PPSA General Elections and Meeting
Thursday, May 22, 2008
12:00pm
Hall of Flags, Houston Hall

Featured Speaker: Eric Furda, Dean of Admissions

The Penn Professional Staff Assembly (PPSA) will hold its annual Spring meeting and elections. Our featured speaker will be Penn's new Dean of Admissions, Eric Furda. The meeting will take place on Thursday, May 22, at noon in the Hall of Flags of Houston Hall. PPSA members are encouraged to attend, to participate, and to vote

PPSA is a voluntary organization comprised of professional (monthly-exempt) staff members whose positions enhance, facilitate, and serve the teaching, research and service missions of the University of Pennsylvania.* For more information on PPSA and membership, go to http://www.upenn.edu/ppsa/.

PPSA is pleased to present the following slate of candidates for 2008-2009 board positions:

Candidates for Chair Elect (choose 1)

Laurie McCall
Associate Director, Platt Student Performing Arts House,
Vice Provost for University Life

Laurie has been at Penn for over 15 years. Since 2007 she has been the Program Coordinator, Platt Student Performing Arts House. Prior to 2007 she was Program Coordinator for PennQuest Pre-Orientation Program, and Assistant Director of New Student Orientation under the Vice Provost for University Life (VPUL). She holds a B.S. Elementary Education from Kutztown University and an M.A. in Communication Studies from Bloomsburg University.
She has served on the Health Professionals Advisory Board, VPUL Communications Committee, DASP Morale Committee. She also serves as a house director for Alpha Phi sorority at Penn.
Laurie served as PPSA Chair Elect in 1988-1989. Personal Statement

Personal statement:
I would love to serve as your PPSA Chair-Elect, not only because I feel a strong commitment to helping my colleagues, but also because I would enjoy finishing the job I started in 1998. Professional staff members at Penn need a seasoned and positive voice to represent our needs to various constituencies within the University governance structure. My years of experience and knack for diplomacy will help PPSA achieve its goals for all of us.

John J McGarry
Director, Real Estate Brokerage
Facilities and Real Estate Services

John brings to Penn over thirty years experience in Real Estate services in higher education. In his current role, he works closely with the schools and business services at Penn to provide for their property and real estate needs.
John is on the Board of PHILADANCO, and is a charter member of UC Green. He was appointed a Commissioner of Real Estate for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2007.
He is also the proud parent of a Penn student.
John served as PPSA Vice Chair elect in 2006-07 and is currently a Member at Large.

Personal Statement:
My nomination will allow me to continue the work we have set out creating an environment that fosters collaboration amongst Penn faculty, staff and students and promoting engagement and partnership with our administration, ultimately focusing on the contributions that the Penn professional staff provides to the University. As a candidate for PPSA chair-elect, I will continue to encourage staff engagement in the greater university dialogue in order to make Penn a more collaborative and inclusive community.

Colleen Becht Rotindo
Gifts Officer
Penn Medicine Development

Colleen is a dedicated Penn alumna who has served the University in a number of roles over the past 8 years. Colleen has worked closely with students, faculty and alumni, first at Ware College House, then at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and then in the Department of Medical Ethics. She joined PENN Medicine Development in September 2006 as the Assistant Development Officer for Centers and Institutes and is currently Major Gifts Officer, for Centers and Institutes in PENN Medicine Development and Alumni Relations.

Over the years, Colleen has served in volunteer roles in the Penn Community. She has represented PPSA for 5 years on the Committee for Manufacturer Responsibilities. She also served on the board of the Penn Professional Women’s Network.

Colleen’s devotion to Penn began long before becoming a Penn student or a full time staff member. As a high school student she worked in various departments throughout the Towne building, helping with big projects and filling in for vacationing staff. By age 16 she began solidifying relationships with faculty, staff and students that still serve her well today.

