UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Joe Puzycki retired from his position as an assistant vice president for Student Affairs at the end of June after 25 years with Penn State.
In his role as an assistant vice president, Puzycki oversaw the Office of Student Conduct, the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Development, the director of Student and Family Services, and the assistant director of the Office of Off-Campus Living.
Puzycki held central point responsibility for University services related to student crisis and emergencies and troublesome student conduct. During his tenure, Puzycki oversaw the University 20/20 Crisis Line and he assumed the role of the University 24/7 emergency on-call administrator.
Puzycki’s earlier efforts were instrumental in the creation of the Off-Campus Misconduct Policy, Missing Student Policy and Procedures, and the University Behavioral Threat Management Team (BTMT). Puzycki held the position of vice chair of the Behavioral Threat Management Team since its creation in 2011. Additionally, Puzycki's work included coordinating the University's response to student emergencies, at-risk student incidents, missing students, campus worrisome behavior, and campus threat incidents, as well as coordinating response and support efforts involving student deaths.
“For many years now, Joe Puzycki has been the heart behind the bricks and mortar at Penn State, responding to crises, helping students and their families, and managing the most trying circumstances experienced in our University community,” said Damon Sims, vice president for Penn State Student Affairs. “No colleague has done more to strengthen the University's relationship with its students in need. Joe has done all he could to ensure that these students are able to persist through their challenges and eventually succeed. For his extraordinary care and consideration through so many years, I am deeply grateful.”
Since coming to Penn State in 1992, and prior to his current position as assistant vice president, Puzycki held several positions in Student Affairs, including associate director of Residence Life, associate director of Housing and Foods Services for the Commonwealth Campuses, senior director of Residence Life, and senior director of Judicial Affairs.
Prior to arriving at Penn State, Puzycki worked for two years at Shippensburg University in the Dean of Students Office and in the Department of Athletics as an assistant football coach. Puzycki left Shippensburg in 1984 and spent the next eight years at the University of Delaware. While at Delaware, Puzycki held several positions within the division of Housing and Residence Life and the Dean of Students Office.
Puzycki completed his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. After his undergraduate degree, Puzycki remained at Shippensburg University to complete his master's degrees in college counseling and college student personnel administration
Puzycki is married to Andrea Mackenzie Puzycki and they have three children, son Jake, and two daughters, Ana-Bess and Dori-Jeanne. The Puzycki family resides in Bellefonte and enjoys the comforts that a small rural community can offer. Puzycki looks forward to spending more time with his family enjoying activities such as cooking, landscaping, sports and athletic training.