Penn State announces tenure-line faculty promotions, effective July 1, 2025

Old Main columns — Credit: Curtis Chan / Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The following is a list of academic promotions for tenured and tenure-line faculty members at Penn State, effective July 1, 2025.

A list of non-tenure-line faculty promotions, effective July 1, 2025, is available here.

The following individuals have been promoted to professor:

Jessamyn R. Abel, professor of Asian studies and history, Department of Asian Studies and History, College of the Liberal Arts
Eileen M. Ahlin, professor of criminal justice, School of Public Affairs, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
Nasim Alem, professor of materials science and engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Emily B. Ansell, professor of biobehavioral health, Department of Biobehavioral Health, College of Health and Human Development
Corina Antohi Graif, professor of sociology and criminology, Department of Sociology and Criminology, College of the Liberal Arts
Necdet S. Aybat, professor of industrial engineering, Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, College of Engineering
Young Han Bae, professor of marketing, University College
Jason A. Bennett, professor of chemistry, School of Science, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Jacob L. Bourjaily, professor of physics, Department of Physics, Eberly College of Science
Tobias H. A. Brinkmann, professor of history and Jewish studies, Department of History and Jewish Studies, College of the Liberal Arts
Qiang Bu, professor of finance, School of Business Administration, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
Nilanjan Ray Chaudhuri, professor of electrical engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering
Anthony J. Costa, professor of pedagogy and performance, School of Music, College of Arts and Architecture
Curtis Craig, professor of theatre, School of Theatre, College of Arts and Architecture
Chad D. Dechow, professor of dairy genetics, Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
Michael D. Dennis, professor of cellular and molecular physiology and ophthalmology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, and Ophthalmology, Penn State College of Medicine
Justin Diangelo, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Department of Science, Penn State Berks
Nergis Erturk Lennon, professor of comparative literature, Department of Comparative Literature, College of the Liberal Arts
Mark Ferraguto, professor of music, School of Music, College of Arts and Architecture
Christopher Fowler, professor of geography, Department of Geography, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Esther W. Gomez, professor of chemical engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering
Christopher A. Gorski, professor of civil and environmental engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
Steven J. Greybush, professor of meteorology, Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Xenia Hadjioannou, professor of language and literacy education, Department of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Penn State Berks
Ephraim M. Hanks, professor of statistics, Department of Statistics, Eberly College of Science
Wenrui Hao, professor of mathematics, Department of Mathematics, Eberly College of Science
Hanafiah Harvey, professor of business administration, University College
Yusuke Hayashi, professor of psychology, University College
Ting He, professor of computer science and engineering, Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering
Heather M. Hines, professor of biology, Department of Biology, Eberly College of Science
Jennifer L. Hirt, professor of creative writing and composition, Department of School of Humanities, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
Xiaogang Hu, professor of mechanical engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
Donald Hummer, professor of criminal justice, School of Public Affairs, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
Wenke Hwang, professor of public health sciences, Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine
Mahsa Kazempour, professor of science education, Department of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Penn State Berks
Mehdi Kiani, professor of electrical engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering
Yongsoo Kim, professor of neural and behavioral sciences, Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine
Hojong Kim, professor of materials science and engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Agnes Kim, professor of physics, University College
ChanMin Kim, professor of education, Department of Learning and Performance Systems, College of Education
Charles D. Kupfer, professor of American studies and history, School of Humanities, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
Lara LaDage, professor of biology, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Penn State Altoona
Kuei-Nuan Lin, professor of mathematics, University College
Beth A. Lindsey, professor of physics, University College
Xiaofeng Liu, professor of civil engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
Cyanne E. Loyle, professor of political science, Department of Political Science, College of the Liberal Arts
Benjamin McGraw, professor of plant science, Department of Plant Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
Roseanne McManus, professor of political science, Department of Political Science, College of the Liberal Arts
Alfonso Mejia, professor of civil and environmental engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
Timothy C. Meredith, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Eberly College of Science
Timothy Miyashiro, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Eberly College of Science
Liliana M. Naydan, professor of English, Division of Arts and Humanities, Penn State Abington
Prashant Nighot, professor of medicine and cellular and molecular physiology, Department of Medicine, and Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Penn State College of Medicine
Zita Oravecz, professor of human development and family studies, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Health and Human Development
Mark F. Owens, professor of economics, Black School of Business, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Iryna Pinchuk, professor of medicine and cellular and molecular physiology, Department of Medicine, and Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Penn State College of Medicine
Milagros Ponce de Leon, professor of theatre, School of Theatre, College of Arts and Architecture
Joseph P. Previte, professor of mathematics, School of Science, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Elizabeth A. Prosek, professor of education, Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education, College of Education
Nicholas L. Pyeatt, professor of political science, Department of Arts and Humanities, Penn State Altoona
Evelyn M. Ramsey, professor of communication arts & sciences and women's gender, and sexuality studies, Department of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Penn State Berks
Joseph A. Ranalli, professor of engineering, University College
Beatriz Rivera-Barnes, professor of Spanish, University College
Cristina Rosa, professor of plant virology, Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, College of Agricultural Sciences
Michael Rutter, professor of statistics, School of Science, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Kathryn S. Scherf, professor of psychology, Department of Psychology, College of the Liberal Arts
Hans Schmidt, professor of communications, University College
Mary K. Shenk, professor of anthropology, Department of Anthropology, College of the Liberal Arts
Richard H. St Clair, professor of theatre, School of Theatre, College of Arts and Architecture
Asif Ud-Doula, professor of physics, University College
John Wang, professor of petroleum and natural gas engineering, Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Jialiang Wang, professor of architectural engineering, Department of Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering
Daudi R. Waryoba, professor of engineering, University College
Sarah J. Williams, professor of law, Department of Faculty, Penn State Dickinson Law
Ran Zwigenberg, professor of Asian studies, Jewish studies, and history, Department of Asian Studies, Jewish Studies, and History, College of the Liberal Arts