Candidates for Member at Large (Choose 4)

Rosemary F. Barber
Executive Assistant to the Vice Dean for Administration and Finance
School of Medicine

Rosemary has worked at Penn for over 21 years, and in her current position since 2002.
In 2002 she completed a BS in Social Science, magna cum laude from the College of General Studies, winning the CGS John Russwurm Award for Outstanding Achievement. Prior to coming to Penn, she was Field Director, Plymouth Bay Girl Scout Council in Taunton, Massachusetts She has volunteered at Germantown Hospital, and on boards of Parting Ways; the Plymouth Public Library; the Plymouth Area Council for Children and the South Shore Housing Development Corporation, MA.

Personal statement:
I am running for a Member-at-Large position on the PPSA Executive Board because during the course of my more than 21 years of employed service at Penn, and as a former student, I have acquired a broad base of knowledge about the University that I would like to use to support collaboration and dialogue with the University, as well as promote and support the goals of professional staff.

Jeff Barta
Director, Sales and Marketing., Conference Services
Housing and Conference Services, Division of Business Services

Jeff has worked at Penn since1993. Since 2002 he’s served in his current position; from 1993 – 1996, Jeff served as Director of Marketing in Wharton Executive Education.
Jeff led Penn’s support of the Republican National Convention in 2002, and the 2002 Americorps/City Year National Czyzgy Conference among many smaller conferences.
Jeff holds a dual Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Communications/Multinational Business Operations. He served on the Wharton Repositioning Task Force and is regional president of ACCED-I, the Association of Collegiate Conference and Event Directors International.
He has served as PPSA rep to the Bookstore Committee of University Council.

Personal Statement:
I’m very excited about joining the PPSA Executive Board. My experience at Penn has positioned me to understand the staff perspective and to represent our unique viewpoint in dialogue with other constituents of the university. I am deeply committed to serving my colleagues and the University and will be an active conduit for discussion and activity to move the organization’s initiatives forward.

Emily A. Ford (nee Papir)
Associate Director of Undergraduate Academic Affairs
School of Nursing

Emily's employment at Penn began in 2004 as Director of Student Services and Registrar for the Annenberg School. She moved to her current position in the School of Nursing in 2006.
A 2000 graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, Emily completed a Master's in Higher Education from Penn GSE in 2004.
Emily is a member of the Health Professions Advisory Board, an advisor for the Office of Student Conduct, and co-chair of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions Alumni Secondary School Committee Network.
She currently represents PPSA on the University Council Committee on Academic and Related Affairs.

Personal statement:
I love Penn and have thoroughly enjoyed being both a student and an employee of the University. I value my time serving on CARA, as well as attending some PPSA Board Meetings. I would like to get more involved in PPSA and the Penn community as a Member at Large in order to serve the University at a higher level and to play a more instrumental role in staff governance at Penn.

Aviva Hirschfeld
General Manager of Penn Student Agencies (PSA),
Vice Provost for University Life

Aviva joined Penn Student Agencies in August 2007 after completing a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Management from Penn. As a graduate student, she held assistantships with Penn’s Academic Enrichment Programs and the Graduate Student Center.
Aviva has a Bachelor’s in Music Business from New York University, and lived and worked in New York City after her graduation from NYU. She serves on the NYU Alumni Association Board.

Personal Statement:
Serving on the board provides a wonderful opportunity to enhance relationships between schools and centers. I believe that grass roots efforts toward fostering collaboration will allow divisions to maximize resources and reach collective goals. I would also be thrilled to provide assistance on initiatives that I have observed at the PPSA and University Council meetings. My students describe me as open and approachable, and therefore I believe I would be able to represent and serve a variety of interests.

Gwen Ann Glattes
Director of Audit
Department of Compliance and Privacy, School of Medicine

Gwen has worked at Penn since 2004, first as FRES/Construction Audit Manager in 2004, and then as Director of Audit. Prior, Gwen served as CFO for Philadelphia Youth Network, Inc. She has additional experience as Business Manager, Financial Analyst and on-site Project Accountant within the construction industry.
Gwen holds an MBA in Accounting, St. Joseph’s University, and a BA from Penn State University.
Gwen served on the Ben Assets Implementation and the Economic Inclusion Committees of the University.

