Jennelle Malcos named Eberly college assistant dean for undergraduate students
Jennelle Malcos, teaching professor in the Department of Biology and associate director of the Center for Excellence in Science Education in the Penn State Eberly College of Science, has been named the assistant dean for undergraduate students in the college, effective Jan. 1, 2024.
“Jennelle brings incredible energy and enthusiasm to this position, with more than 10 years of demonstrated commitment to student learning and success in the college,” said Mary Beth Williams, senior associate dean of science education. “As associate director in our Center for Excellence in Science Education, Jennelle has established a reputation of both collaborative leadership and using data and research to inform our educational practices. I am absolutely delighted that Jennelle is joining the college leadership team as the assistant dean for undergraduate students!”
Malcos has served on faculty senate for several years, oversaw the biology undergraduate student Living Learning Community, the BIOME, and has active research focused on student self-regulated learning in science courses. She has led the college’s Learning Assistant (LA) Program — one of the largest efforts in the country. Since its launch in 2012, the program has grown from 81 LA positions in 5 courses to 839 positions in more than 44 courses spanning the Eberly college’s seven departments in the 2022-23 academic year.
In the assistant dean role, Malcos will lead efforts to support and engage undergraduate students in the college. She will establish a comprehensive, visible, and synergistic suite of programming and interventions to welcome and support science students — especially in the critical first two years of their development — and be a visible leader to welcome prospective students to the college.
“Undergraduate student success in the Eberly College of Science is a coordinated effort involving many passionate and dedicated individuals,” Malcos said. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with, support, and grow this team as we champion student well-being from the first day of classes to the applause at graduation, and all that may unfold between.”
Given her instructional commitments for spring 2024 (including leading a team of 20 LAs), Malcos will be starting her new role in a 50% capacity in January through April before transitioning to full time on May 1, 2024. This position reports to and collaborates closely with the senior associate dean of science education.
“Jennelle’s passion for student success is infectious, and she will be an outstanding representative of the Eberly College of Science when speaking to new students and families,” said Tracy Langkilde, Verne M. Willaman Dean of the Eberly College of Science. “Jennelle brings a research-driven approach to issues of student flourishing. She has thought deeply about student-centered approaches to success, which has positioned her to thrive in this role.
“I am so appreciative of the search committee, chaired by David Smith, for its important contributions to the success of this search. I owe a debt of gratitude to Senior Associate Dean Mary Beth Williams for serving as interim for this position.”
Malcos earned her doctorate in plant physiology from Penn State in 2009 and her bachelor of science in biology from Canisius College in 2003. Prior to her current roles, she served in the college as an academic adviser and in the biology department as a teaching faculty member.
Malcos received the George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 2015, was recognized as one of the most highly rated faculty in the Eberly College of Science for several introductory-level biology courses in 2011 and 2012, and received the First-Year Experience Faculty Appreciation Award from 2010 to 2013. She received the Eberly College of Science Dean’s Climate and Diversity Award in 2011, and was inducted into the National Residence Hall Honorary as a faculty member in 2012 for her work with Penn State’s BIOME Living Learning Community. She has presented her research at the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society, the American Educational Research Association, and the American Psychological Association annual conferences.