UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Jim Ryan, vice president emeritus for Outreach, has been awarded the Dubin Pioneer Award in recognition of his service to Penn State Outreach and Online Education (OOE). Tracey Huston, executive director of marketing, communications, recruitment and admissions services for OOE, noted Ryan’s leadership and vision in establishing the World Campus, his 22-year career at Penn State, and his qualities as “a visionary leader, an innovative educator and an extraordinary motivator of people.”
Named for Lydia S. and Samuel S. Dubin, the award is presented annually to a current or former faculty or staff member for extraordinary service to advance the Outreach vision at Penn State.
Nancy Silvis received the Fischer Family Award of Distinction for her longtime support of WPSU, including her service on the WPSU Board of Representatives and as the originator and volunteer chair of WPSU’s popular International Wine Festival, which raised a record $53,000 this year.
The Fischer Award recognizes friends, donors, alumni and volunteers who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary service to advance the Outreach vision at Penn State. It is named in honor of the Fischer family, including former head of Outreach Floyd Fischer, Naomi Fischer and their son Rich, the first chair of the Outreach Advisory Board and who, with his wife, Claudia, recently made a gift to fund the Fischer Speaker Series in the Center for Online Innovation in Learning (COIL). In making the award, Craig took a moment to remember Naomi Fischer, who passed away earlier this year, calling her “irreplaceable” and honoring her for creating the Fischer Family Scholarship for Continuing and Distance Education.
The awards were presented Oct. 10 at the annual Outreach and Online Education Appreciation Dinner.