The following individuals have been promoted to librarian:

Amy L. Deuink, librarian, Head Librarian for Beaver and Shenango, University Libraries
Nathan B. Piekielek, librarian, Donald W Hamer Center for Maps and Geospatial Information, University Libraries
Robyn Reed, librarian, Harrell Health Sciences Library Research and Learning Commons, University Libraries
Betsaida Reyes, librarian, Humanities and Social Sciences, University Libraries

The following individuals have been promoted to associate professor:

Kyeiwaa Asare-Yeboah, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, School of Engineering, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Dara E. Babinski, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Penn State College of Medicine
Joshua Barnett, associate professor of communication arts & sciences, Department of Communication Arts and Sciences, College of the Liberal Arts
Amrita Basak, associate professor of mechanical engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
Benjamin Bayly, associate professor of family studies, child, and youth development, Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education, College of Agricultural Sciences
Lynne Beaty, associate professor of biology, School of Science, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Siddharth H. Bhatt, associate professor of marketing, School of Business Administration, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
Jennifer L. Breese, associate professor of information sciences and technology, University College
Nathan Brown, associate professor of architectural engineering, Department of Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering
Margaret L. Byron, associate professor of mechanical engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
Ying Cao, associate professor of project and supply chain management, Black School of Business, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Qiushi Chen, associate professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering, Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, College of Engineering
Nicole Crowley, associate professor of biology, Department of Biology, Eberly College of Science
Luiz A. De Viveiros Souza Filho, associate professor of physics, Department of Physics, Eberly College of Science
Danielle J. DelPriore, associate professor of psychology, Department of Education, Human Development, Social Sciences, Penn State Altoona
Francisco Dini Andreote, associate professor of plant science, Department of Plant Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
Cara L. Exten, associate professor of nursing, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
Jingting Fan, associate professor of economics, Department of Economics, College of the Liberal Arts
Travis L. Flohr, associate professor of landscape architecture, Department of Landscape Architecture, College of Arts and Architecture
Stephen Foster, associate professor of school psychology, University College
Erika Ganda, associate professor of animal science, Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
Nicholas M. Graziane, associate professor of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine and pharmacology, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, and Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine
Eric Greenwood, associate professor of aerospace engineering, Department of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering
Benay Gursoy Toykoc, associate professor of architecture, Department of Architecture, College of Arts and Architecture
Jonathan G. Hakun, associate professor of neurology, psychology, and public health sciences, Department of Neurology, Public Health Sciences, and Psychology, Penn State College of Medicine
Mark Hedglin, associate professor of chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Eberly College of Science
Margaret C. Hoffman, associate professor of plant science, Department of Plant Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
Kevin J. Hsu, associate professor of psychology, Division of Social Sciences, Business, and Education, Penn State Abington
Xianbiao Hu, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
Ziyun Huang, associate professor of computer science and software engineering, School of Engineering, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Lucille J. Johnston-Walsh, associate professor of law, Penn State Dickinson Law
Athanasios Karamalidis, associate professor of environmental systems engineering, Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Ovgu Kaynak, associate professor of psychology, Department of School of Behavioral Sciences and Education, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
David A. Kennedy, associate professor of biology, Department of Biology, Eberly College of Science
Kyle R. King, associate professor of English, Department of Arts and Humanities, Penn State Altoona
Janine L. Kwapis, associate professor of biology, Department of Biology, Eberly College of Science
Jennifer Lang, associate professor of theatre, School of Theatre, College of Arts and Architecture
Eshani G. Lee, associate professor of chemistry, University College
Seung Won Lee, associate professor of accounting, School of Business Administration, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
Joel Leja, associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Eberly College of Science
Fenglong Ma, associate professor of information sciences and technology, College of Information Sciences and Technology
Stephen P. Mainzer, associate professor of landscape architecture, Department of Landscape Architecture, College of Arts and Architecture
Lauren McPhillips, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin, associate professor of music, School of Music, College of Arts and Architecture
Jean-Michel Mongeau, associate professor of mechanical engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
Sarah Nilson, associate professor of biology, University College
Jennifer E. Nyland, associate professor of neural and behavioral sciences, Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine
Wilson K. Okello, associate professor of education, Department of Education Policy Studies, College of Education
Anne J. Olmstead, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Health and Human Development
Jeremy Olson, associate professor of criminal justice, University College
Amber M. O'Shea, associate professor of education, Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education, College of Education
Joshua M. Parcha, associate professor of corporate communication, University College
Anirban Paul, associate professor of neural and behavioral sciences, Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine
Sarah D. Princiotta, associate professor of biology, University College
Sarah M. Rajtmajer, associate professor of information sciences and technology, College of Information Sciences and Technology
Jesse R. Reimink, associate professor of geosciences, Department of Geosciences, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Jacques Rivière, associate professor of engineering science and mechanics, Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, College of Engineering
Diane L. Rosenbaum, associate professor of clinical psychology, Division of Social Sciences, Business, and Education, Penn State Abington
Emily Rosenman, associate professor of geography, Department of Geography, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Dorothea Roumpi, associate professor of human resource management, Department of Labor and Employee Relations, College of the Liberal Arts
Ruairidh J. H. Sawers, associate professor of plant science, Department of Plant Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
Claudia Schmidt, associate professor of agricultural economics, Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education, College of Agricultural Sciences
Alejandro Serrano, associate professor of finance, Division of Social Sciences, Business, and Education, Penn State Abington
Bradley Setzler, associate professor of economics, Department of Economics, College of the Liberal Arts
Vishal Singh, associate professor of nutritional physiology and microbiome, Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Health and Human Development
Justyna Skomra, associate professor of accounting, Black School of Business, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Christofer J. Skurka, associate professor of media studies, Department of Media Studies, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
Emily R. Strohacker, associate professor of criminal justice, School of Public Affairs, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
Matthew T. Swulius, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine
Hyung Suk Tak, associate professor of statistics, Department of Statistics, Eberly College of Science
Everton Tavares Guimaraes, associate professor of software engineering, Department of Engineering, Penn State Great Valley
David P. L. Toews, associate professor of biology, Department of Biology, Eberly College of Science
Jeffrey A. Tolbert, associate professor of American studies and folklore, School of Humanities, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
Luke D. Trusel, associate professor of geography, Department of Geography, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Nikolaos Tsotakos, associate professor of biology, School of Science, Engineering, and Technology, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
Kimberly J. Van Meter, associate professor of geography, Department of Geography, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Mihail Velikov, associate professor of finance, Department of Finance, Smeal College of Business
Vonn Walter, associate professor of public health sciences and biochemistry and molecular biology, Department of Public Health Sciences, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine
Meng Wang, associate professor of environmental systems engineering, Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Josephine Wee, associate professor of food science, Department of Food Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
Richard L. Wentling, associate professor of administration of justice, University College
Christopher R. Whipple, associate professor of psychology, School of Behavioral Sciences and Education, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
Manzhu Yu, associate professor of geography, Department of Geography, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Heyao Yu, associate professor of hospitality management, School of Hospitality Management, College of Health and Human Development
Mary Zaborskis, associate professor of American studies and gender studies, School of Humanities, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
Huilan Zhang, associate professor of accounting, Department of Business, Engineering, and Information Sciences and Technology, Penn State Altoona
Teng Zhang, associate professor of management, School of Business Administration, Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
Fang Zhu, associate professor of entomology, Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural Sciences

