Pam Monk has long history of involvement

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Pamela Monk joined the faculty at Penn State in the fall of 1999 after 25 years in public education, where she taught writing and general science. In 1983, she began her continuing career as a freelance writer and playwright.

At Penn State, she teaches courses in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Newsday, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, as well as in local publications in State College and in Ithaca, New York, where she lived before moving to State College.

She was the faculty adviser to Phroth, the Penn State humor magazine; Valley Magazine; and PSNtv, the student television network.

In addition, Monk served as a juried artist for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. In this capacity she has conducted playwriting residencies and freelance writing workshops in a variety of Pennsylvania public schools.

From 2004 to 2010, she wrote “The Rules of Family, Advice from Donna Corleone” — which appeared monthly on the web (happywomanmagazine.com) and in print (Voices of Central PA). Her plays have been produced in both New York City and Pennsylvania. She also is the creator of Pamelapolis Productions, an independent producing company.

Her service to the State College community includes work on arts boards, including Galaxy Arts in Education, the State College Community Theatre, and, most recently, The State Theatre.

She teaches nonfiction courses regularly for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Penn State.

Current projects include creating sporadic satires such as Forbidden Valley, the Yodas (Your Own Damn Awards Show), and Play by Play, and helping to produce personal narrative programs in State College and Pittsburgh.