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About Us

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

Gina D'Amato Kaufman, Director of Student Affairs
Matthew Fury, Interim Vice Chancellor 
Keisha Johnson, Director of Residence Life and Community Standards 
Sanjay Bridges, Station Commander
Huijiao Xu, CAPS Counselor
Melinda Kennedy, Regional HR Strategic Partner
Gary Liguori, Chancellor

Altoona

Ashley Owens, Director of Student Accountability and Conflict Resolution


Peter Moran, Assistant Dean for Policy and Planning


Jason Salm, Police Station Commander


Jonathan O'Harrow, Director of Strategic Communications


Christine Towns-Metrik, Co-Director, Health & Wellness Center

Dani Fry, Director, Center for Student and Civic Engagement, Interim DSA

 

Beaver

Amy Gartley, Associate Director of Student Affairs
Chris Rizzo, Director of Student Affairs
Patrick Smith, University Police and Public Safety
Marque Wiese, Station Commander
Brenda Schultz, Student Personal & Career Counselor
Stephanie Davies, Regional HR Strategic Partner
Bill Dungee, Interim Director of Finance and Business

Mari Pierce, Interim Director of Academic Affairs

Berks

TaLisa Ramos, Associate Director of Student Affairs

Aurora Brunovsky, Human Resources

Colleen Tilger, Counselor

Elyce Kaplan, Campus Registrar

Joel Avram, Lieutenant-University Police and Public Safety

Todd Migliaccio, Director of Academic Affairs

Kyle Kowal, Assistant Director Residence Life

Brian Samble, Director of Student Affairs

 

 

Brandywine

Gary Miller, Senior Associate Director of Student Affairs

Marilyn Wells, Chancellor

Donald Brennan, Assistant Director of Residence Life

Ed Dixon, Counselor

Lisa Marranzini, Regional HR Strategic Partner

Jennifer Nesbitt, Interim Director of Academic Affairs

Falesha Ghee, Sergeant-University Police and Public Safety

Melinda Kennedy, Regional HR Strategic Partner

Stephanie Jones, Director of Student Affairs

 

 

Carlisle

Giselle Santibañez-BaniaAssistant Dean of Academic and Student Services

Laura Ax-Fultz, Associate Dean for Library & Information Services

Amy Gaudion, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Devan Drabik, Marketing and Communications Manager 3

Laura Williams, Associate Dean for Administration, Associate Dean for Career Services

Dubois

Rebecca Pennington, Director of Student Affairs


Jill Betton, Campus Nurse


Diana Kreydt, Disability Services Coordinator


Colleen Lanzoni, Mental Health Therapist


Cody Haag, University Police and Public Safety

Adam Bundy, Academic Advising

Erie

Kelly Shrout, Associate Director of Student Affairs


Sarah Whitney, Assistant Director of Academic Administration


Kimberly Paris, HR Strategic Partner


Lesley Mitchell, Station Commander

Melissa Sulkowski, Psychological Service Manager 4

Megan O'Polka, Student Conduct Officer

Fayette

Chad Long, Student Affairs
Jason Bush, Director of Business Service
Amanda Collins, Counseling and Psychological Services
James Lane, University Police and Public Safety
Ronette Poorbaugh, Campus Nurse
Barry Pawloski, Assistant Director of Student Affairs

 

Great Valley

Nora Day, HR Strategic Partner
JoAnn Kelly, Director of Enrollment Management & Student Services
Colin Neil, Chancellor 
Sanjay Bridges, University Police and Public Safety 

Greater Allegheny

Brad Kovalcik, Director of Student Affairs

Erica Willis, Program Director of Academic Career Excellence (ACE)


Marcus Roberson, Academic Advisor


Jim Lane, Station Commander-University Police and Public Safety 


Jim Reed, University Police and Public Safety

Kevin Debow, Mental Health Therapist

Harrisburg

Todd Clark, Senior Director of Student Services

Shawn Frawley, Police Officer 

Kelly Weaber, Assistant Director, Student Care and Advocacy/Residence Life

David Beardsley, Regional HR Strategic Partner

Eileen Haase, Director, Counseling and Psychological Services

Vahid Motevalli, Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Gina Brelsford, Professor, Psychology; Director, Honors Program

 


 

Hazleton

Tracy Garnick, Director of Student Services & Engagement


Karen Sofranko, Director of Academic Services and Retention


Dana Sukeena, Counselor

Elizabeth Wright, Chancellor


James Joos, University Police and Public Safety

Kellina Yarrish, Associate Director of Student Services and Engagement

Hershey

David Melhorn, Security Director
Jill Curry, Director, Human Resources, College of Medicine 
Kay Makin, Director of Risk Management
Mary McQuinn, Human Resources Manager
Michael Mohr, Assistant General Counsel
Caanen Churukha, Manager of Provider and Family Relations
Tracy Sinopoli, RN, Nurse Manager
Jake Theis, Associate General Counsel

