Staff Directory

Dr. Andrea Dowhower is the vice president for Student Affairs and has worked in higher education for over 30 years. She has her Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Leadership from Ohio State and an M.Ed. in Counselor Education from Penn State. In 2004, Andrea returned to Penn State as director of Student Affairs Research and Assessment, became assistant vice president in 2009, was promoted to associate vice president in 2017, and began the interim vice president role in February 2023.  She assumed the vice president role in May 2024. As the University's  chief Student Affairs officer, she has oversight for the senior administrators, over 500 full-time staff and 28 administrative departments in Student Affairs. She serves on numerous committees at Penn State including the President’s Council.

Oversees the following offices:

• Administrative Services
• Communications and Marketing
• Information Technology
• Financial Officer
• Human Resources
• Development
• Commonwealth Campus Support
• Research and Assessment
• Piazza Center

• Higher education administration
• Research in higher education
• Assessment of programs, services and student learning
• Developing student learning outcomes
• Strategic planning and budgeting
• Staff development and supervision

As Assistant Vice President in Student Affairs, Brian is responsible for strengthening and furthering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all students at Penn State. He provides strategic leadership for six Student Affairs units.

Throughout his career in higher education, Brian has worked to build educational opportunities around issues of student advocacy and development and a diversity of thought and human experience. While at Penn State he has worked to broaden the understanding of diversity and commitment to inclusive excellence not as separate entities, but rather as part of the larger tapestry of student life and experience.

Brian served as the assistant director of the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity from 2008-2012. Prior to returning to Penn State as the center’s director, he served as an associate dean of students at Cornell University focused on student support, sexual violence, and advocacy while also directing Cornell’s LGBT Resource Center and co-directing the Center for Intercultural Dialogue. Before joining Cornell, Brian was the founding director of the Office of LGBTQ Services and deputy Title IX officer at Dickinson College.

Brian received his master’s degree in higher education from Penn State and his bachelor’s degree in counseling and human services from the University of Scranton. He lives in State College with his husband Greg, their twins Declyn and Keegyn, and their two dogs.

Student Engagement and Community Support
Diversity and Inclusion Education
University Chosen Name & Identity Process
Commonwealth Campus Coalition on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Oversees the following offices:

• Adult Learner Programs and Services
• Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity
• Center for Spiritual and Ethical Development
• Collegiate Recovery Community
• Gender Equity Center
• Paul Robeson Cultural Center
• Parents Program

Darcy Rameker joined Penn State in 2005 and has served in various roles during her tenure, including director of Student Leadership and Involvement, the lead of the student COVID-19 response team, an administrative fellow in Undergraduate Education, and as an interim associate vice president overseeing health and well-being units.

During her 19 years of service, she has successfully led initiatives that support all aspects of student life, developed a broad understanding of the University and served as a lead on Penn State's strategic priority of supporting student success.

Dr. Taléa Drummer-Ferrell has a robust background that focuses on health and wellness. She holds a doctorate in higher education administration from Kent State University and has worked at multiple institutions throughout her career, most recently serving as associate vice president for Student Life and dean of students at Kent State. 

Her work has included overseeing mental health crisis management, basic needs emergencies, and expanding mental health and well-being services. Drummer-Ferrell has also led significant initiatives like the development and opening of the CARES Center, a center that works collaboratively with students to help secure resources that meet their basic needs, and she led the system-wide Kent Cares Summit, which highlights her commitment to supporting students' well-being and fostering a holistic approach to their success.  

Drummer-Ferrel also represents Penn State as an active member with NASPA, Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education, serving as their chair of the AVP Steering Committee and part of the conference leadership committee for 2026.

Serving as assistant vice president (AVP) for Student Affairs since 2017, Danny Shaha supervises various essential offices in Student Affairs. He also cochairs the University's Behavioral Threat Management Team and leads Student Affairs’ efforts related to free speech, emergency management, and crisis response. During his first year as AVP, he served as the University’s Title IX Coordinator.

Previously, Shaha served as the senior director of the Office of Student Conduct (OSC) at Penn State for seven years. In this role, he oversaw the administration of the University’s conduct process at its primary campus in University Park, PA, as well as its 23 additional campuses across the Commonwealth and online, with a total enrollment of 96,000+ students.

While serving as senior director of OSC, from January of 2012 to July of 2017, he served as a Deputy Title IX Coordinator at the University and helped to institute and formalize a comprehensive education, response, and prevention program. From November of 2015 to July of 2017, Shaha served as the interim director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, working with staff to advise four councils that governed over 80 chapters with a membership of approximately 7,500 students.

Prior to joining Penn State, Shaha worked in different capacities at The Ohio State University, Texas A&M University, and the College of William and Mary. He also served as a Special Agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2001 to 2004.

Cochairs the Behavior Threat Management Team

Chairs the Expressive Speech Committee

Chairs the Student Affairs Emergency Management Committee

Oversees the following offices:

• Student Accountability and Conflict Response
• Student Care and Advocacy
• Student Legal Services
• Off-Campus Student Support
• Office of Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Response
• Career Services
• World Campus Student Affairs

• Doctorate of Education, Lamar University
• Masters in College Student Personnel, Bowling Green State University
• Bachelors in Biology, Texas A&M University