Application deadline
Credits and costs
Nationally Recognized
Learn How to Transform Organizations One Person at a Time
Developing individuals, teams, and organizations capable of innovative and meaningful change is a critical skill for leaders in all sectors of the global economy.
Whether you are already established in an organization development and change career or relatively new to the profession, Penn State's online Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change (MPS–OD&C) program supports the next generation of leaders working to help organizations develop and improve their practices, systems, and strategies in complex and rapidly changing environments.
Why Study Organization Development and Change at Penn State?
Our 30-credit online degree program provides close and consistent interaction with a recognized and caring faculty. To further support your growth, the program also introduces you to a network of experienced professionals. Through interaction with them, you can gauge your skills and proficiencies, accelerate your learning, and see how you might shape a career in this emerging field.
As you progress through the program, you will be able to use your new skills in your current job to help enhance your organization’s performance. In addition, faculty will regularly draw from relevant work-related situations to ensure that the knowledge you are gaining is grounded in the reality of how organizations develop and change.
Customize Your Master's Degree
The curriculum includes five required core courses, four elective courses, and one required field-based capstone course. You can tailor your degree to meet your goals by selecting concentration areas or electives that promote your career choices and increase your overall marketability.
You can select course work from one or more of the concentration areas below or from the list of electives:
- Consulting. Prepare yourself as a strategic consultant and practitioner of organizational change, talent development, workforce development, performance improvement, and training.
- Operational Excellence. Prepare yourself to work as a practitioner and facilitator for organizational change, process improvement, business analytics, and project management initiatives.
- Analytics. Learn about analytical tools and approaches as they apply to organization development and change initiatives.
- Technology-Leveraged Organization Development. Develop competencies to identify, select, and apply technologies to help you and your organization in everyday practice as a professional and as an OD consultant.
Earn HRCI®, SHRM, or PMI® Recertification Credits
The Penn State Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change is an Approved Provider of the HR Certification Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management. In addition, Penn State is a Project Management Institute (PMI) Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.) and each course in the MPS–OD&C program is approved toward your application or recertification.
Courses
Penn State's 30-credit online Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change program can help you prepare to implement quality and continuous improvement initiatives in an organization. Throughout the program's curriculum, you will have the opportunity to:
- obtain a critical knowledge base in organization development, appreciative inquiry, collaborative engagement, evaluation, and change
- strategically lead both small group and large group change initiatives
- cultivate and demonstrate your competence in using various resources for developing, implementing, evaluating, and marketing organization development programs and initiatives
- learn about addressing ethical issues when performing development activities
- grow your competence in observing group dynamics and facilitating change
- become confident of your skills and effectiveness as an organization development practitioner through practical hands-on experience
The curriculum includes five required courses (15 credits), four elective courses (12 credits), and one required field-based project course (3 credits).
The Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change (MPS–OD&C) will be conferred upon students who earn a minimum of 30 credits while maintaining a grade-point average of 3.0 or better in all course work and complete a quality culminating field-based project in consultation with a graduate adviser.
Required Courses (15 credits)
Concentration Areas and General Electives (select 12 credits)
Select 12 credits of additional courses from concentration areas that align with your career interests or from the list of general electives. The purpose is to develop skills tailored to your professional goals.
Four concentrations are currently available. The following lists of concentration areas and electives may expand or change over time in response to market demand.
Analytics
Consulting
Operational Excellence
Technology-Leveraged Organization Development
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or:
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General Electives
Culminating Experience (3 credits)
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.
Costs and Financial Aid
Graduate Tuition
Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,007 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,082 per semester |
Financial Aid and Military Benefits
Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.
How to Apply
Deadlines and Important Dates
Your degree application, including receipt of all transcripts, should be received by the following deadlines to be considered complete:
Admissions Help
If you have questions about the admissions process, contact our admissions counselors.
Admission Requirements
For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.
Admission to the program requires a minimum of two years of related full-time work. Full-time work experience does not include undergraduate internships. If you do not yet have 2 years of full-time work experience, you are encouraged to apply to one of the OD&C Graduate Certificate programs first. The Penn State Graduate School will allow up to 15 non-degree or certificate credits (successfully completed courses with a B or better and taken within the last 5 years) to be transferred to count toward a degree program at a later date.
