Former Schreyer Honors College associate dean officially becomes a Nittany Lion

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Former Schreyer Honors College associate dean for student affairs Michele “Mitch” Kirsch dedicated her Penn State career to supporting students, creating opportunities for connection, and engaging with the local community. She was recently recognized by the Penn State Alumni Association with the Honorary Alumni Award to commemorate her enduring impact at Penn State.

The driving force behind Kirsch’s collegiate career was the ability to connect with students and provide them with the resources needed for success, she said.

“I just had a passion for working with students,” stated Kirsch. “That was the reward of the job, just getting to know people and getting to know their families, and helping them achieve their goals and deal with obstacles along the way.”

Kirsch arrived at Penn State in 1996 after her husband, Rod Kirsch, who also recieved an Honorary Alumni award, was appointed Penn State’s vice president for development and alumni relations. She began as the assistant director of Penn State admissions and worked her way to become the director of MBA admissions for the Smeal College of Business. Finally, Kirsch arrived at the Schreyer Honors College in 2005, where she served as the college’s associate dean for student affairs until her retirement in 2019.

As a result of her dedication, impact and legacy at Penn State and the Schreyer Honors College, Kirsch was awarded the Honorary Alumni Award. This award was established by the Alumni Association in 1973 and is granted to those whose work has “made significant contributions toward the University’s welfare, reputation, or prestige.”

Kirsch said she is grateful to join the alumni community she has worked closely with throughout her time at Penn State. Most importantly, she is thrilled to call herself an alumnus alongside her two daughters, Kelsey and Mackenzie, who both graduated from Penn State.

“I've been involved in these awards on the other side, and I am honored and humbled. I have such great respect for the university and all that it's done for so many people,” Kirsch explained. “To be recognized as an honorary alumnus is just the ultimate reward. I'm very grateful to officially become a part of the Penn State alumni network.”

Kirsch’s journey in academia began at Westminster College, where she earned her bachelor's degree in history. She went on to receive her master’s degree from Indiana University and her doctor of education degree from Drake University. Following this, Kirsch reentered academia from an administrative side, working in the financial aid and admissions departments of colleges across the country. Her final role in academia was serving as the associate dean for student affairs at the Penn State Schreyer Honors College.

In her role at Schreyer, Kirsch helped create programs that continue to shape the academic and professional careers of Scholars today. She was pivotal in bolstering the college’s resources and involvement opportunities, from establishing Schreyer’s SHO Time Orientation program, creating the Schreyer Scholar Involvement Award, to co-leading the former Schreyer Parents Council.

Kirsch also helped organize two ongoing alumni networking programs: Connect Networking and Career Day and the Mentoring with Honors program. These foundational projects, which are still running today, embody Kirsch’s passion for building connections between students and alumni.

“Scholars’ success at Penn State is shaped by the relationships they develop,” Kirsch said. “It's so gratifying when you see those connections, and you see them thrive. It's really about paying it forward and wanting to connect with new people. That's a strong philosophy that I had, and I think the honors college always had as well.”

Throughout each program or initiative that Kirsch led, she said, she has always placed students at the center of her work.

For example, Kirsch expanded the financial resources available to Scholars by establishing the Emergency Scholarship Fund, the Parents and Family Fund, and the Kirsch/Stipanovich Trustee Matching Scholarship. The honors college even renamed its Mental Health Fund in Kirsch’s honor, titling it the Dr. Michele “Mitch” Kirsch Fund in Support of Health and Wellness Initiatives.

In addition to her financial contributions, Kirsch worked directly to support Scholars facing personal challenges and obstacles during their time at Penn State.

“Some of the best memories I have are working with students through some difficult moments, whether it be mental health issues, concerns about academics, or just personal issues. There's often a misnomer that because students are in the honors college, they don't have any challenges in their lives,” Kirsch said. “One of the things we were committed to doing was helping students navigate their way through Penn State and find those resources.”

Neha Gupta, a class of 2018 Schreyer alum, highlighted the lasting impact that Kirsch had on her Penn State experience. She recalled Kirsch’s talent for uplifting others and her ability to provide sincere, authentic support during challenging times.

“Dr. Kirsch was one of the most important people during my time in the honors college. I faced significant medical challenges, and Dr. Kirsch was there throughout. She never wavered in her support — she reminded me of my strength on days when I struggled to see it myself and helped me stay grounded in what mattered most,” Gupta said. “She also played a huge role in my growth as a leader. What makes her truly special is her ability to see potential in her students, sometimes before they fully see it themselves.”

The honors college mission was more than a statement to Kirsch, but rather a guideline to be followed, she said. Leadership and civic engagement were two pillars that Kirsch has implemented throughout her personal life and embodied within her volunteer work outside of Penn State.

After winning her battle with breast cancer, Kirsch said, she got involved with the breast cancer awareness organization, Pennsylvania (PA) Pink Zone. She rose the leadership ladder and eventually became the organization’s board president.

This role allowed Kirsch to coordinate various fundraising opportunities, maintain strong relationships with Penn State athletics, and model Schreyer's core values through a cause personal to her.

“Community engagement is one of the pillars of the honors college. But we can't just talk about it; we need to model it. So, I tried to do that when I was at Schreyer. I'm a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed when I was in the honors college, and received so much support from across the university,” Kirsch said. “Many of us have been blessed with so much, and we need to help others as well.”

Since her retirement from Penn State in 2019, Kirsch continues to personify the honors college mission. She now spends her days serving her community, connecting with family and friends, and expanding her global perspective in unique corners of the world.