September 17, 2025
Six Penn State Dickinson Law administrators participate in Office of Faculty Affairs workshop
Day-long event supports newly appointed academic administrators or academic administrators undertaking a new leadership role
Pictured, from left to right: Tom Lee; Ann Clements, associate vice provost for Faculty Affairs (kneeling); Lucy Johnston-Walsh (behind AVP Clements); Valerie James; Rebecca Schreiber; Michele Vollmer (kneeling); Bekah Saidman-Krauss; Kathy Bieschke, senior vice provost and interim dean of undergraduate education; Abby Diehl, associate vice provost for Faculty Affairs; and Peter Hopsicker, associate vice provost for Faculty Affairs.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.—On September 16, 2025, six administrators from Penn State Dickinson Law attended a day-long workshop hosted by the Office of Faculty Affairs. This full-day professional development opportunity was designed to support newly appointed academic administrators or academic administrators who have undertaken a new leadership role within their unit. Attendees included Valerie James, senior assistant dean of academic and student services; Lucy Johnston-Walsh, associate dean for experiential education; Tom Lee, assistant dean for career services; Rebecca M. Schreiber, assistant dean for admissions & financial aid; Bekah Saidman-Krauss, senior associate dean for student lifecycle operations & administration; and Michele Vollmer, associate dean for academic affairs.
The programming, which focused on several foundational areas essential to success in academic administration, was designed to address the most critical and immediate responsibilities new administrators face, offering both institutional context and practical guidance. Topics that were covered included the effective oversight of personnel, constructive approaches to conflict and professional conduct, and strategies for engaging productively with senior academic leaders and central administrative offices. The workshop featured sessions led by senior University leaders and provided valuable insight into the structures, expectations, and challenges of academic administration at Penn State.