UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) highlighted the University's commitment to safety excellence, thought leadership and innovation in higher education at the recent Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA) Annual Conference, held in Tampa, Florida. 

At the conference, Penn State EHS won the CSHEMA Award for “Marketing Single Media Award for a Large School” for its innovative Lab Safety Attire and Fumehood micro-learning videos. This achievement recognizes the outstanding work of Brandi Baros, EHS safety coordinator, in collaboration with the EHS team and Penn State Shenango faculty and staff. The videos, produced as part of the EHS team’s overall Lab Safety Week initiative, communicate critical safety information in an engaging and accessible format. 

In addition, Penn State EHS team members presented a technical session titled “Strategic Modernization of our Research Safety Program.” The presentation, led by Diann Stedman, EHS research safety manager; Paige Laratonda, EHS coordinator; and Jim Crandall, senior director for EHS, showcased Penn State’s commitment to a comprehensive approach to research safety. The session highlighted three key areas of focus: the broader Penn State EHS strategic modernization plan, strategic adaptation of research safety programs and early career development in project management associated with the LionSafe Risk Assessment project currently under development. 

Laratonda was also invited to participate in a panel discussion on leadership, representing the perspective of early career EHS professionals. Her insights showcased the depth of talent within the Penn State EHS team. 

“We are incredibly proud of our team’s accomplishments at the CSHEMA Annual Conference,” Crandall said. “These achievements reflect our dedication to creating a safe and healthy campus environment and our commitment to sharing best practices with the broader campus safety community.” 

At the conference, Crandall was installed as the new president of CSHEMA, after serving as president-elect the last year. Crandall’s leadership will focus on advancing member advocacy, strategic association growth, and operational excellence.  

“I am honored to serve as CSHEMA president,” Crandall said. “This role provides an opportunity to elevate the importance of campus safety and to support our members in achieving their goals.”