MCKEESPORT, Pa. – Lorraine Craven will serve as the new director of student services and engagement at Penn State Greater Allegheny. Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Jacqueline Edmondson announced Craven’s appointment at the end of the 2017-18 academic year.
“Lorraine brings great energy, vision, and experience to this role,” said Edmondson. “She will create and lead innovative programs that bridge curricular and co-curricular education experiences for our students as we foster more student engagement on campus, we are so fortunate to welcome her to our campus.”
Craven’s duties will include managing several units that fall under the student services and engagement umbrella including Student Government, Residence Life, Health Services, Clubs and Organizations and much more.
“Joining Greater Allegheny for me is the opportunity to continue to work with students and help them along their personal journey,” said Craven. “As a Pittsburgh native and a graduate of the Pittsburgh Public School System, working at Greater Allegheny also gives me the opportunity to have an impact within the community and with students that I have had shared experiences with.”
Craven discovered her passion for student affairs while she was completing her undergraduate degree in art history at the University at Buffalo.
“I chose higher education because I was that student in undergrad that completed an internship my junior year and realized that it was not what I wanted to do,” said Craven. “Throughout college, I worked within the Athletics Department and Student Affairs and found out that this was what I wanted to continue doing after graduation.”
Craven previously worked at North Carolina Central University, Slippery Rock University and University at Buffalo.
She holds a master of education in higher education administration from the University at Buffalo and is currently working on a doctorate of education in administration and leadership studies.