UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Jean Landa Pytel, former assistant dean for student services and global programs and associate professor of engineering science and mechanics in the Penn State College of Engineering, died March 15.
“The College of Engineering family is deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague and dear friend,” said Anthony Atchley, senior associate dean of engineering. “During her time on the faculty, Jean had a profound and lasting impact on the undergraduate student experience. Because of her breadth of experience and her comprehensive understanding of the University, Jean could also be counted on for informed, insightful and innovative counsel to the dean on a range of important and complex issues.”
Pytel joined the Penn State faculty in 1979 as an assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics. Prior to her retirement in 2013, she served as assistant dean for student services and global programs since 1994, as well as associate professor of engineering science and mechanics.
Pytel was an active member of the Penn State community throughout her tenure at the University. She was a member of the Faculty Senate for 24 years; an administrative fellow to the provost; faculty adviser for the Penn State Society of Women Engineers and adviser to the Engineering Undergraduate Council and the Engineering House; and board member of the Faculty Staff Club, which she served as president from 2001 to 2002.
She was a member of the Commission for Women between 1986 and 1989 and held memberships in numerous University-wide and college-wide committees, task forces and boards. In 2000, Pytel was one of the inaugural recipients of the Achieving Woman Award from the Penn State Commission for Women.
In addition, Pytel was a member of the American Society of Engineering Education and served as the chair of its International Division from 2011 to 2013.
“Simply put, Jean dedicated herself to making things better for all of us. We miss her already,” said Atchley. “We also extend our sincerest condolences to Jean’s husband and our colleague, Andy, and to her entire family.”
Services will be held at Koch Funeral Home in State College on April 14. At the request of Pytel and her family, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Pytel to her scholarship at Penn State, the Jean Landa Pytel Study Abroad Scholarship in the College of Engineering. More information on Pytel’s many contributions to Penn State and the State College community, as well as service details, is available in her full obituary.