Fox Graduate School Senior Associate Dean Michael Verderame to retire from post

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – After 36 years at Penn State, Michael Verderame — who serves as the senior associate dean of Penn State’s J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School — has announced his transition to a phased retirement from the University, effective as of Sept. 1. 

Verderame's 36-year career, marked primarily by a vigorous passion for education and prioritizing the needs of the Penn State graduate student body, was shaped by a question he was asked by a high-school senior in the early 1980s.   

It wasn’t the question itself that stuck with Verderame all these years but the way his answer made the class react.  

While Verderame was pursuing his doctoral degree in biological sciences at Columbia University, which he earned in 1984, he taught a weekly session as part of a program designed for distinguished high school seniors to learn higher-level science at Columbia University.

“A student asked me a difficult question, to which I responded, ‘I don’t know and neither does anyone else. That’s why we need research,’” Verderame said. “The look in the students’ eyes after that let me know in that moment: I want to teach!”

Verderame cited this interaction as the moment he realized he would pursue a career in education.

Teaching and researching

Upon completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, Verderame accepted his first position at Penn State in 1989 as an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology within the College of Medicine.

Entering the University, his background was in basic cell and molecular biology, though he quickly began performing research on specific types of cancer with College of Medicine clinical faculty.

“My expertise in molecular and cell biology was a complement to the kind of work other College of Medicine faculty were doing,” he said.

Researching specific medical issues initially felt somewhat out of his wheelhouse, according to Verderame.

“It was certainly a transition, because that’s not the way I was originally trained,” Verderame said. “But, it was fascinating getting to dive deeper into these specific issues, and I was really proud of how I was able to help advance their meaningful research. I’d like to think we made some good contributions.” Verderame said. 

Throughout all the high-impact research Verderame was involved with, he said, he never lost his passion for teaching, and engaging with graduate and medical students in the classroom.

“I was very deliberately at a university,” he said. “I never had the desire to work in industry, because education has always been my top priority.”

Verderame became an assistant professor in the College of Medicine’s Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism  in 1996. He was promoted to associate professor in 2000 and to professor in 2008.

His zeal for education didn’t go unnoticed. He was named in 2007 the recipient of the College of Medicine’s Distinguished Educator Award, which recognizes faculty who have demonstrated excellence in teaching and have made significant contributions to medical and graduate education.

Serving graduate students in administration

Verderame admitted his path to working in University administration was not typical. Prior to becoming associate dean for graduate studies in the College of Medicine in 2004, he hadn’t held an academic administrative role.

“I didn’t see myself building the bridge into academic administration; however, when I was asked if I would be interested in the associate dean position, I recognized it fit my interests well and ended up receiving an offer.”  Verderame said. “I was thrilled. This was the perfect position for me — I could be fully immersed in education and make decisions to positively impact students.”  

As part of his 11-year tenure as associate dean for graduate studies, he played a role in encouraging and empowering graduate students to establish an oath similar to the Hippocratic Oath taken by medical students. The oath is performed at the Graduate Student Oath Ceremony to this day when welcoming incoming students, then once again at commencement as the students launch their careers.

“I really didn’t do much work at all,” Verderame said. “All I did was encourage the students to do it, and they came up with something terrific. I’m beyond proud of the extraordinary work they did.”

As associate dean for graduate studies, he also served as a committee member then chair of the Association of American Medical College’s Graduate Research Education and Training (GREAT) Group — a national forum of faculty and academic administrators engaged in graduate education at medical schools to exchange information and ideas, as well as provide professional development assistance. Working with colleagues from the GREAT Group, he implemented a Team-Based Learning approach at Penn State to improve students’ ethical decision-making abilities.

“We were able to eliminate negative effects of the prior approach and improve students’ overall ethical decision making,” Verderame said. “Thanks to this work, we’re able to send off these students better skilled than when they entered in this crucial area.”

Verderame began in his current role as senior associate dean for the Fox Graduate School in 2015.

As senior associate dean, Verderame has served on several committees to address issues impacting graduate students. Specifically, his role assisting the Graduate Council has been instrumental in shaping and enhancing the graduate student experience.

“In all the work I do supporting the Graduate Council on academic policies and other activities, I always think first about the student,” he said.

Prioritizing graduate student needs led Verderame into a field of research he never thought he’d contribute to. 

Expanding upon previous research he performed with a group of fellow academic administrators, Verderame currently is working with Peggy Van Meter, professor of education, to validate his previous findings and establish more well-defined criteria that students must fulfill to obtain a doctoral degree. He cited this project as one of the most valuable contributions he’s made to graduate education. Verderame’s and Van Meter’s findings have been submitted for publication and are currently under review.

“I’d like to think all the work I’ve done has been to better support the students and their work, and give them the best possible educational experience,” Verderame said. “That’s certainly been my goal, and I’m proud to say that I think we’ve accomplished some of it.”

Impact and legacy left at Penn State

Verderame said he owes much credit to the exceptional peers and students he’s had the privilege of working alongside.  

“I didn’t accomplish any of this alone,” he said. "Throughout my whole career at Penn State, I’ve worked with phenomenal students and colleagues who made my time what it was.”

Some of Verderame’s closest colleagues echoed his enthusiasm for both education and the graduate student body.   

“Michael truly embodies what it means to be a Penn Stater. His insight, deep knowledge, and unwavering dedication have left a lasting impact on countless graduate students, faculty and members of our broader community,” said Levon T. Esters, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Fox Graduate School. “While we’re certainly sad to lose the privilege of working alongside him, he has more than earned this retirement, and we’re excited for all that lies ahead in this next chapter of his life.”

“It was a true honor to work with Dr. Verderame," Regina Younken-Vasilatos, vice provost and dean emerita of graduate education at Penn State. "He embodies the true meaning of a graduate student-centered leader and passionate educator. He will leave behind a legacy not only of those individual students whose lives were positively impacted, but a plethora of graduate education-focused assets at Penn State, as well. Graduate education at Penn State is truly the better from Verderame’s dedicated service.” 

Aside from the monumental impact Verderame is leaving as a Penn State employee, he’s the proud father of three Penn State graduates; Rebecca, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology; Christopher, who earned a bachelor’s degree in electro-mechanical engineering; and Thomas, who received a WorkLink Strategies and Employability undergraduate certificate.

Verderame said he considers himself fortunate to be able to reflect on such a fulfilling career.  

“It’s an old cliché: Do something you love, follow your passion and you’ll never work a day in your life,” he said. “I really feel like I lived that as an educator.” 

Looking forward to retirement

Verderame currently is working a reduced schedule before fully retiring on Aug. 31, 2026.

Despite feeling mixed emotions about capping off his time at the University, Verderame said he is excited for the future. He intends to devote more time to hobbies he’s picked up over the years — photography and woodworking.

Most of all, Verderame said, he can’t wait to travel with his wife of 42 years, Phyllis.

“My daughter has been asking me when I’d retire for several years,” he said. “I just never saw the need in rushing it. I loved what I did, worked with great people and was able to have a meaningful impact.”