faculty and students,” said Langkilde. “Preparing students for success is at the heart of our academic mission and that begins with empowering our faculty and staff to think creatively and supporting them with efficient systems and processes and the resources they need. With over 10 years of experience as an academic administrator, including as head of the department of educational psychology, counseling and special education and interim dean of the Schreyer Honors College, Kathy will bring important expertise to this role.”
Bieschke will also take on the role of interim dean of Undergraduate Education and under her leadership, Jeff Adams, who has served as interim vice provost and dean for Undergraduate Education since July 2023, will resume his previous position under the title of senior associate vice provost and senior associate dean for Undergraduate Education. The leadership teams for both units will be merged to facilitate strategic planning and identify points of synergy.
“Throughout my journey at Penn State, I have always strived to be an advocate for the teaching and learning taking place here. As a first-generation college student and a long-time faculty member, I know how much impact faculty members can have on a student’s success,” Bieschke said. “Faculty affairs and undergraduate education, which have collaborative relationships across the University, play a pivotal role in what makes Penn State special. Creating a sustainable budget and re-evaluating the University’s academic offerings cannot happen without the administration and faculty working together under the shared governance model. I am eager to leverage the programs and relationships we have built to seize the opportunity to realize President Bendapudi’s vision of strengthening Penn State for the future.”
The Office of Faculty Affairs is dedicated to facilitating and promoting the success of all faculty members at Penn State’s 24 campuses — close to 6,500 full-time faculty members — by overseeing the development, support and guidance that foster faculty success. Bieschke and her team also provide guidance on academic human resources and a wide range of faculty and University concerns, working closely with deans, the Office of General Counsel, Human Resources and the University Faculty Senate.
The Office of Undergraduate Education is an academic administrative unit comprised of 14 separate units which are diverse in purpose but united in their shared commitment to supporting the equitable academic success of Penn State undergraduates across the commonwealth. Undergraduate Education provides leadership and coordination for University-wide programs and initiatives in support of undergraduate teaching and learning at Penn State.
Since joining Penn State in 1991, Bieschke has served in various academic and administrative capacities. Most recently she served as vice provost for faculty affairs. Since taking the helm in August 2017, the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs has reorganized and expanded its programming, including creating the office’s first strategic plan. The office also has expanded its outreach efforts through the launch of the Faculty Affairs Advisory Council to foster consistent implementation of policies and standard practices across the University’s 24 campuses and a monthly digest of important updates for faculty and academic administrators.
Bieschke and her team led a recalibration of the University’s hiring and appointment processes to reflect Penn State’s commitment to a diverse workforce, including working with the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access and the Faculty Senate to align University policies regarding the hiring of full-time faculty members and academic administrators with Penn State’s focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. Her office also has expanded the scope of faculty development, with more robust onboarding and professional development activities for deans and an expansion of new faculty orientation to include non-tenure-line faculty.
Bieschke has published extensively during her career, and previously served on the editorial boards of several journals, including The Counseling Psychologist and Training and Education in Professional Psychology. Her professional affiliations have included the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs. She also served as a member and as chair and vice-chair of the APA’s Commission on Accreditation.
For her dedication and accomplishments in the field of psychology, Bieschke was named a fellow in two APA divisions, the Society of Counseling Psychology (Division 17) and the APA’s Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues (Division 44). She has received numerous awards, including the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training in Psychology from the APA; the Lifetime Contribution to Education and Training in Counseling Psychology Award from the Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs; and the Outstanding Service Award from the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Equity at Penn State.
Bieschke earned a bachelor of science degree in psychology and a master of science degree in clinical psychology from Illinois State University, and a doctorate in counseling psychology in 1991 from Michigan State University. She joined the faculty at Penn State in 1991 and is a professor of education. Bieschke was an administrative fellow for Penn State's Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost in 2012-13. She served as head of Educational Psychology, Counseling and Special Education from 2013 to 2016, and as interim dean of the Schreyer Honors College in 2016-17. Bieschke is a licensed psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania.