About Us
Penn State and You:
Working together to create a safe environment.
In order to enhance emergency preparedness and prevention efforts, Penn State has established a Behavioral Threat Management Team (BTMT). The objective of the BTMT is to systematically identify, evaluate, and manage potentially threatening situations, including persons of concern, at the University. The multidisciplinary team is composed of people from across the University. This centralized team is led in partnership between Student Affairs and University Police and Public Safety.
Mission
The Pennsylvania State University Behavioral Threat Management Team is committed to the safety and well-being of the University community through education, communication, planning, assessment, and management toward the goal of mitigating behavioral threats.
Goals
Education
To educate others on recognizing behavior that may be aggressive, disruptive, or dangerous, and the risks associated with such behavior.
Communication
To provide methods for improving threat awareness and communication related to concerning behavior, reporting options, response protocols, and general team functions.
Planning
To implement a structured and effective system and process that provides team planning regarding all functions of the team, including but not limited to: community education, awareness and outreach, incident response and threat analysis, violence de-escalation practices, and program evaluation.
Assessment
To assess overall program efforts and outcomes, and identify and discuss campus environment trends that negatively affect the climate of our community and influence policy development and resource allocation.
Management
To effectively manage all incidents referred to the BTMT and all other functions and processes associated with the threat analysis and management process.
Team Members
Abington
Sanjay Bridges, University Police and Public Safety, Station Commander
Matthew Fury, Vice Chancellor
Keisha Johnson, Associate Director of Student Affairs
Gina D'Amato Kaufman, Director of Student Affairs (Chair)
Melinda Kennedy, HR Strategic Partner
Gary Liguori, Chancellor
Huijiao Xu, LPC CAPS
Altoona
Dani Fry, Director of Student Affairs
Peter Moran, Associate Dean for Policy and Planning
Jonathan O'Harrow, Director of Strategic Communications
Ashley Owens, Assocaite Director of Student Affairs, Student Accountability and Conflict Resolution (Chair)
Jason Salm, University Police and Public Safety, Lieutenant
Christine Towns-Metrik, Co-Director, Health & Wellness Center (CAPS)
Beaver
Stephanie Davies, Regional HR Strategic Partner
Amy Gartley, Associate Director of Student Affairs (Chair)
Robert Hippo, Regional Director for Campus Relations - Altoona, Behrend, Beaver, Shenango, New Kensington, Greater Allegheny, and Fayette Campuses
Jess Judy, Health Services Nurse
Mari Pierce, Interim Director of Academic Affairs
Andy Puleo, Interim Regional Director of Student Affairs
Brenda Schultz, Student Personal & Career Counselor (Chair)
Patrick Smith, University Police and Public Safety
Marque Wiese, University Police and Public Safety, Station Commander
Berks
Joel Avram, University Police and Public Safety, Lieutenant
Elyce Kaplan, Campus Registrar
Kyle Kowal, Assistant Director Residence Life
Todd Migliaccio, Director of Academic Affairs
Brian Samble, Director of Student Affairs (Chair)
Shao Shuai, Associate Director of Student Affairs
Erin Stilley, Human Resources
Colleen Tilger, Counselor
Brandywine
Donald Brennan, Interim Director of Student Affairs, Assistant Director of Residence Life
Ed Dixon, Counselor
Falesha Ghee, University Police and Public Safety, Sergeant
Melinda Kennedy, Regional HR Strategic Partner
Gary Miller, Senior Associate Director of Student Affairs (Chair)
Marilyn Wells, Chancellor
Jennifer Nesbitt, Interim Director of Academic Affairs
Dickinson Law School
Jeff Dodge, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Devan Drabik, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications
Valerie James, Senior Assistant Dean of Academic and Student Services
Bekah Saidman-Krauss, Senior Associate Dean of Academic and Student Services
Giselle Santibañez-Bania, Assistant Dean of Academic and Student Services (Chair)
Michele Vollmer, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Craig Wagner, University Police and Public Safety, Lieutenant
