Behrend faculty members earn promotions in academic rank

Twenty-six Penn State Behrend faculty members have been promoted and will begin the fall semester with a new academic rank. The promotions reflect their success in the classroom and in the advising and research aspects of their work at the college.

“Our strength as a college of Penn State begins with the expertise of our faculty,” Chancellor Ralph Ford said. “Their commitment to teaching, to advising, and to continuing scholarly activity in their individual fields of study, is at the heart of everything we do here.”

The following individuals have been promoted to professor:

William Johnson is now professor of management. He teaches in the Masters of Project Management and undergraduate business programs. His research is focused on innovation, strategy and international management. He also has consulted for pharmaceutical companies, and for the National Research Council in Canada.

Blair Tuttle is now professor of physics. He teaches introductory physics courses, upper-level theoretical physics courses and seminars on nanoscience and technology. His research, which focuses on the microscopic theory of materials used in electronics, has included collaborations with Sandia National Labs, Micon Inc. and Vanderbilt University.

The following individuals have been promoted to associate professor and granted tenure:

• Wilson Brown is now associate professor of clinical psychology.
• Lisa Ciecierski is now associate professor of language and literacy education.
• Jeffrey Coy is now associate professor of finance.
• Byung-Cheol "BC" Kim is now associate professor of project and supply chain management.
• Babajide Osatuyi is now associate professor of management information systems.
• Xianghui "Richard" Peng is now associate professor of project and supply chain management.
• Ashley Sullivan is now associate professor of early childhood education.
• Massimo Verzella is now associate professor of English composition.
• Hyunsoon "Sean" Yim is now associate professor of marketing.

The following individuals have been promoted to teaching professor:

• David Clippinger is now teaching professor of engineering.
• Sharon Gallagher is now teaching professor of English.

The following individuals have been promoted to associate teaching professor:

• Patrick Cosby is now associate teaching professor of history.
• Christopher Harben is now associate teaching professor of management.
• Steven Nozaki is now associate teaching professor of engineering.
• Daniel Schank is now associate teaching professor of English and art.
• Lena Surzhko Harned is now associate teaching professor of political science.
• Jianing "Jenny" Zhi is now associate teaching professor of project and supply chain management.
• Melanie Ford is now associate teaching professor of computer science and software engineering.
• Linda Hajec is now associate teaching professor of accounting.
• Eric Robbins is now associate teaching professor of finance.
• Jason Williams is now associate teaching professor of engineering.

The following individuals have been promoted to assistant teaching professor:

• Jill Johnson is now assistant teaching professor of mechanical engineering.
• Phil Stuczynski is now assistant teaching professor of finance.

In addition, Sherri “Sam” Mason is now associate research professor of sustainability.