Faculty and Staff

      USAC advances strategic priorities, efforts to expand representation

      Members of the Penn State University Staff Advisory Council (USAC). Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

      UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State University Staff Advisory Council (USAC) continues to advance its strategic priorities and address the interests and issues impacting Penn State staff across the commonwealth. Since beginning the 2024-25 term year on July 1, USAC has held a member retreat, strategic planning sessions, meetings with senior Penn State administrators, and a friendly blood-drive competition with West Virginia University. 

      “Staff are truly the backbone of this institution, and USAC is deeply committed to ensuring their voices are heard and included in decision-making,” said Elizabeth Fegert, 2024-25 USAC chair. “It’s a privilege to work alongside colleagues who are passionate about making meaningful changes that will broadly impact the staff community.” 

      Planning strategically 

      With the guidance of the Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research (OPAIR), USAC is developing a multi-year strategic plan that draws from staff feedback, emphasizes the council’s strengths, and aligns with Penn State’s priorities. Immediate areas of focus include:  

      • Creating transparent pathways for career development and advancement 

      • Inclusion of staff of all levels and from all campuses, colleges and units in decision-making, and 

      • Improved communication and engagement with University leadership. 

      “We’ve spent time listening to staff across the commonwealth and what we’ve heard is clear: people want to feel valued and included in the conversations that shape their work experience,” said Fegert. “I’m proud of the council’s dedication to creating tangible ways for staff to be active participants in the University’s future.” 

      Expanding representation 

      USAC also plans to more than double its membership in order to increase representation on the council and strengthen lines of communication between staff at all campuses. Beginning in July 2025, every Penn State campus, college, and unit with an established local staff group will be invited to appoint a representative to serve on USAC. Colleges, campuses, and units that do not currently operate a local staff group are encouraged to contact USAC at askUSAC@psu.edu for more information on how to establish one. 

      Welcoming new leadership, members 

      The full slate of USAC officers and committee chairs for the 2024-25 term includes:  

      • Chair: Elizabeth Fegert, business consultant for the Penn State Small Business Development Center 

      • Chair-elect: Matthew Heller, IT project manager at Penn State IT  

      • Immediate past-chair, current USAC Membership and Elections Committee chair: Rachel Galloway, MyResource director, Student Affairs 

      • Co-secretary: Crystal Barna, subaward grants officer for the Office of Research Affairs in the College of Medicine  

      • Co-secretary: Erin Loy, research engineer at the Applied Research Laboratory 

      • Secretary-elect: Alice Puzarowski, proposal and award generalist at Penn State Behrend 

      • Awards Committee chair: Christine Adams, associate director of prospect management for the Division of Development and Alumni Relations  

      • Communications Committee co-chair: Patrick Dunne, director of strategic communications and community engagement at Penn State Abington 

      • Communications Committee co-chair: Ashley Stauffer, analyst in the Office of Research Information Systems 

      • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee co-chair: Nathaniel Geyer, research technologist at the College of Medicine 

      • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee co-chair: Teresa McCloskey, unit coordinator for University Police and Public Safety 

      • Logistics Committee chair: Amy Bockis, academic programs administrator at the College of Medicine  

      • Outreach and Engagement co-chair: Leah Carraway-Justice, director of operations, public health sciences at the College of Medicine 

      • Outreach and Engagement Committee co-chair: Paul Smith, senior academic coordinator in the College of Education  

      The council also welcomed nine new members from across the commonwealth:  

      • Patrick Campbell, college marketing coordinator in the College of Agricultural Sciences 

      • Caitlyn Catalfu, academic adviser for exploratory a pre-major advising at Penn State Behrend 

      • Cheryl Knobloch, senior director of the Women in Engineering Program in the Center for Engineering Outreach & Inclusion  

      • Yu Tai Chung, director of IT in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications  

      • Kalene Faircloth, assistant director of student services at Penn State Dickinson Law  

      • Jack Rumery, assistant director for a sustainable workplace in Penn State Sustainability  

      • Jen Sholtis, lead academic adviser College of the Liberal Arts  

      • Tina Weidele, financial specialist at Penn State Lehigh Valley and interim regional financial officer for the Hazleton, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre campuses 

      • Rachel Zughaib, campus registrar at Penn State Beaver and interim campus registrar for Penn State Shenango 

      Learn more about USAC’s current members on the council’s website. 

      Last Updated October 11, 2024

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