UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Center for Faculty Development and Advancement (CFDA) has launched a new professional development series, "SPARK: Supporting Program Advisors through Reflective Knowledge Sharing," designed to support Penn State faculty serving in academic leadership roles. This new initiative provides specific, practical guidance for those who oversee degree programs and academic initiatives across the University.
The SPARK program is tailored for program chairs, graduate program chairs, program directors, professors in charge and others within the Penn State community who carry responsibilities in academic leadership. Through monthly sessions facilitated by experienced faculty leaders and university administrators, SPARK aims to create an informal, peer-supported space where academic leaders can engage in meaningful dialogue, share insights and explore real-world strategies on critical topics.
“The faculty who lead our academic programs play a pivotal role in student success, curriculum oversight and strategic planning,” said Ann Clements, associate vice provost for Faculty Affairs and CFDA director. “SPARK is designed to meet their unique professional development needs and connect them with the university-wide expertise, tools and networks that can help them thrive.”
Each session will focus on a timely topic, such as onboarding faculty and graduate students, managing student concerns, course scheduling, unit-level strategic planning and much more, offering space for open Q&A, peer dialogue and facilitated sharing.
Fall 2025 SPARK sessions include:
- 10 to 11 a.m. Sept. 23 — “The Roles of Program Chair and Graduate Program Head and Onboarding of Faculty, Post Doc, and Graduate Students.” This session is led by Michael Verderame, senior associate dean, J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School; Jennifer McCall-Hosenfeld, associate dean for faculty development, Penn State College of Medicine; Ann Clements, associate vice provost for Faculty Affairs, Penn State.
- 1 to 2 p.m. Oct. 23 — “Managing Challenges: Addressing Student Concerns.” This session will be led by John Coupland, undergraduate program coordinator, Department of Food Science; Todd Migliaccio, vice chancellor and chief academic officer, Penn State Berks.
- 3 to 4 p.m. Nov. 13 — “Balancing the Schedule: Strategies for Course Scheduling and Enrollment.” This session will be led by Yvette Richardson, senior associate dean for Undergraduate Education, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences; Greg Filbeck, vice chancellor and associate dean for Academic Affairs and Samuel P. Black III Chair in Finance and Risk Management, Penn State Behrend
- 2 to 3 p.m. Dec. 2, “Charting the Course: Strategic Planning for Disciplinary Units.” Session led by Alan Rieck, associate vice provost and associate dean for Undergraduate Education.
For more information and the Zoom link for all sessions, visit the SPARK page at cfda.psu.edu.
All sessions will be listed on the CFDA professional development calendar and are open to Penn State academic leaders from across all campuses.
The Center for Faculty Development and Advancement is part of Penn State Faculty Affairs.