About the Center
The Penn State Center develops and strengthens local relationships to connect and engage the entire University with local partners. Our Pittsburgh team is your liaison to Penn State resources.
Supporting Businesses and Corporations
- Sharing the most recent knowledge, technologies, and manufacturing methods
- Offering resources to help businesses succeed and employ more Pittsburghers
- Developing and retaining Pennsylvania's highest-quality workforce
- Furthering research and development to discover better products and processes
- Pilot-testing scientific and technical ideas with community businesses
Strengthening Communities and Families
- Delivering education about energy, nutrition, budget management, youth development, urban gardening, landscaping, and more
- Giving residents local access to Penn State degrees and certifications
- Involving Penn State faculty and students in issues relevant to local communities
Creating a Bridge to Success for Pittsburgh Leaders
- Providing information to local government, community organizers, and corporate leaders
- Partnering with academic institutions to further Pittsburgh's development as a progressive city
Staff Bios
Deno De Ciantis, Ed.D. (director)
psu-pittsburgh@psu.edu
Dr. De Ciantis, the first director of this center, is dedicated to interfacing with local public officials, county and Pittsburgh departmental administrators, council of governments, school district and intermediate units, as well as with numerous independent organizations and agencies. Linked in Profile
Liz Nilsen is serving as the center grant writer whose role is to develop complementary programming and seek out funding opportunities. She is also leading the Southwest Pennsylvania STEM Network that assembles community-based organizations, education, industry and workforce development sectors to address improving science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and workforce development.
Lisa Kunst Vavro, RLA, ASLA (sustainable landscape coordinator)
lkv10@psu.edu
Lisa Kunst Vavro recently joined The Penn State Center as the sustainable landscape coordinator. As a registered landscape architect, Lisa is working with municipalities to build capacity in developing green infrastructure. In addition, she is working in a team effort towards development of a strategy to upgrade vacant lots throughout the city of Pittsburgh while launching an effort to educate challenged neighborhood youth. As a past educator, Lisa has developed a new certificate program for Sustainable Landscape Technology launching in October 2010, as well as beginning to initiate continuing education workshops for landscape architects, architects and engineers.
Dianne B. Swan (green communities organizer)
dbs17@psu.edu
Dianne B. Swan joined the Penn State Center in the capacity of the green communities organizer. Dianne’s focus in this position is to create an environment that will encourage expansion of the number of minority landscaping businesses so that they can hire and train others from within the community. The intent is to include business and entrepreneurial development, financial management, project management, landscape construction, and design and pesticide licensing. Other opportunities that will be introduced are rain gardens and green roof development that could encourage revenue streams for the new businesses that will help them to remain financially stable while growing.
Cindy Hasenjager (renewable and alternative energy coordinator)
cjh47@psu.edu
As the Renewable and Alternative Energy Coordinator, Cindy Hasenjager will focus on several projects including promoting qualified and consistent training in solar technologies and implementing approaches to home energy audits and retrofits that result in greater gains in energy efficiencies. Cindy will also be working with both the technical community in Pittsburgh and with Penn State faculty to develop seminars that meet the needs for professional continuing education (CEUs) on a range of energy related issues. Cindy will be exploring opportunities for collaboration on environmental and sustainability issues in our communities throughout the Greater Pittsburgh Area.
Mary Ann Farrell (staff assistant)
mvf10@psu.edu
Mary Ann Farrell assists internal and external clients with inquiries and concerns and helps them connect with the proper unit support within the University. She also works with local community leaders to assist with Penn State initiatives in the Pittsburgh area.