Faculty/Staff News of Record: Appointments, Feb. 26, 2004

Faculty/Staff News of Record: Appointments, Feb. 26, 2004

The following people were appointed to new positions at the University:

Associate director named in Office of Research Protections

Jacqueline K. Gardner has been appointed to the newly created position of associate director in the Office of Research Protections.

Gardner will assist Candice Yekel, office director, in managing day-to-day compliance operations, monitoring the five committees providing compliance oversight and submitting reports to Federal regulatory agencies.

The Office of Research Protections monitors University researchers’ compliance with federal regulations that safeguard the public and the human and animal subjects used in scientific, agricultural and medical investigations. The office also offers education, training and assistance in complying with the protection of human research participants and animal care and use regulations, avoiding conflict of interest and adhering to research ethics.

Gardner joined the University in 2001 as project coordinator and laboratory manager for the National Institutes of Health-funded study of “Bioenergetics of Exercise-Induced Menstrual Disturbances” under the direction of Nancy Williams, associate professor of kinesiology. In this position, Gardner was the key liaison with the Office for Research Protections, the General Clinical Research Center and adjunct personnel to ensure adherence to study protocols for the project. She managed student personnel and the budget. In addition, she assisted in data collection and analysis, manuscript preparation and presentation.

Before joining the University, Gardner was an exercise specialist in cardiac rehabilitation and an adjunct faculty member in anatomy and physiology at Geisinger Medical Center. She also served as an exercise specialist at Allegheny General Hospital and Lewistown Hospital.

A graduate of East Stroudsburg University with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education, she earned a master’s degree in exercise science/primary and secondary prevention at East Stroudsburg and a master’s degree in human resources management at LaRoche College.

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Penn State Great Valley hires marketing director

Nancy Hesford has been named the new director of marketing and communications at Penn State Great Valley.

Hesford comes to Great Valley with extensive experience in the private and public sectors. After earning her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Kent State University, Hesford began her career as assistant director of public relations at Widener University in 1975.

After a 12-year tenure at Widener, where she became director of media relations, Hesford joined the Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington as publications coordinator.

In 1990, she joined the University of Pennsylvania Health System as managing editor of Penn Today magazine. Later, she moved on to become marketing specialist at the health system’s Penn Medicine at Radnor.

From 2000 through 2003, Hesford served as director of marketing for Kremer Laser Eye Center.

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McKenna returns to surgery at Hershey Medical Center

Kevin J. McKenna, former chief resident in surgery at Hershey Medical Center, has joined the Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery in the College of Medicine, Hershey Medical Center.

McKenna will practice at various clinics in central Pennsylvania, providing care for patients with colorectal problems including inflammatory bowel disease, colon and rectal cancer, and various anorectal disorders.

McKenna returns to Penn State with 10 years of clinical experience, including four years in community practice. He rejoined the medical center after serving on active duty with the U.S. Air Force as a colon and rectal surgeon with the 89th Medical Group at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Since completion of his military service in 1999, he has been a member of the attending staff in the Department of Surgery at Winchester Medical Center, a regional, tertiary care facility in northern Virginia.

After completing his general surgery training, as well as a postdoctoral research fellowship in the Department of Surgery at Hershey Medical Center in 1994, McKenna subsequently served as the Wallace R. Ruwitch clinical fellow in colon and rectal surgery at The Jewish Hospital of St. Louis at Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis, from 1994 to 1995.

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2 appointed to posts in Development

The Office of University Development announces two appointments to new posts.

Margaret Uhrich Taylor has been hired as director of Development and University Relations for Penn State Erie, effective Feb. 16. Taylor has served as director of institutional advancement for Penn State Mont Alto for the past four years.

In her new post, Taylor will plan and direct all development activities related to the promotion and advancement of funding initiatives for Penn State Erie. Her principal responsibilities will include cultivating and soliciting gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations.

Taylor received her bachelor’s degree from Shippensburg University and has more than 20 years of experience in development and institutional advancement.

Kendra Pfautz joined the University’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations in January as assistant director of development for the Capital College.

Pfautz is responsible for the organization and implementation of fund-raising programs and related activities for the Capital College. She comes to Penn State after serving for more than three years as comptroller and deputy finance director for the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania. Pfautz is a 2001 Penn State graduate with a degree in public policy.