Assistant Deans Present Session at National Education Conference

Two Pennsylvania College of Technology administrators recently presented a session on faculty mentoring at the 36th annual conference for the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges.

Joanna K. Pruden, assistant dean of integrated studies-programs, and Ed Owens, assistant dean of integrated studies-liberal arts and sciences, presented "Successful Mentoring Programs for New and Adjunct Faculty Members."

The session focused on approaches used to mentor faculty based on their needs and those of the institution. The objectives for the session were to provide a rationale for why a mentoring program is essential, provide models and materials that can be implemented to mentor new faculty and adjuncts, and to share the benefits and areas of improvement for the mentoring processes that were implemented as a result of assessment projects.

The conference, held Nov. 11-14 in Boston, was attended by more than 1,200 mathematics educators from around the United States and Canada. The American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges is the only organization exclusively devoted to providing a national forum for the improvement of the instruction of mathematics in the first two years of college.

Prior to her appointment as assistant dean of integrated studies-programs, Pruden served as director of mathematics and general education, as mathematics department head, and as an assistant professor of mathematics at Penn College. She has teaching experience at Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami and at the University of Miami's School of Business.

Pruden holds a Master of Science in operations research/applied statistics, and she earned a Bachelor of Arts with a double emphasis in political science and economics and a minor in management science from the University of Miami.

Owens previously served as interim assistant dean and acting assistant dean for the School of Integrated Studies and was the mathematics department head and assistant professor of mathematics for 20 years. Before coming to Penn College, he was a math instructor at Susquehanna University; a teacher, department head, computer coordinator and assistant principal in public school; and an adjunct faculty member at Penn State Altoona and Lycoming College.

He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Lock Haven University, as well as a master's degree in mathematics education and certification in administration from Penn State. He received an Excellence in Teaching Award from Penn College in 1995.

To learn more about the mathematics department and other academic programs offered by the School of Integrated Studies at Penn College, call 570-327-4521 or visit online .

For general information about the college, visit on the Web , e-mail or call toll-free 800-367-9222.