UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — After 26 years of service to the Penn State community, Suzanne Adair, associate vice president for Equal Opportunity and Access, will transition to a three-year phased retirement beginning Jan. 1, 2027. During this period, Adair will continue to serve in a leadership role within the University as special adviser to Vice President and General Counsel Tabitha Oman through Jan. 1, 2030.
Adair, who has served in her current role since 2017, oversees Penn State’s adherence to local, state and federal nondiscrimination laws and University policies related to equal employment opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action, which includes overseeing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance as well as investigations of discrimination and harassment complaints involving Penn State employees.
In her role as special adviser, Adair will retain a number of her current responsibilities and will be actively engaged with University leadership and unit executives on civil rights and equal opportunity matters. She will continue to work closely with the Office of General Counsel to assist with updates and revisions to discrimination, harassment and employee conduct policies, as well as with Human Resources and other relevant offices to support efforts that ensure Penn State is a welcoming community for all.
Penn State is currently undertaking a reorganization of its compliance and investigative functions and a revised structure will be implemented in January 2027, coinciding with Adair’s transition to her special adviser role.
“It has been a privilege to serve the Penn State community for the past 26 years,” Adair said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside so many dedicated colleagues in support of a University community where every individual is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. I look forward to continuing to contribute during this period of transition and ensuring a smooth implementation of the University’s new compliance and investigative structure.”
During her time at Penn State, Adair has worked to address the needs of faculty, staff, students and postdoctoral scholars in a variety of roles. As associate vice president for Equal Opportunity and Access, Adair increased the number of investigative and ADA staff within the office, refined the office’s policies and procedures, and created the University’s first American Sign Language interpreter position. She also has successfully led Penn State through multiple federal agency reviews, which provided the University with the opportunity to assess various EEO policies and practices, and determine appropriate steps to facilitate organizational or process changes as needed.
“In her various roles at Penn State, Suzanne has been and continues to be a highly respected, often-sought-out consultant for unit executives and others across the University regarding the most complex policy and personnel matters,” Oman said. “We are deeply grateful for her dedicated leadership and service to the University, as well as her extensive knowledge and experience. I am pleased that she has agreed to stay on during this period of transition as we undertake the reorganization with her continued support and guidance.”
Adair joined Penn State in 2000, serving as the then-named Affirmative Action Office’s professional development coordinator and diversity educator for University employees across all campuses. She joined the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School in 2008 as senior director of the Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs, where she oversaw efforts to increase the diversity of the graduate student community and support their academic and career success. Adair later became associate dean for graduate student affairs and director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. In these roles, she was responsible for managing a multitude of academic, personal and professional issues involving graduate students and postdocs, and overseeing all programming for graduate students and postdocs, including enrichment and professional development activities. She also is a dedicated Penn State alumna, earning her doctorate in educational theory and policy from Penn State.