UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State has named Emme Devonish as the new University Ethics Officer in the Office of Ethics and Compliance, effective Sept. 15. Devonish brings with her more than 20 years of legal, regulatory and ethics and compliance experience as well as over 10 years teaching in higher education.
Selected after a national search, Devonish will play a key role in leading the Ethics Unit through communicating and upholding Penn State’s cultural and ethical values across the institution. She will report directly to Penn State’s Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Kenya Mann Faulkner, who reports to Frank Guadagnino, vice president for administration and associate general counsel. The ethics officer position was previously held by Tim Balliett, now director of the Center for Character, Conscience and Public Purpose in Penn State's Office of Student Affairs.
“It is a pleasure to welcome Dr. Devonish to Penn State, and I look forward to working with her in developing resources that advance the University’s institutional ethics,” Faulkner said. “Dr. Devonish’s wide-ranging experience in legal practice and corporate ethics and compliance, as well as her years of experience as a professor, make her an excellent addition to our Office and to our University.”
Devonish began her career as an Attorney-Adviser in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and has worked in leadership positions at The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Nomura IBJ Global Investment Advisors, and the international law firm Kelley, Drye & Warren. She is a Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional through the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics and a Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional.
Her professional experience also includes roles as International Legal Counsel at Crédit Lyonnais Asset Management and Finance Counsel at the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations in Paris. She holds a J.D/M.A. in Law and International Affairs from The American University, a M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Carlow University, a B.A. in French and International Relations from Syracuse University, and a Ph.D in Film Studies from The University of Sydney. She is a Lecturer of Law in the Master of Legal Studies in Corporate Compliance program at the Santa Clara University School of Law, and has taught courses in Communications, English, Literature, Writing and Film at various universities across the United States and abroad.
In her new role, Devonish will work with a wide range of University stakeholders to regularly assess and enhance Penn State’s commitment to ethics and compliance; review and evaluate University ethics and codes of conduct; resolve conflicts of interest and other ethical matters; create educational resources and ethics training materials for University employees; Chair the Ethics Committee and participate in other University compliance committees; and manage the ongoing development, administration and dissemination of results of the Penn State Values and Culture Survey.
Devonish looks forward to actively engaging in her new role, and stated, “I am excited to join the Office of Ethics and Compliance team and build upon the University’s commitment to ethics through its six values of Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community for the long-term benefit of the institution and society.”