Personal Statement:
One of the things that I find so enjoyable about working at Penn is the wonderful sense of community. My appreciation continues to develop as I learn of the many intricacies required in the management administrative areas. I am looking forward to working with PPSA not only to increase my awareness of Penn but to highlight the many resources of the University.

Aiasha B. Saalim Graham
Acting Director
Publication Services, Division of Business Services

Aiasha has worked at Penn Publication Services since 1996. In her current role, she is responsible for moving the department in a new direction, increasing awareness of the department while developing more productive revenue streams. Her goal is to see Publication Services set the standard in providing communication solutions in higher education.
Prior to coming to Penn, she was employed by IBM. She also worked for comedian Bill Cosby, handling media relations for two of his television shows.
She holds an MBA from Temple University and was a magna cum laude graduate of Penn State University with a degree in International Politics. She serves on the Women of Color Planning Committee.
Aiasha is a current PPSA member-at-large and serves on the Diversity and Equity Committee and the Diversity Website Sub-Committee.

Personal Statement
As a committed member of the University Community, I feel it is incumbent upon me to become engaged in an organization devoted to enhancing the quality of life of others within the community. During my twelve year tenure at Penn, if nothing else, I have learned that merely being critical of the process is not the most effective method to promote change. Becoming engaged and engaging others through meaningful dialogue is by far most effective. It is my desire to work within PPSA to promote such dialogue.

Barbara Hewitt
Senior Associate Director
Office of Career Services
Vice Provost for University Life

Barbara has worked in Penn’s Career Services office since 1998, working with students in the College of Arts and Sciences and then with Wharton Undergraduate students.
She has a BA in Psychology and Spanish from Dickinson College; an MS in Counseling from Shippensburg University; and an Ed.D in Higher Education Management from Penn. She has served on the VPUL divisional Communications Committee.

Personal Statement:
I would like to serve on the PPSA Board because it provides a forum to bring together staff members from across the institution and represent their ideas to University administration. I feel that this role is particularly important at an institution like Penn which is both large and decentralized. I am also eager to help organize events, such as a speaker series or informational workshops, that might be of particular interest to staff members.

Lee Kramer
Director of Student Life
Wharton Undergraduate Division, The Wharton School

Lee has been in his current role since Fall 2007. He oversees co-curricular life for Wharton undergraduates including the cohort program and advising the Wharton Council, which includes all Wharton undergraduate clubs and other student life initiatives. Lee came to Penn in 2004 as Associate Director in the Office of Student Life, VPUL, where he advised the Social Planning and Events Committee which had responsibilities for Connaissance events, concerts, and Spring Fling.
Lee has an MBA from Drexel University and a BA from Emory University.

Personal Statement:
I am interested in running for the PPSA Board because I feel it is important for the staff to be well represented at the university and for the voice of the staff to be heard. I promise to work hard and to represent the concerns and issues of the Penn staff in the best way possible. The Penn Staff are vital to the success of the university. I look forward to working for you!

L. Wayles Wilson
Assistant Director, Alumni Council on Admissions
Development and Alumni Relations

Prior to taking her current position in November 2007, Wayles was a Coordinator in the Parents Program of the Penn Fund in Development and Alumni Relations.
She holds a Bachelor’s in Business Management and International Relations from Washington College and will complete a Master’s in Government Administration from the Fels Institute at Penn in Spring of 2009. She recently earned a certificate in Non-Profit Administration from the College of General Studies.
Wayles is a member of the Netter Center for Community Partnership’s Penn VIPS Scholarship Committee, liaison to Overbrook High School to recruit scholarship applicants, and is on the GradFest Planning Committee.

Personal Statement:
I am running for a Member at large position to have a more active role in the issues of the University. With a true passion for higher education, I am looking to help promote the mission of the University and the importance of professional staff. I truly believe in staff engagement in the University community and hope to work to strengthen these relationships if elected to be a Member at Large.