UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Smeal College of Business has named Michelle Darnell as its new director of honor and integrity. In this role, Darnell will lead the development and implementation of the college’s honor and integrity efforts.
“I’m excited about joining the Smeal College of Business community. My interactions with the people here have been inclusive and collegial. I knew immediately this was a place in which honor and integrity were woven into the fabric of the college experience,” Darnell said.
“There’s already a strong foundation of ethics-related initiatives here," she added. "I’m eager to build upon this in collaboration with all of Smeal’s stakeholders."
Integrity and ethical behavior are important components of both the college’s and the University’s strategic plans. As the director of honor and integrity, Darnell will oversee policy implementation and execution; related training and orientation; and marketing and communication efforts surrounding the college’s honor and integrity initiatives.
Darnell comes to Smeal from the Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida. At Warrington, she was a senior lecturer and the co-director of the Poe Business Ethics Center.
Darnell holds doctoral and master’s degrees in philosophy, both from Purdue University. She earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and philosophy from the University of San Diego.
“Honor and integrity are critical to our mission as a leading business school, and we wanted someone in this position who embodied those values,” said Charles H. Whiteman, John and Becky Surma Dean of Smeal.
“Michelle has a broad range of ethics-related experience," said Whiteman. "She will bring a fresh perspective and new ideas of how to enhance our culture of honor and integrity going forward.”
About Integrity at Smeal
The Penn State Values of integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence and community unite all of us across the University. At the Smeal College of Business, one of the ways we express these values is through our Honor and Integrity program. In particular, the Smeal Honor Code, drafted in partnership with MBA students in 2006, promotes the values of community, integrity and responsibility. Integrity and ethical behavior are also infused into courses across the Smeal curriculum, and the G. Albert Shoemaker Program in Business Ethics supports ethics lectures and related scholarly research. For more information on integrity at Smeal, visit www.smeal.psu.edu/integrity.