Academics

Beaver campus Advisory Board and students honor faculty and staff

The Penn State Beaver Advisory Board and the Beaver campus student body recently honored seven faculty and staff members at the annual campus awards dinner. Each Advisory Board award was $500.

Kristen Olson, associate professor of English, received the Andrews Industrial Controls Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award and the Michael Baker Jr. Inc. Faculty Excellence in Service Award. Olson joined the campus in 2000 and served as honors coordinator from 2001 to 2008. She holds a doctorate and a master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University, an master of liberal arts degree from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from Colby College.

Jonathan Abel, lecturer in biology, received the ESB Bank Adjunct Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. He has worked at the campus for two years. He received his doctorate of chiropractic from D’Youville College and holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in psychology from SUNY Albany.

JoAnn Chirico, senior instructor in sociology, was honored with the NOVA Chemicals Faculty Excellence in Research Award. She is a former recipient of the Penn State Beaver Advisory Board Sky Bank Excellence in Service Award, the Penn State Commonwealth College Service Award and the Penn State University Vice President for Student Affairs Award for Outstanding Program in the Diversity Speakers Series. Chirico holds a doctorate in sociology and education as well as a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor’s degree in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Jill Tress, learning center and disability services coordinator, received the Day Capital Group Staff Excellence Award. She joined Beaver campus in 2011. Tress holds a master of fine arts in creative writing (fiction) from Carlow University, a master’s degree in English (literature and writing) from Slippery Rock University, a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy from Mount Holyoke College, and a Pennsylvania teaching certificate in secondary English from Geneva College.

Linda Garlitz, staff assistant for all campus faculty members, received the PNC Financial Staff Service Award. She has held her campus position since 1994 and is a graduate of Riverside High School. Garlitz holds an associate degree in applied science as an executive secretary from the Community College of Beaver County.

Campus students honored Talha Harcar, associate professor of business, with the Outstanding Academic Adviser Award. A faculty member since 2001, Harcar received the Advisory Board Excellence in Research Award in 2010 and 2013. He holds a doctorate in business administration and a master’s degree and two bachelor’s degrees in marketing from Istanbul University. He received a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Dan Pinchot, director of enrollment and co-adviser of The Roar student newspaper, received the students' Outstanding Club Adviser Award. Pinchot began working in Beaver’s Office of Campus and Community Relations in 1998 and has held his current position since 2001. He received a master’s of education degree in curriculum and instruction, a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Penn State. He also earned a teaching certificate in communications from Robert Morris University.

For information about the awards, contact the Office of Campus and Community Relations at amk6@psu.edu or 724-773-3816.

Last Updated January 9, 2015