UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School has appointed seven new graduate faculty members to serve as graduate student ombudspersons, expanding the formerly two-faculty program to eight volunteers.
The Fox Graduate School Ombudsperson Program was founded to foster a safe and confidential environment for Penn State graduate students to discuss issues and concerns. Ombudspersons are available to provide support in all academic-related matters, assisting in conflict resolution, connecting students to support resources, and making referrals to other offices on campus when necessary.
Graduate students are encouraged to reach out to ombudspersons via email as a first point of contact whenever they need guidance, support or even a second, unbiased opinion on an academic situation. The guiding principles all ombudspersons abide by are confidentiality, independence, informality, and neutrality and impartiality. Ombudspersons work to provide a balanced perspective in academic concerns and help students sort through their options.
Douglas Orzolek, associate dean for graduate academic affairs in the Fox Graduate School, decided to expand the program upon starting his role in January, he said, as part of his commitment to improving academic resources for Penn State graduate students.
“By expanding the Ombudsperson Program from two to eight volunteers, we are strengthening our ability to support more graduate students, respond more quickly, and ensure this valuable resource is accessible to the graduate community,” Orzolek said. “This growth reflects both the need for the Ombudsperson Program and our commitment to providing a trusted, confidential avenue for guidance and support.”
Levon T. Esters, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Fox Graduate School, also emphasized the need for an enhanced Ombudsperson Program.
“Through the Ombudsperson Program, we’re providing all graduate students with the opportunity to contact a third-party faculty member who can help navigate potential challenges early in the process,” Esters said. “Expanding the program is a direct reflection of our strategic commitment to facilitating access to the services and resources our graduate students need to thrive in school.”
The graduate faculty member ombudspersons are:
- Patrick Lee Plaisance, Don W. Davis Professor in Ethics, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- Cara Exten, associate professor, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
- Kelly Gallagher, assistant research professor, Nese College of Nursing
- Andy High, professor, College of the Liberal Arts
- Kevin Kinser, professor and senior scientist at the Center for the Study of Higher Education, College of Education
- Anna Peterson, associate professor and director of graduate studies, College of the Liberal Arts
- Dhananjay Singh, teaching professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology
- Pamela Wilcox, professor, College of the Liberal Arts
Visit the Fox Graduate School website for more details on the Ombudsperson Program.