The following individuals have been promoted to associate librarian:

Daniel M. Coughlin, associate librarian, Libraries Strategic Technologies, University Libraries
Benjamin D. Hoover, associate librarian, Harrell Health Sciences Library Research and Learning Commons, University Libraries
Brendan L. Johnson, associate librarian, Abington Campus Library, University Libraries
Paul J. McMonigle, associate librarian, Engineering Library, University Libraries
Elizabeth Nelson, associate librarian, Lehigh Valley Campus Library, University Libraries
Emily Reed, associate librarian, Madlyn L. Hanes Library, Penn State Harrisburg, University Libraries
Teresa Slobuski, associate librarian, Brandywine Campus Library, University Libraries
Briana E. Wham, associate librarian, Research Informatics and Publishing, University Libraries
Bryan J. McGeary, associate librarian, Library Learning Services, University Libraries

Agricultural Extension promotions

The following individuals have been promoted to intermediate professional educator:

Meagan Hopkins-Doerr, Field Operations, Penn State Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences
Jen McKinley, Field Operations, Penn State Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences
Jessica Schweiger, Horticulture, Penn State Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences

The following individuals have been promoted to advanced professional educator:

Ruth Benner, Horticulture, Penn State Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences
Kathryn Brooks, Agronomy Natural Resources, Penn State Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences

The following individual has been promoted to senior professional educator:

Scott Weikert, Agronomy Natural Resources, Penn State Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences

The following individuals have been promoted to principal educator:

Richard Kralj, Food Safety Quality, Penn State Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences
Delbert Voight, Agronomy Natural Resources, Penn State Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences

Last Updated June 2, 2025