Abington chancellor expands sexual harassment resource team

Abington chancellor expands sexual harassment resource team

Penn State Abington Chancellor Karen Wiley Sandler last week fulfilled her promise to expand the sexual harassment resource team at the campus with the appointment of two new members.

Judith Newman, associate professor of human development and family studies, and Christopher Walters, associate director of enrollment management and retention, accepted Sandler’s invitation to serve as sexual harassment resource people (SHRP). They join Carol DeBunda, coordinator of the Career Development Center, and Anthony Gyapong, associate professor of economics, as SHRPs at Abington.

Sandler is grateful to the SHRPs for accepting this responsibility. “I offer my thanks to each of them as well as everyone who makes a commitment to keeping Penn State Abington a safe, harassment-free and welcoming environment.”

SHRPs undergo annual training and are available to discuss any concerns or complaints. They also have direct access to the Affirmative Action Office at University Park. Several years ago, the University directed every college, campus and administrative unit to implement the SHRP program.

Newman has worked at Abington for more than 30 years. She teaches ethics to human development students, and she is writing a book on human rights. In his role in the admissions department, Walters works extensively with students and he is heavily involved in campus life.

At Abington’s spring semester opening meeting, Sandler announced that she would expand the SHRP team. The meeting was followed by a workshop conducted by Kenneth Lehrman, vice provost for affirmative action. He concentrated on the numerous and varied options to report sexual harassment with confidentiality and to protect against retaliation.

For more information on SHRPs and the University’s Sexual Harassment Policy, go to www.affirmativeaction.psu.edu/