What You Need
Applications are submitted electronically and include a nonrefundable application fee. You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:
Official transcripts from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Penn State alumni do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State, but must list Penn State as part of your academic history. If you are admitted, you will be asked to send an additional official transcript. You will receive instructions at that time.
GPA and Test Scores — Postsecondary (undergraduate), junior/senior (last two years) GPA is required. Program Faculty will consider applications from those who maintained an undergraduate junior/senior GPA of 2.50 or higher.
GRE or GMAT scores are NOT required for admission.
English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.
References (3) — you will need to initiate the process through the online application by entering names, email addresses, and mailing addresses of three references. Upon submission of your application, an email will be sent to each reference requesting they complete a brief online recommendation regarding your commitment to success in an online program. Please inform all recommenders they must submit the form in order for your application to be complete.
Program-Specific Questions/Materials
Résumé — Upload your résumé to the online application.
Statement of Purpose — A statement of career and educational goals including documentation of a minimum of two years of related full-time work. The statement should be an essay (2-3 pages in length) that demonstrates the applicant's written communication skills.
Start Your Application
You can begin your online application at any time. Your progress within the online application system will be saved as you go, allowing you to return at any point as you gather additional information and required materials.
Begin the graduate school application
- Choose Enrollment Type: "Degree Admission"
- Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus
Checking Your Status
You can check the status of your application by using the same login information established for the online application form.
Technical Requirements
Review the technical requirements for this degree program.
Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.
Advance Your Organization Development Career
Advance Your Organization Development Career
The knowledge you acquire in this degree program can qualify you to work within corporate and talent development, process management, and consulting. You'll also have the support of Penn State Career Services.
Earn a Valuable Credential along the Way
Earn a Valuable Credential along the Way
Show mastery of specific subjects before your degree is complete. Thanks to shared courses across programs, students can often earn a certificate along with their degree in less time than if they earned them separately.
Contact Us
To learn more about the Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change, offered in partnership with the Penn State College of Education, please contact:
World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
Email: [email protected]
Whitney Deshong
Administrative Support Assistant
OD&C Program Office
The Pennsylvania State University
303 Keller Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-0473
Email: [email protected]
Faculty
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Catherine Baumgardner
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
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DegreeMHA, Finance, Planning, Marketing, Ohio State University
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DegreeB.S., Business Administration, HR and Production Management, Ohio State University
Dr. Catherine Baumgardner is a faculty member in Penn State’s School of Public Policy as well as the Workforce Education and Development program. She is also president of Catherine Baumgardner & Associates, Inc., a consulting practice specializing in leadership and organization development. An experienced health care executive, she has more than 30 years of operational and consulting experience. Dr. Baumgardner has worked with inpatient and outpatient hospital environments as well as physician practice management and long-term care. Her research interests include organization development, leadership development, and workforce engagement.
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Eric J. Bergstrom
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
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DegreeM.Ed., Training and Development, Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Human Resources Management, Penn State
Dr. Eric J. Bergstrom has taught undergraduate credit and noncredit business management courses as well as graduate training and development and organizational development courses. He has facilitated leadership development programs for organizations across a variety of industries focused on strategic planning processes, continuous improvement processes, human resource development, and organization development. His practical and research interests include individual career development, leadership competency modeling and development, human resource development, and organizational process improvement.
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I-Ming Chen
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DegreeM.Sc., Business Management, University of Southampton
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DegreeM.Ed., Industrial Technology Education, National Taiwan Normal University
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DegreeB.A., English Language and Literature, Fu Jen Catholic University
I-Ming Chen — certified college lecturer/instructor issued by the Ministry of Education in Taiwan and currently a Ph.D. student in the technology application and HRD department at National Taiwan Normal University — has served at multiple universities as a lecturer for a decade. He has worked as an organizational consultant specializing in international and cross-cultural HRD, OD&C, and language proficiency certification industries for public sectors. His research interests involve the integration of technology applications on HRD and OD&C issues.
