UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Barbara O. Korner and James R. Korner (posthumously) are the recipients of the 2024 Penn State Outreach and Online Education Fischer Award of Distinction for their significant contributions to the University. The award recognizes friends, donors, alumni and volunteers who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary service to advance Penn State Outreach.
Barbara is the former dean of the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture and served on the WPSU Board of Representatives. At Penn State, James served as a special assistant to the senior vice president for Finance and Business, an adjunct instructor in the School of Hospitality Management, and assistant vice president for Penn State Outreach.
Together, Barbara and James documented an estate gift to provide future program support for WPSU and Shaver’s Creek as well as student support in the College of Arts and Architecture and Penn State World Campus.
Barbara accepted the award during a donor appreciation event on Friday.
“During our 42 years of marriage and working together in higher education, Jim and I always shared ideas for how people could work across institutional boundaries,” Barbara said. “In my work as a dean, Penn State Outreach became a valued partner, and it was an honor to serve on the WPSU board. I am ever grateful for the way that WPSU highlighted the work of our performing arts programs.”
Barbara, who was married to James until his passing in 2021, continued to share more about her late husband, including his humor and his dedication to the institution.
“I also want to recognize that there are twinges of bittersweetness in this honor — certainly that Jim is not here by my side, though I’m sure he’s coaching from above. I wish I could channel some of his humor and wit in this moment,” Barbara said.
The Penn State Outreach Fischer Award of Distinction is sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Outreach. It is named in honor of the Fischer family: Floyd, Naomi and Rich. Rich Fischer was the recipient of the first Award of Distinction in 2008, which was then renamed the Fischer Award of Distinction.