Administration

Hennessey, Theiss named new executive directors of development

Tina Hennessey, left, and Mark Theiss have been selected to fill executive director positions in Penn State’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Tina Hennessey and Mark Theiss have been selected to fill executive director positions in Penn State’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DDAR). Hennessey’s appointment is effective July 24, while Theiss’ is effective August 1.

“Rich Bundy and I are delighted both Tina and Mark have accepted the promotions and we were able to fill these positions internally with two very strong fundraising professionals with tremendous institutional history,” said Dave Lieb, senior associate vice president for development.

Hennessey has served in a variety of development roles since joining Penn State in 2009. As senior director of development for the College of the Liberal Arts — a position she accepted in June 2014 — Hennessey has personally secured more than $12 million in gifts and pledges since the University's "A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence" campaign launched last July.

Theiss’ tenure with DDAR began in 2004 as an associate director of development and director of major gifts. He became the senior director of development for the College of Agricultural Sciences in 2012; while there, his team raised $90 million during the "For the Future" campaign, easily surpassing that college’s goal.

Hennessey and Theiss join two current executive directors, Ken Hall and Dale DiSanto. The four executive directors will manage all of the University’s fundraising units with the exception of Intercollegiate Athletics and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center/Penn State College of Medicine.

Hennessey’s portfolio will include her current unit, the College of the Liberal Arts, as well as the College of Arts and Architecture; the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences; the College of Information Sciences and Technology; the Schreyer Honors College; Dickinson Law; Penn State Law; the School of International Affairs; the University Libraries; and Penn State Abington.

In addition to his current units — the College of Agricultural Sciences and the Penn State Arboretum — Theiss will manage the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications; the College of Education; the College of Health and Human Development; the College of Nursing; Penn State Altoona; Penn State Berks; Penn State Outreach; and the Penn State Alumni Association.

Hall will manage the Smeal College of Business; the College of Engineering; the Eberly College of Science; Penn State Erie, the Behrend College; Penn State Harrisburg; California Regional Development; International Development; Parents Philanthropy; and University Programs. DiSanto manages 15 of Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses, including Beaver, Brandywine, DuBois, Fayette, Great Valley, Greater Allegheny, Hazleton, Lehigh Valley, Mont Alto, New Kensignton, Schuylkill, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, Worthington Scranton and York.

Last Updated June 23, 2017