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Roy B. Clariana
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DegreeEd.D., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Memphis
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DegreeM.S.Ed., Biology Education, University of Central Arkansas
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DegreeB.S., Biology, University of Central Arkansas
Dr. Roy B. Clariana is a professor of learning, design, and technology. He is an experienced researcher with deep practical experience in industry. He is widely recognized for work in developing new measures of knowledge structure to complement traditional test measures. As PI of a recent National Science Foundation project, his team applied knowledge structure measures to specify the fMRI neurocognitive signatures of naturalistic reading. He developed the online versions of LDT 415: Systematic Instructional Development and LDT 832: Designing e-Learning within Course Management Systems and teaches these courses regularly.
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Susan E. Cromwell
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
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DegreeM.Ed., Agricultural and Extension Education, Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Animal Science, Delaware Valley University
Dr. Susan E. Cromwell is a practitioner in the field of HR/OD/OCM in both the private and public sectors. She has extensive experience in talent management, organizational change management, leadership and management development, strategic planning, organizational development, and leading change in large-scale ERP implementations. Dr. Cromwell is certified as a Human Capital Strategist and in Prosci change management methodologies. She leads organizational change management for the finance and business division of Penn State.
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Maureen Dodson
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education, Penn State
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DegreeM.A., Professional Writing, Carnegie Mellon University
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DegreeB.A., English, Seton Hill University
Dr. Maureen Dodson has taught numerous undergraduate and graduate courses at Penn State for more than 20 years. She teaches WFED 880: Facilitating Groups and Teams for Penn State World Campus. Dr. Dodson has spent her career helping organizations advance leadership skills, improve interpersonal communications, and create high-performing teams. Her expertise lies in DiSC®, Emotional Intelligence (EQ), the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®), team performance, and coaching. She is certified in a variety of 360 Instruments.
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John Dolan
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DegreePh.D., Organization Development, Penn State
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DegreeM.B.A, Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University
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DegreeB.A., Advertising, Penn State
Dr. John Dolan has taught in the marketing and public relations disciplines for undergraduate, graduate, and executive education audiences for more than 15 years. His research interests during his organization development doctoral work explored the impact of social media — specifically Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn — on informal learning and the development of communities of practice in the workplace. He has been published in both the Encyclopedia of Human Resources Management and the Encyclopedia on Social Media and Politics.
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Wesley E. Donahue, PE, PMP
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education, Penn State
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DegreeMBA, Clarion University
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DegreeB.S., Civil Engineering, Penn State
Dr. Wesley E. Donahue is the coordinator of the online Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change and an instructor of related courses and programs. An experienced researcher, developer, and leadership consultant, he has an extensive manufacturing, engineering, sales, and management background, having started and operated businesses for more than 30 years. Dr. Donahue is a registered professional engineer, six-sigma black belt, and author of a host of education and training materials.
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I-Pang Fu
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education, Penn State
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DegreeM.Ed., Human Resource Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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DegreeMBA, Human Resource Management, National Changhua University of Education, Taiwan
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DegreeB.A., Sport Management, National Taiwan Sport University, Taiwan
Dr. I-Pang Fu brings more than 10 years of experience as a learning design and technology consultant, leading multiple learning design efforts and online programs at WIDA, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Penn State, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Fu is the lead learning designer in online programs at Penn State Law. He has implemented learning design in more than 100 virtual learning solutions and has supported more than 15,000 adult learners around the globe since 2011. Before joining Penn State Law, he was the senior information process consultant at WIDA, a faculty associate and program manager at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the instructional designer at Penn State Smeal College of Business, and a web specialist at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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Shubha G. Kashyap
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
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DegreeM.A., Student Affairs Administration, Michigan State University
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DegreeB.S., Psychology, Michigan State University
Dr. Shubha G. Kashyap is a higher education and organization development professional with extensive experience in change management, business coaching, strategic planning, appreciative inquiry, process consultation, and facilitation. She is the director of online learning design & innovation for the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan. Having worked at multiple universities, Dr. Kashyap’s drive for increasing access to education is eminent throughout her career. She has successfully launched several online degree programs designed for adult learners, specializes in program development for diverse learners, manages small- and large-scale strategic education initiatives, and is an advocate for first-generation college students and inclusive education practices. Her research interests are in the areas of coaching, managing institutional change, and examining facilitating and inhibiting factors for change management.
