Penn State University Libraries - Development

For further information or to discuss giving possibilities of any level to the Penn State Libraries, please contact the Library Development Office at: 814-865-2258

Prior to coming to Penn State, Dean Dewey was the former dean of Libraries at the University of Tennessee, a position she had held since 2000. Previously, she served at the University of Iowa from 1987 to 2000 as assistant to the dean of libraries, director of administrative and access services, director of information and research services and interim university librarian, respectively. Prior to that she also was Indiana University's director of admissions and placement in the School of Library and Information Science from 1980 to 1987, and assistant interlibrary loan and reference librarian at Northwestern University from 1978 to 1980. Dewey servies as chair of Transforming Research Libraries Steering Committee and the Association of College and Research Libraries Publications Committee. She is in her final year on the Online Computer Library Center Global Council and is a member of the International Federation of Library Associations Standing Committee on Education and Training.

Rick joins the University Libraries Development staff after most recently serving as the Vice President for the Greenberg Sports Group and the State College Spikes Baseball team.  Prior to that Rick served as the General Manager of the Spikes and was involved in all aspects of startup of the franchise as well as design of the on campus baseball facility, Medlar  Field at Lubrano Park.  In total, Rick spent 15 years in professional baseball including five years with the Altoona Curve, and five years with teams in California and Arizona.  Before baseball, Rick worked in Advertising for a daily newspaper in Chicago, the city in which he grew up. Rick graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations and resides in State College with his wife Cathy, and two children, Catelyn and Luke.

Marcus joined the University Libraries team in April of 2011. He previously worked as a member of the stewardship and donor relations staff at Oberlin College in Ohio, where his duties included creating custom annual reports for more than 400 scholarships, crafting fund and pledge agreements, and drafting all presidential development correspondence. A native Ohioan, Marcus is a graduate of The College of Wooster, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. Prior to his time in development, his professional experience ranged from working in his family’s jewelry business to managing a small non-profit. Marcus joined the State College community in early 2011 with his wife, Courtney, who is pursuing her doctorate in German Applied Linguistics. They live in town with their Boston Terrier, Fleck.

Shirley Davis, assistant to the dean for external relations, brings over 40 years of experience with the University Libraries.  Her position supports the activities of the dean of university libraries and scholarly communications and the director of development.  Throughout her employment, Ms. Davis has actively participated on committees concerned with diversity at the University.  She is currently serving on the University’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Planning Committee.  Shirley was the 1993 recipient of the University Libraries Award. 

Karen started her career with Penn State in development at Penn State Public Broadcasting in 1989.  Much of her career has been intertwined with development.  She has been with the University Libraries for nearly 10 years.  Karen is a Bellefonte native and holds an associate degree from South Hills Business School. Karen volunteers as Chair of the Board of Directors for the House of Care, a non-profit personal-care home in State College. The House of Care provides care and support to persons of low income, with little or no family support, and challenged by life-threatening and terminal illness.  Her hobbies include cake decorating, baking and cooking.  Her favorite pastime is spending quality time with her family and grandchildren.

Roberta has taught math and GED, owned a Balloon business and was a stay at home mom.  The majority of her career  was spent as an event and wedding planner at several locations in the Philadelphia/NJ area.  Roberta has two children, a daughter, Ellysa Cahoy, an Education & Behavioral Sciences Librarian at Penn State, and a son, Corey, a senior representative and trainer for a pharmaceutical company in the Philadelphia area.  In 2010, Roberta moved to State College and joined the Development office as an Administrative Support Coordinator.   Since moving to State College, Roberta is enjoying a more relaxing lifestyle that allows her to spend more time with her family, especially her grandchildren.