Laura Williams, Senior Associate Dean External Affairs and Chief of Staff
Dubois
Jill Betton, Campus Nurse
Adam Bundy, Academic Advising
Cody Haag, University Police and Public Safety
Colleen Lanzoni, Mental Health Therapist
Rebecca Pennington, Director of Student Affairs (Chair)
Jordan Rummel, Disability Services Coordinator
Erie Behrend
Joel Burrick, University Police and Public Safety, Sergeant
Robb Frederick, Director of Strategic Communications
Lesley Mitchell, University Police and Public Safety, Station Commander
Megan O'Polka, Associate Director of Student Affairs
Kimberly Paris, HR Strategic Partner
Kelly Shrout, Associate Director of Student Affairs (Chair)
Sarah Whitney, Assistant Director of Academic Administration
Fayette
Jay Arcuri, Director of Student Affairs (Chair)
Amanda Collins, Counseling and Psychological Services
JoAnn Jankowski, Faculty Representative
James Lane, University Police and Public Safety
Ronette Poorbaugh, Campus Nurse
Erin Morton, Regional HRSP
Barry Pawloski, Assistant Director of Student Affairs
Linsay Simon-Jones, Director of Academic Affairs
Sam Swetz, Interim Director of Athletics
Great Valley
Sanjay Bridges, University Police and Public Safety
Nora Day, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Planning (Chair)
JoAnn Kelly, Director of Enrollment Management & Student Services
Erin Morton, HR Strategic Partner
Colin Neil, Chancellor
Greater Allegheny
Crystal Ackles, Associate Director of Student Affairs
Alyssa Basinger, HR Rep
Kevin Debow, Mental Health Therapist
Bill Hager, Regional Director of Strategic Communications (as needed)
Brad Kovalcik, Director of Student Affairs (Chair)
Jim Lane, University Police and Public Safety, Station Commander
Barrett Scroggs, Director of Academic Affairs
Harrisburg
David Beardsley, Regional HR Strategic Partner
Gina Brelsford, Professor
Todd Camp, Executive Director of Administration
Todd Clark, Senior Director of Student Services (Chair)
Shawn Frawley, University Police and Public Safety
Eileen Haase, Director, Counseling and Psychological Services
Vahid Motevalli, Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Kelly Weaber, Assistant Director, Student Care and Advocacy/Residence Life
Hazleton
Tracy Garnick, Director of Student Services & Engagement (Chair)
James Joos, University Police and Public Safety
Jen Oshinkski, Human Resources Strategic Partner
Karen Sofranko, Director of Academic Services and Retention
Dana Sukeena, Counselor
Gina Tarud, Teaching Professor
Elizabeth Wright, Chancellor
Hershey
Steve Beard, Security Manager (Co-Chair)
Cheryl Hermanson, Manager of Patient and Family Relations - Patient Experience; HMC Patient and Guest Experience Patient Relations
Nicole Lehman, Associate General Counsel
Martha Peaslee Levine, Director of Phy Res Fac Mental Health Counseling - Adminisrtation; Psychiatry - Administration
Kay Makin, Director of Risk Management
Mary McQuinn, Human Resources Consultant, COM Human Resources
David Melhorn, Security Director (Co-Chair)
Michael Mohr, Attorney, Administration
Jennifer Reed, Risk Management Manager
April Shetterly, Nurse Resource Coordinator
Tracy Sinopoli, RN, Nurse Manager
Jake Theis, Associate General Counsel
Thomas Tropasso - Cyber Defense Incident Response Manager-Cybersecurity Ops; PSH Cybersecurity Operations
Lehigh Valley
Aurora Brunovsky, Regional HR Consultant
Marta DeSilva, Director of Advising and Career Services
Jonathan Desiderio, University Police and Public Safety
Danyell Fondl, Registrar
Marissa Ketcham, Campus Nurse
D'Andre Miller, Director of Student Affairs (Chair)
Matt Palmer, University Police and Public Safety
Linda Rumfield, Coordinator of the Learning
Tammy Yocum-Cwienkala, Counselor
Mont Alto
Jay Arcuri, Director of Student Affairs (Co-Chair)
Staci Brennan, Director of Athletics
Michael Doncheski, Director of Academic Affairs
Patty Gochenauer, Senior Manager of Student Life (Co-Chair)
Lauraine Hawkins, Faculty Representative
Sophia McCleaf, Division of Undergraduate Studies Coordinator
Darlene Pasi, Counselor
Donna Rhodes, Manager of Student Services
Craig Wagner, University Police and Public Safety
Danielle Werner, Campus Nurse
Kendra Wolgast, Academic Support Center
New Kensington
Larry Bishop, University Police and Public Safety
Jill Dickun, Interim Director of Student Affairs (Chair)
Brittany Hoover, Mental Health Counselor
James Lane, University Police and Public Safety, Station Commander
