UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The College of the Liberal Arts is saddened by the recent passing of longtime Communication Arts and Sciences (CAS) faculty member Ellen Taricani, who died Feb. 3 in State College at age 70.
Taricani, an associate teaching professor of CAS and a lifelong member of the State College community, celebrated 35 years of service at Penn State this past fall.
In her obituary, Taricani’s family called her “a cherished daughter, sister, aunt, and friend whose warmth and generosity touched the lives of all who knew her.”
She also was a well-respected member of the Liberal Arts faculty. According to Kirt Wilson, CAS department head, Taricani was a key member of the department's Technology Committee and played a crucial role in website redesigns and CAS’s social media presence. Most recently, she was “an essential voice” in department and college conversations about AI, serving as part of the ID2ID+AI program.
“Professor Taricani is remembered by her colleagues as a warm and kind presence in the halls of the Sparks Building. She always greeted colleagues with a smile and ‘hello’ when she passed them in the halls,” Wilson said. “Ellen also generated a loyal following from students who saw her as someone they could go to for assistance or advice about their college experience.”
Over the course of her career, Taricani taught undergraduate courses in effective speech and presentations in groups and teams (CAS 100B), small group communication (CAS 250), information technology (CAS 283), nonverbal communication (CAS 470), culture and technology (CAS 383), and other courses related to information technology (CAS 483) and social media (CAS 83). In addition, she taught graduate courses at Penn State and George Mason University.
A former president of the American Communication Association, Taricani’s scholarly pursuits covered a range of topics related to learning and communication integration, from cognitive mapping to learning design to social media applications and influence. Her work was published in numerous journals, including Educational Technology Research and Development, International Journal of Instructional Media, Journal of Educational Computing Research, World Complexity Science Journal, and American Communication Journal.
A committed lifelong learner, Taricani received her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and both her master’s degree and doctorate from Penn State. She also earned master's certificates in geospatial intelligence and homeland security from Penn State.
Outside the classroom, Taricani was passionate about music and travel. She particularly cherished her trips to Italy, where she held dual citizenship and enjoyed exploring her ancestral roots and savoring the culture.
Taricani also was devoted to her faith. She was an active member of Calvery Baptist Church, and was involved in several spiritually focused student clubs and campus organizations at Penn State, including Burning Hearts and Bridges International. As her obituary noted, she believed “in living out her values through action and compassion.”