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John M. Kenny
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
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DegreeMBA, Bryant University
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DegreeB.S., Physical Oceanography, U.S. Naval Academy
Dr. John M. Kenny is an experienced researcher. He was an Executive Fellow at the Brookings Institute in Washington, D.C., and a Research Fellow for the Office of Naval Research. He was also a senior research engineer at Penn State's Applied Research Laboratory. As a Penn State adjunct professor, he teaches Process Consultation. Dr. Kenny is a professor at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and teaches Theater Security Decision-Making.
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Taesung Kim
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
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DegreeM.Ed., HRD, Yonsei University, South Korea
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DegreeB.A, Education, Yonsei University, South Korea
Dr. Taesung Kim has more than 10 years of experience as an internal manager and external consultant in the field of human resource development and management. He worked for KPMG Korea, a Korean member firm of the KPMG global network that provides audit and business advisory services, as a senior manager in the Learning and Development Center. He served simultaneously on the HR Steering Group, the Labor-Management Council, and the Promotion and Communication Steering Group.
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Bora Kwon
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education, Penn State
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DegreeM.S., Human Resources and Employment Relations, Penn State
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DegreeM.S., International Studies, Yonsei University, South Korea
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DegreeB.A., Language and Literature, Sungshin Women’s University, South Korea
Dr. Bora Kwon is an assistant professor of management at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. She was a human resource consultant at Willis Towers Watson, where she administered various human resources consulting projects. Dr. Kwon's scholarship focuses on international HRM, HR analytics, employee voice, work engagement, and work-family balance. Her work has been published in Human Resources Management, Human Resources Management Review, Journal of Organizational Behavior, and Leadership & Organization Development Journal.
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Dena Lang
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DegreePh.D., Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Penn State
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DegreeMBA, Johns Hopkins University
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DegreeB.S., Mechanical Engineering, West Virginia University
Dr. Dena Lang is associate director of Engineering Leadership Research. Her professional experiences and research interests range from facilities design to research that applied engineering and molecular biology approaches to study the skeletal response to mechanical loading. Additional research interests have included the investigation of relationships among the indoor environment, occupants, and energy usage. Dr. Lang's current research interests focus on identifying, assessing, and developing key skills, knowledge, and attitudes required for engineers to effectively lead others.
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Patricia Macko
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
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DegreeMSIT, Instructional Technology, Bloomsburg University
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DegreeB.S., Business Administration, Bloomsburg University
Dr. Patricia Macko is an adjunct faculty member for Penn State World Campus as well as Workforce Education and Development programs. She is also president of the Macko Consulting Group, a consulting practice specializing in leadership and organization development. Dr. Macko is an experienced health care and financial industry practitioner. She has worked as an organization consultant for the past 10 years. Her research interests include organization development, leadership development, competency modeling, and talent development.
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Jennifer Siford-Myers
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development (OD/HRD), Penn State
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DegreeM.S., Criminal Justice, Boston University
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DegreeB.S., Occupational Education, Human Services, Wayland Baptist University
Dr. Jennifer Siford-Myers is a practitioner in the field of HRD/OD in the public sector. She has also served as an instructor for the Professional Personnel Development Center at Penn State. Her research interests are employee engagement, organization development, process improvement, and data analysis. Dr. Silford-Myers is the author of multiple publications focused on organization development, employee engagement, and health care. A recent publication (2017) is Assessment and Diagnosis for Organization Development: Powerful Tools and Perspectives for the OD Practitioner.
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Michele Newhard
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
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DegreeM.S., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
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DegreeM.A., Ancient Greek History, Penn State
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DegreeB.A., Classics, Penn State
Dr. Michele Newhard's teaching and research interests include appreciative inquiry, positive psychology and positive emotions, strengths philosophy, systems thinking, intergenerational communication, coaching, and team-building. She has developed and taught graduate courses in the basics of appreciative inquiry, appreciative inquiry coaching, and appreciative leadership. Dr. Newhard has published work on appreciative inquiry, succession planning, work-family balance, and job burnout. She is also a certified life and mentor coach, as well as a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach.
