Archives: Instructors

Tim Balliett, Ph.D. has been the Director since 2018. The Center promotes moral and civic learning among Penn State’s students through character development, cultivation of ethical leadership, and thoughtful and engaged citizenship to advance the common good. Among the Center’s programs are Project Cahir (a scholarship and engagement program on poverty and its effects), The Lion’s Pantry (a network of five student-run food pantries at the University Park campus), and coordination of services for food and housing insecure students at Penn State’s 24 campuses. Tim earned a B.A. in Psychology and Social Sciences with secondary education teaching certification at Gannon University, Erie; a ST.B. and M.Div. at St. Mary’s Seminary & University, Baltimore; and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at Penn State. He holds certifications in ethics and compliance, town and gown relations, and financial and personnel management in parish organizations.

In this role, Taylor develops student leaders, helps facilitate student sustainability projects, and develops programming to meet student needs on campus. He is also the co-chair of the Food Security Task Force, which develops and implements programs and strategies to combat food insecurity on campus. He has overseen the development and funding of these programs by requesting the necessary budget from UO’s upper administration and outside sources. He received his PhD from the University of Oregon’s interdisciplinary Environmental Science, Studies, and Policy program, with a focal department of English. His published research addresses representations of environmental justice and the racial components of the Anthropocene. In all areas, his work and research prioritize the intersections of sustainability, environmental justice, social equity, and cultural production.

Kerri and her team work to bridge the gap between off-campus students and the community where they reside. They educate students about rights and responsibilities, provide opportunities for students to engage in local community service, and work with all the faith-based communities on campus. Additionally, the department runs the Rutgers Student Food Pantry and Kerri is part of a team at the University working to address basic needs insecurity from a variety of disciplines, support services, and interventions. Kerri has over 20 years of experience in Student affairs including residence life, student conduct, and student involvement.

Andrew is a campus housing professional with 22 years of experience. At FIU, Andrew has worked closely with the Fostering Panther Pride program for the last five years to ensure homeless students and students from foster homes are provided housing on campus as they transition into the university. Partnering with their success coach, Andrew meets with the students individually to ensure their housing selection is affordable and supports their individual comfort and needs. Today, FIU houses over eighty students through this program. Andrew has received recognition from the office of Student Access and Success for his work with Fostering Panther Pride.

Geoff Coyle serves as Social Media Editor for West Virginia University. In this role, Geoff and the rest of the Social team work to promote the University’s message and image for prospective students, current students, and alumni through digital platforms. Prior to joining the team at WVU, Geoff worked in sports television for West Virginia Illustrated, gaining experience as a host and reporter for various network broadcasts. He continues to dabble in the sports realm as a freelance camera operator and a contributor for Stadium. A Maryland native, Geoff graduated from the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism at West Virginia University.

From entry level to the C-suite, I help professionals normalize the emotional, aesthetic and communication skills essential to executive presence Dr. Wendy M. Wilson is a transformational leader with over 28 years collective experience in human resource management and higher education. Wilson’s nearly 20- year experience includes post-secondary education roles within the University System of Georgia (USG). At Albany State University (ASU) she serves as vice president of university relations/chief of staff. Past leadership roles include interim vice president of student affairs(ASU) and executive director of a Darton State College’s satellite campus. Wilson has over 15 years of proven success as an executive and career planning coach. She has led and supported the career design and planning for countless clients within higher education and corporate systems. Whether an entry level role or C-suite position, Wilson’s executive teaches professionals how to normalize executive presence. As a result of her impressive executive coaching expertise, Wilson’s client portfolio includes individuals who have received and accepted offers ranging from JP Morgan Chase to the White House. She has developed and facilitated professional development and career design training for corporate, nonprofit, and municipal clients including AARP, AT&T, Academic Impressions, American Council on Education, the City […]

Lisa Simmons has 15 years of administrative experience with orientation, transition, and retention programs. She directs Student Orientation and Transition Services at Utah State University, an office that houses orientation, parent and family programs, first-year experience, and advising for students taking a leave of absence. She developed an orientation program that provides customized, just-in-time information to over 6,000 students who are starting classes at nearly 30 sites and campuses throughout the state. She is also a director within the Student Achievement Collaborative, a group that designs interdepartmental solutions to challenging issues related to student success. She has a master’s degree in English, with an emphasis in technical and professional communication.

Glenn started his career as a faculty member in the English Department at St. Cloud State University, where he also served as Chair, before becoming Interim Dean of University College. In all his roles, he worked to address barriers to student progress. As Interim Dean, he led several change initiatives that included a campus-wide effort to promote students’ sense of belonging. This effort was broadly collaborative and brought together a diverse group of faculty, staff, and administrators in service of student success. At Bowling Green State University, Glenn leads initiatives designed to improve the undergraduate student experience. Glenn completed a B.A. in Linguistics at Harvard University, an M.A. in Medieval Studies at The University of York, and a Ph.D. in English at The University of Texas at Austin.

Kathleen provides colleges and high schools with solutions for math initiatives and ideas for improvement for math courses and policies. She is the former Illinois Director for Transitional Math, where she led the statewide implementation of transitional math courses across Illinois. She currently consults with individual high schools and colleges on transitional math implementations, as well as other states. Prior to her administrative work, she was a mathematics professor with 20 years of experience in high school and college classrooms. Her degrees include a B.S. in Mathematics Education from Southern Illinois University and an M.S. in Pure Mathematics from Northern Illinois University. She is pursuing a doctorate in education, with an emphasis on community college leadership.