UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Dana Griffin, a nationally recognized scholar, educator and advocate for equity in education, has joined the Penn State College of Education as the new head of the Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education (EPCSE), effective July 1.
“A dedicated leader, scholar, and mentor, Dr. Griffin is committed to advancing equity in education and supporting the professional growth of students, faculty, and staff,” said Dean Kimberly A. Lawless. “We are excited to welcome her vision and leadership to our college.”
Griffin comes to Penn State from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), where she served on the faculty for nearly two decades and held multiple leadership roles. A trained counselor educator, her research focuses on school-family-community partnerships, racial identity development and mental health interventions for underserved youth.
“I’m really excited to join such a warm and welcoming community,” Griffin said. “From the moment I stepped on campus for my interview, I felt a sense of belonging. I’m looking forward to supporting the faculty, staff and students in ways that help them feel seen, valued and connected.”
Griffin, who grew up in rural Virginia and was a first-generation college student, brings a deep commitment to access and inclusion. Her recent work includes research on trauma-informed and culturally responsive suicide prevention efforts for Black boys and LGBTQ+ youth, as well as using poetry to support racial identity in Black girls.
As an interdisciplinary researcher and administrator, Griffin said she plans to strengthen collaboration across EPCSE’s programs and build inclusive practices into every aspect of the department’s culture.
“One of my goals is to ensure we’re fostering authentic multicultural competence — not just in coursework, but in how we listen, mentor and engage each other,” she said. “I’m not coming in as a top-down leader. I see myself as a support person — someone who wants to understand the needs of our community and advocate for them.”
While Griffin won’t be teaching in the counselor education program directly, she said she is eager to bring her research to Penn State and continue expanding community-engaged, evidence-based mental health interventions in rural areas like Centre County.
“There are young people here, just like in North Carolina, who may be overlooked or funneled into disciplinary systems instead of receiving the mental health support they need,” she said.
Mentorship is also a top priority for Griffin, especially for first-generation students and students from underrepresented groups. At UNC, she hosted weekly listening sessions and maintained close ties with mentees long after graduation — one former student is even driving up from Georgia to attend her farewell dinner.
“Sometimes students just need someone who will listen without judgment,” she said. “I want students here to know they have people who care about them — not just academically, but personally.”
Outside of her professional work, Griffin is an avid sports fan and looks forward to taking in Penn State athletic events — though weekends this fall may find her on the road supporting her son, a first-year college football player. While her husband will remain in North Carolina for a few more years to complete his teaching service, Griffin is embracing the transition and already settling into her new home in State College.
“It’s going to be a big change, but I’m used to that,” she said. “Every move I’ve made has brought something new — and I’m thrilled that this next chapter is at Penn State.”