Education Abroad Advisory Council

Education Abroad has convened an advisory council made up of faculty and administrators from across the University, whose purpose is to offer feedback on policy and program initiatives and to act as a reflective body – offering diverse viewpoints on the challenges and opportunities present in global engagement throughout Penn State.  The primary work of the council involves reviewing new program proposals and making recommendations to the director of Education Abroad, the assistant vice provost for Global Learning, and the vice provost for Global on the proposals’ merit.

Specific examples of the council’s intended work include the following:

  • Program Proposal Review: The council’s primary responsibility is to review proposals for new programs (semester-long, short-term, and faculty-led) and make recommendations to leadership on approval/denial.
  • Policy Decision Feedback: The council offers feedback on policy considerations.  These deliberations include topics such as program suspension due to low mobility or how to incentivize global learning outcomes in short-term program development.
  • Strategic Direction Guidance: The council offers direction on strategic objective priorities.  This includes a review of Penn State Global's strategic plan and assessing benchmarks related to Education Abroad performance.  Key goals for Education Abroad remain increasing access and inclusivity for under-represented students in learning abroad as well as encouraging and supporting curricular integration initiatives across Colleges and Campuses.

Advisory council members typically serve for 1-2 years and are either selected by Penn State Global leadership to serve or are nominated by their own unit leadership. Those who are interested in serving or who would like to be considered for an appointment on the council should contact Brian Brubaker, Assistant Vice Provost for Global Learning.

Education Abroad Advisory Council Members

  • Carol Cowan-Crawford, Lecturer, Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State Shenango
  • Ryan Elias, Professor and Associate Head of Food Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Terrence Guay, Professor, Associate Dean of Office of International Programs, Director of Center for Global Business
  • Lauren Halberstadt, Assistant Teaching Professor of Spanish
  • Brian Patchcoski, Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Beth Seymour, Teaching Professor, Anthropology, Communications, History, and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Penn State Altoona
  • Nicole Stokes, Director of Academic Partnerships and Institutional Grant Initiatives, Professor of Sociology, Psychological and Social Sciences, Penn State Altoona
  • Patrick Tunno, Director of Global Engineering Engagement, College of Engineering

Education Abroad Staff

  • Brian Brubaker, Assistant Vice Provost for Global Learning (Chair)
  • Matt Lockaby Leet, Assistant Director for Academic Services Manager for Education Abroad (ex officio)
  • Tara Johnson, Assistant Director for Customized Programs for Education Abroad (ex officio)
  • Kate Manni, Director of Education Abroad (ex officio)
  • Johnna Weston, Assistant Director for Advising and Engagement, Education Abroad (ex officio)