Becky Peplinski Retirement
Posted: December 31, 2011
Becky began her career at
Penn State University in the Department of Agricultural Communications in 1970
following graduation from high school. In 1971 Becky moved to the
Department of Plant Pathology when she was hired by Dr. James Tammen, the first
Head of this relatively new department. Over the past 40 years, Becky has
collaborated with a total of 10 Department Heads, assisting them in managing
the Department. During her tenure as Administrative Assistant, Becky’s
responsibilities included helping plan the Department’s annual budgets and
budget reports, managing graduate student assistantships, tracking faculty
promotion and tenure processes, managing faculty grants and endowment funding,
and serving as the Department Human Resources supervisor. For this
reason, Becky touched almost everyone, including students, staff, and faculty.
Her expertise on College and University policies was widely recognized
and she was asked to serve on many committees involving hiring and
restructuring over the years.
In 1984, Becky completed her
requirements for a B.A. degree in English Literature which she put to good use
correcting the grammar and spelling of all subsequent Department Heads.
Earning a University degree while working full time was recognized by all
as a commendable accomplishment.
Becky’s dedication to the
Department and her continuous insistence on the highest levels of integrity,
competence, and professionalism have been recognized by all of her colleagues
over the years. In 2004, Becky was awarded the College of Agricultural
Science’s highest staff award, the “Staff Laureate Award for Leadership.”
In 2010, Becky was recognized for her endless efforts for the Department
by the endowed “Laurence and Mary Ann Moore Award for Staff Excellence in Plant
Pathology. Becky’s always-helpful efforts to address the needs and
problems for her colleagues and for the Department were recognized by a
celebration at the annual Holiday Party held on December 9, 2011, at the Hilton
Garden Inn, which was also attended by her family members.