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Penn State names associate vice president for Human Resources

Susan McGarry Basso has joined Penn State as associate vice president for Human Resources, effective Dec. 13. Basso was the chief human resources officer at Seton Hall University from 2006 to 2010 and has more than 20 years of leadership experience in all areas of human resources management. She has replaced Billie Willits, who now oversees initiatives to expand health care access for Penn State employees in the Centre region.

“I am pleased that Susan has joined our leadership team in Finance and Business,” said Al Horvath, senior vice president for Finance and Business/treasurer. “Her breadth and depth of experience and her track record of success will serve Penn State well.”

Prior to her appointment at Seton Hall University, Basso spent 18 years at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania in a variety of roles. She began as benefits manager in 1988 and subsequently held the positions of assistant director of human resource management, executive assistant to the president, and director of human resource management. Basso’s leadership experience in human resources management extends into the areas of benefits administration, recruitment and compensation, training and development, performance management, organizational development, and systems and payroll.

Basso also has served as an independent consultant to several community organizations, including Monroe County Head Start, United Steel Products and Wayne Memorial Hospital, and has been very active in CUPA-HR, the organization of higher education human resources professionals. Most recently, she served as the president of CUPA-HR’s New York Metro Chapter; she received the organization’s Eastern Region Emerging Leader Award in 2007.

Basso holds a master of science degree in human resource administration from the University of Scranton and a bachelor of science degree in psychology, with a minor in business administration/finance, from Ursinus College.

Susan McGarry Basso has joined Penn State as associate vice president for Human Resources. Click on the image above for a high-resolution version. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated January 9, 2015