Penn State Greater Allegheny announces two interim appointments to the Academic Affairs Department. Delia Conti, associate professor of communications arts and sciences has been named interim director of Academic Affairs, and James Jaap, senior instructor of English has been named interim director of Academic Administration. The two will be responsible for all academic programs, faculty, academic support programs and academic staff respective for an approximate six-month period. During this time, the campus will search for a permanent department head for academic affairs.
Dr. Conti joined the campus in the fall of 1988 and was tenured in 1998 as an associate professor of communication arts and sciences. In addition to holding a doctoral degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Conti earned a juris doctorate from Duquesne University. As interim director of Academic Affairs she is responsible for all full-time faculty matters to include faculty evaluations, promotion and professional development, and will supervise the operations of all academic programs. Conti will continue to head the corporate communications degree program. She serves on the University Faculty Senate and is the chair of the University Planning Committee of the Senate.
Dr. Jaap earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Dayton and a master's and a doctorate both in English from Duquesne University. He began his career at Penn State in 1997 as an instructor of English and served as tech prep coordinator. He became assistant director of Academic Affairs in 2003 and was promoted to senior instructor in English in 2006. In the new interim director of Academic Administration position, Jaap is responsible for hiring and supervision of adjunct faculty, academic staff and all academic support programs.
Conti and Jaap are replacing the former director of Academic Affairs, Dr. Margaret Signorella, who returned to the faculty full time after serving in the position for seven years.