UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Avis Kunz, assistant dean in the College of the Liberal Arts, Filippelli Institute for e-Education and Outreach, has been honored with the 2017 Shirley Hendrick Award, presented by the Penn State Commission for Adult Learners for service to adult learners.
The Shirley Hendrick Award recognizes an administrator University-wide who has contributed to the success of Penn State’s efforts to serve adult learners. The award is named in memory of Shirley Hendrick (1936–2000), the first recipient, dean for continuing education in the Smeal College of Business and inaugural chair of the Commission for Adult Learners, who advocated for continuing education.
Under Kunz’ leadership since 2008, the college’s outreach portfolio is among the most expansive in the University, including eight online degrees and dozens of general education courses offered through Penn State’s top-ranked World Campus. A colleague and nominator said Kunz, whose first teaching job was at a maximum security prison, is dedicated to bringing a quality education to adult learners and nontraditional students because she is committed to educational access.
As a recent example of Kunz’ commitment to expanding opportunities for adult learners, she led the development of a degree completion program in integrated social sciences, which in a year already offers 29 majors.
“World Campus has been a success on a scale that few would have predicted,” said the nominator. “The reach of the University has truly become global, and liberal arts was an early collaborator and supporter in that growth, providing the lion’s share of the courses and several of the earliest degree programs. Kunz worked with University leaders to build what has become a national example of what is possible in online education.”