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Jong Gyu Park
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
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DegreePh.D., Business Administration - Organization and Human Resources, Sungkyunkwan University
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DegreeMBA, Sungkyunkwan University
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DegreeB.A., Business Administration, Sungkyunkwan University
Dr. Jong Gyu Park is an assistant professor of management at Penn State Altoona. He was a management consultant at Deloitte and Willis Towers Watson, where he managed and administered various human resources and strategic management consulting projects. His areas of interest and research include shared leadership, ethical leadership, and leadership development in the organization. He has published several articles in refereed journals, such as Journal of Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management Review, and Personnel Review.
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Gerald Post
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DegreeEd.D., Training and Development, Adult Ed., Organizational Development, Northern Illinois University
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DegreeM.A., Communications, University of Illinois
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DegreeB.A., Communications, Elmhurst College
Dr. Gerald Post specializes in adult learning, organizational development, and accelerated learning, and leadership programs for many organizations. He has published articles and a book, and has built several corporate universities. He has held positions of vice president, director of training, or project manager, as well as taught for various northern Illinois secondary education schools. Currently, Dr. Post consults and serves as a visiting professor for various colleges and universities, and has received the Top 125 Training national recognition.
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Matthew Raup
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education, Penn State
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DegreeM.S., Instructional Technology, Bloomsburg University
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DegreeB.S., Information Technology, Juniata College
Dr. Matthew Raup has extensive experience as an IT leader and specializes in organizational change management and employee engagement. He works for the Department of Defense (DoD) as the chief of the business intelligence division at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Having worked as a leader in the IT industry for more than 18 years, he has had first-hand experience leading large organizational changes and implementing new technologies. He has also managed IT at both the K–12 and higher education levels and was a member of the U.S. Army National Guard 2nd 112th Army Infantry Division.
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William Rothwell
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DegreePh.D., Education, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
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DegreeM.A.B.A., Business, Sangamon State University, Springfield, IL (now the University of Illinois at Springfield)
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DegreeM.A., English, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
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DegreeB.A., English, Illinois State University, Bloomington
Dr. William J. Rothwell, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CPLP Fellow, is professor of workplace learning and performance in the Workforce Education and Development Program, part of the Department of Learning and Performance Systems, on the Penn State University Park campus. As one of the founders of the MPS in ODC program, he had many years of experience in OD before becoming a faculty member in 1993. His research interests center around organization development, talent management, and succession planning. He is the author of 110 books and more than 200 articles.
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Angela L. M. Stopper
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Human Resources and Organization Development, Penn State
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DegreeM.S., Workforce Education and Development, Human Resources and Organization Development, Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Marketing and International Business, Penn State
Dr. Angela L. M. Stopper is an instructor of workforce education and development for Penn State World Campus. She is an experienced workforce education practitioner and academic, having spent her 20+ years working in executive education and learning and development organizations. Currently, she is the Chief Learning Officer at University of California, Berkeley, and a frequent speaker with leading industry groups, including the Association for Talent Development (ATD).
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Mark Threeton
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
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DegreeM.S., Higher Education, Kansas State University
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DegreeB.S., Technical Education, Pittsburg State University
Dr. Mark Threeton is an associate professor of learning and performance systems and coordinator of career and technical teacher education within the workforce education and development program at Penn State. He consults, teaches, and conducts research in the areas of training and development, facilities management, occupational safety, and experiential learning to promote enhanced learning and skill development. His research has been published widely in scholarly research journals and books. He holds extensive credentials across education and training. Prior to joining the Penn State faculty, he was a technical educator and professional in the field of automotive technology.
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Hyung Joon Yoon
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DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
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DegreeM.A., Adult Continuing Education, Korea University
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DegreeB.Ec., Food and Resource Economics, Korea University
Hyung Joon Yoon, SPHR, CCSP, has gained multinational experience in such countries as the United States, South Korea, and Morocco as a researcher-practitioner. His specialties include facilitating OD through career development, assessing individual and organizational strengths, and facilitating a participatory strategic planning process. He has presented his research findings more than 50 times in more than six countries, and he received the Individual Greatness Award (Franklin Covey Greatness Award) in recognition for the creation of measurable change in an organization in 2006.
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