Penn College Appoints New Residence Life Director
Published 01.21.2008
Rick Surita has been named director of residence life at Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Surita has more than 16 years' experience in higher-education student affairs, including more than eight years in leadership positions for residence life. He succeeds Ward W. Caldwell, who became special assistant to the president for student affairs − Penn College's chief student affairs officer − in August.
Surita, who began his duties Jan. 15, comes to Penn College from Alfred State SUNY College of Technology, Alfred, N.Y., where he served as dean of student life.
"Rick's many skills include promoting and fostering civility, mutual respect and high academic, personal and social standards, as well as building collaborative partnerships with academic affairs and community agencies," Caldwell said. "We welcome Rick to our talented and hard-working Student Affairs team and look forward to working with him."
Surita earned a bachelor's degree in communication with a minor in political science at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, which included a semester at the University of London, England. He holds a master of education degree in counselor education from State University of New York, and he is a Ph.D. candidate in higher education administration at Ohio University.
Surita has presented at conferences for organizations such as the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and The Warner Institute for Student Affairs. He is a member of a number of student affairs organizations, including the Association of Student Judicial Affairs, the American College Personnel Association, the Northeast Association of College and University Housing Officers, and the Association of Fraternity Advisors.