Steve Beard, Security Manager

Martha Levine, Psychiatrist

Jennifer Reed, Risk Manager

April Shetterly, Nurse Resource Coordinator
 

Lehigh Valley

Thomas Dubreuil, Director, Student Programs and Services

Danyell Fondl, Registrar

Tammy Yocum-Cwienkala, Counselor

Linda Rumfield, Coordinator of the Learning

Aurora Brunovsky, Regional HR Consultant

Allison Souchuck, University Police and Public Safety

Matt Palmer, University Police and Public Safety

Jonathan Desiderio, University Police and Public Safety

Jennifer Waidelich, Campus Nurse 

Katie Schneck, Director of Business Services

Marta DeSilva, Director of Advising and Career Services 

 

Mont Alto

Jay Arcuri, Director of Student Affairs

Michael Doncheski, Director of Academic Affairs

Lauraine Hawkins, Faculty Representative

Darlene Pasi, Counselor

Kendra Wolgast, Director, Academic Support Center

Craig Wagner, University Police and Public Safety 

Sophia McCleaf, Division of Undergraduate Studies Coordinator

Danielle Werner, Campus Nurse

Staci Brennan, Director of Athletics

Patty Gochenauer, Manger of Student Services

Matt Ulmer, Director of Finance and Business

New Kensington

Jason Bush, Director of Business and Finance

Stella Milburn, Nurse

James Lane, Station Commander 

Marissa Welsh, Learning Center Coordinator

Larry Bishop, University Police and Public Safety 

Paula Dove, Administrative Support Assistant

Allen Larson, Interim Director of Academic Affairs

Jill DickunInterim Director of Student Affairs


 

Schuylkill

Bryan Valentine, Director of Student Affairs & Engagement


Melinda Anthony Spolski, Coordinator of Counseling and Disability Services


Steve Guers, Sergeant - University Police and Public Safety


Kimberly Quinn, Student Services Associate


Shakwat Chowdhury, Assistant Director of Student Affairs


Cory Scherer, Interim Director of Academic Affairs and Interim Chancellor

Robin Welsh, Advising and Retention Manager

Kayla Felty, Athletic Director

Scranton

Matthew Nied, Director Student Services and Engagement


H. Durell Johnson, Director of Academic Affairs


Jill Thoman, Campus Health Nurse


Eileen Giovagnoli, Associate Director of the Learning Center


Meghan Cruciani, Associate Director of Academic Advising

 

Sarah Smith, Coordinator of Counseling and Psychological Services, Mental Health Therapist


 

 

Shenango

Tony Paglia, Personal Counselor and Disability Services Coordinator 


Elaine Andrews, Assistant Director of Academic Affairs

Cassandra McCowinStudent Engagement Coordinator


Bill Dungee, Director of Business Services/Finance Officer


Andy Puleo, Director of Student Affairs


Deborah Brennan, Reference & Instruction Librarian


Stephanie Davies, Human Resources 


Amy Nagy, Sexual Harassment Resource Officer

Jon Wilcox, University Police and Public Safety

University Park

Rebecca Bywater, Director, Threat Assessment

Wes Sheets, Chief, University Police and Public Safety, Co-Chair

Danny Shaha, AVP, Student Affairs, Co-Chair

Suzanne Adair, Associate Vice President for Equal Opportunity and Access

Anna Barone, Director, Student Care and Advocacy

Paul Carswell, CAPS, Coordinator of Crisis Services

Holly Cline, Associate General Counsel

Ted Delaney, Lieutenant, University Police and Public Safety

Natalie Depalma, Senior Director, CAPS

Lori Anne Hawn, Director, Graduate Student Services

Meeghan Hollis, Senior Associate Director for Residence Life 

Ken Korbich, Manager, Labor & Employee Relations

Katy Larkin, Senior Director, Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response

Tamla Lewis, Associate General Counsel

Spencer Peters, Director, Office of Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Response

Stephanie Preston, Interim Associate Dean, Graduate Student Affairs Assistant Dean, Graduate Educational Equity

Mark Rameker, Senior Director - Residence Life

Alan Rieck, Associate Vice President and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education

Brett ScofieldAssociate Director, CAPS

Kathleen Shupenko, Associate Director, Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response

Jen White, Employee Relations Senior Specialist

Lisa Marranzini, Regional HR Strategic Partner

Jason Zajac, Deputy Chief, University Police and Public Safety

Stephanie Delaney, EDC, University Police and Public Safety

Kristi Patrickus, Title IX Coordinator

 

 

Wilkes Barre

Tracy Garnick, Director of Student Services & Engagement


Jennifer Oshinski, Human Resources Strategic Partner



Michael Morrison, Interim Director, Business Services


Meredith Cosgrove, Clinical Social Worker/Mental Health Therapist 3

Auraleah Grega, Learning Support Coordinator

 

World Campus

Jen Toof, Student Services Associate


Andrea Buffone, Academic Advising Manager


Colleen Coudriet, Director of Financial Aid and World Campus Central


Joseph Buffone, Education Strategy and Planning Manager


Linda Fultz, Accountant/Financial Aid Coordinator 


Maggie Kwok, Student Advocacy Specialist


Michelle Henry, Mental Health Case Manager 

ZaMyra Dow-Shaw, Mental Health Therapist

Sara ShawAssistant Director of Student Care and Advocacy

York

Scott Simonds, Director of Student Affairs


Robert Farrell, Director of Academic Affairs 


Bob Lehman, Station Commander, University Police and Public Safety 


Sarah Bender, Counselor, CAPS

 

If you have an emergency, call 911.