Allen Larson, Interim Director of Academic Affairs
Stella Milburn, Nurse
Erin Morton, Regional HR Strategic Partner
Schuylkill
Michele Bachman, Coordinator of Health Services
Angie Brown, Assistant Director of Academic Affairs
Lisa Cecchini, Financial Aid and Veterans Benefits Coordinator
Shakwat Chowdhury, Assistant Director of Student Affairs
Kayla Felty, Athletic Director
Steve Guers, University Police and Public Safety, Sergeant
Cherise Key, Residence Life Coordinator
Jen Oshinski, Regional Human Resources Strategic Partner
Kimberly Quinn, Student Services Associate
Mindy Spolski, Coordinator of Counseling and Disability Services
Bryan Valentine, Director of Student Affairs and Athletics (Chair)
Robin Welsh, Advising and Retention Manager
Scranton
Meghan Cruciani, Associate Director of Academic Advising
H. Durell Johnson, Director of Academic Affairs
Matthew Nied, Director Student Services and Engagement (Chair)
Nikki Paolicelli, Assistant Director of Student Services and Engagement
Sarah Smith, Coordinator of Counseling and Psychological Services
Jill Thoman, Campus Health Nurse
Shenango
Elaine Andrews, Assistant Director of Academic Affairs
Stephanie Davies, Human Resources
Bill Dungee, Director of Business Services/Finance Officer
Cassandra McCowin, Student Engagement Coordinator
Amy Nagy, Sexual Harassment Resource Officer
Tony Paglia, Personal Counselor and Disability Services Coordinator (Chair)
Andy Puleo, Director of Student Affairs
Jon Wilcox, University Police and Public Safety
University Park
Suzanne Adair, Associate Vice President for Equal Opportunity and Access
Tara Berrien, Executive Director of Equal Opportunity and Access
Paul Carswell, Coordinator of Crisis Services, CAPS, Student Affairs
Holly Cline, Associate General Counsel
Stephanie Delaney, Executive Deputy Chief, University Police and Public Safety
Ted Delaney, University Police and Public Safety, Lieutenant
Natalie Depalma, Senior Director, CAPS, Student Affairs
Amber Grove, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer,
Lori Anne Hawn, Director, Graduate Student Services
Meeghan Hollis, Senior Associate Director for Residence Life, Student Affairs
Katy Larkin, Senior Director, Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, Student Affairs
Leanne Lenz, Senior Associate Director of Resident Life, Student Affairs
Tamla Lewis, Associate General Counsel
Lisa Marranzini, Assistant Vice President for Administration, Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses
Andy Mitchell, Maxient Case Coordinator, Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, Student Affairs
Spencer Peters, Director, Office of Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Response, Student Affairs
Stephanie Preston, Graduate Student Affairs Assistant Dean, Graduate Educational Equity
Mark Rameker, Senior Director of Residence Life, Student Affairs
Alan Rieck, Associate Vice Provost and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
Brett Scofield, Associate Director of CAPS and Executive Director for the Center for Collegiate Mental Health, Student Affairs
Danny Shaha, AVP, Student Affairs (Co-Chair)
Wesley Sheets, AVP and Chief of Police, University Police and Public Safety (Co-Chair)
Jen White, Senior Employee Relations Senior Specialist, Labor and Employee Relations
Jason Zajac, Deputy Chief, University Police and Public Safety
Wilkes Barre
Meredith Cosgrove, Clinical Social Worker/Mental Health Therapist 3
Tracy Garnick, Director of Student Services & Engagement (Chair)
Auraleah Grega, Learning Support Coordinator
Jim Joos, University Police and Public Safety, Sergeant
Agnes Kim, Director of Academic Affairs
Jennifer Oshinski, Human Resources Strategic Partner
World Campus
Andrea Buffone, Academic Advising, Assistant Director
Joseph Buffone, Planning Manager
Colleen Coudriet, Director of Financial Aid and Military Benefits Outreach
ZaMyra Dow-Shaw, Mental Health Therapist
Michelle Henry, Mental Health Case Manager
Maggie Kwok, Disability Coordinator
Sara Shaw, Assistant Director of Student Care and Advocacy
Jen Toof, Assistant Director, World Campus Student Affairs (Chair)
York
Sarah Bender, Counselor, CAPS
Robert Farrell, Director of Academic Affairs
Joel Gugino, Director of Nittany Succes Center
Bob Lehman, University Police and Public Safety
Scott Simonds, Director of Student Affairs (Chair)