Rankin & Associates Consulting

Dr. Rankin is a Senior Diversity Planning Analyst at The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Rankin earned her B.S. (Physical Education/Health) from Montclair State University (N.J.) in 1978, a M.S. in Exercise Physiology from The Pennsylvania State University (1981), and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration in 1994, also from Penn State.

She has presented and written several papers and books on the impact of diversity initiatives in the academy and in intercollegiate athletics.

Dr. Rankin's current research focuses on the assessment of institutional climate and providing program planners and policy makers with recommended strategies to improve the campus climate for underrepresented groups. In addition, Dr. Rankin writes and speaks on the subculture of intercollegiate athletics. Dr. Rankin also was a founding member and coordinator of the Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition, a network of individuals and organizations across the Commonwealth committed to securing and defending full civil rights for sexual minorities in Pennsylvania.

Stefani Bjorklund, Ph.D.
Senior Research Associate

In addition to her work with Rankin & Associates, Consulting, Stefani A. Bjorklund is a reseach associate at the Center for the Advancement of Scholarship on Engineering Education (CASEE), a unit of the National Academy of Engineering. She earned a B.A. in psychology from Villanova University, a master's in counseling at the University of Phoenix, and a Ph.D. Higher Education at The Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Bjorklund has authored and co-authored book chapters, journal articles, and national conference papers on the following issues in postsecondary education: access, recruitment and retention of underrepresented college students and faculty; welfare reform and financial aid policies; campus climate for students of color and women students; and effects of instructor activities, collaborative learning, and group work on gains in student skills.

Prior to returning to graduate school, Dr. Bjorklund was a social worker and administrator of a federally funded demonstration project funded by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. Additionally, she continues to volunteer for social service and animal welfare agencies.

Genevieve N. Weber, Ph.D.
Research Associate

Genevieve Weber is a substance abuse counselor in an outpatient treatment center at Cornell-Weill Medical College in New York City, and an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Hofstra University. Dr. Weber earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Vermont, a master's degree in community counseling at New York University, and her Ph.D. in counselor education from Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Weber's current research explores the substance use patterns of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals as well as the best approaches to counseling LGB clients. Dr. Weber continues to present her research at both state and national conferences, and looks forward to publishing the results from her dissertation and other research work.

While in graduate school at Penn State, Dr. Weber worked at the LGBTA Student Resource Center as a programming assistant and peer counselor. She facilitated a discussion group for LGBTA students, which explored important ideas and issues related to the LGBTA community, and coordinated outreach activities that were aimed at strengthening the campus climate at Penn State.

Ree K. Arnold, Ed.D.
Research Associate

Dana P. Aina
Web Site Editor

Dana Aina is a counselor in the Multicutural Resource Center (MRC) at the Pennsylvania State University. At the MRC, "D" directs the Knowledge, Excellence, Wisdom and Learning Mentoring Program, also known as KEWL ("cool"). He completed his bachelor's of science degree in Exercise and Sports Science at Penn State, and is currently in the M.Ed. program in Counselor Education.

Originally from Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i, D is married to Shelly, an IT manager at Penn State. They live in State College, Pennsylvania. D's interests include multiculturalism and Hawai'iana, and his hobbies include outrigger paddling, playing volleyball and website design. His ePortfolio continues to grow.

Rachel Miller, M.A.
Research Associate

Rachel Miller has been a professional and leader in the field of human resources for close to twenty-five years. All of the experiences have been in higher education, mostly at Penn State University.

Currently, she is Director of Human Resources for the Commonwealth College, the University’s largest and most complex college, consisting of 12 locations throughout Pennsylvania. Her primary interests and expertise includes organizational design, mediation and dispute resolution, and climate enhancement processes. Past positions include compensation specialist and manager in salary administration and classification, and administrative fellow to the office of the senior vice president for finance and operations, a yearlong executive development mentoring program. Past consulting assignments include Susquehanna University and Northern Kentucky University (classification assignments), and Temple University, Ambler (organization design assignment).

Ms. Miller holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in History from Millersville University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s of Arts in Industrial Relations from St. Francis College (Pennsylvania). She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources.

Jason C. DeRousie, M.P.P.
Junior Research Associate

Jason DeRousie is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Higher Education program at Penn State University. Jason received his Bachelor's degree from Kenyon College and a Master's in Public Policy from Duke University.

Prior to beginning at Penn State, Jason worked for an education policy organization in North Carolina and Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions in State College, PA. His research interests are focused on higher education policy and issues of access and equity.

Nicholas A. Smith, M.Ed.
Junior Research Associate

Mr. Smith earned a B.S. in Communication from Ohio University in 2001, and a M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration and Leadership with a Student Affairs focus from Pennsylvania State University in 2004. He completed a master’s paper focusing on social justice student learning outcomes from service-learning courses. Mr. Smith has interests in social justice, student life, research and assessment, and service-learning.

Mr. Smith is currently the Assistant Director of Student Activities for Campus Programming at Arcadia University (formerly Beaver College) in suburban Philadelphia. Among his various responsibilities in the Office of Student Activities, Mr. Smith coordinates campus-wide programming for heritage celebrations (e.g., Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, National Coming Out Week, Women’s History Month, ALANA). He is also an active member of the National Association for Campus Activities and the American College Personnel Association. He serves on the planning committee of the Collegiate Leadership Network, and has presented on leadership development for student leaders.

He has experience as a special project administrator at Hocking Technical College, where he coordinated the distribution of more than 2,000 refurbished computers to low-income families with children in Southeastern Ohio. Additionally, Mr. Smith worked with the Offices of Student Affairs Research and Assessment, Student Activities’ AT&T Center for Service Leadership, and the Division of Undergraduate Studies at Penn State.

David Davis
Data Analyst

Currently a Staff Assistant in the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity at The Pennsylvania State University. Also serves as staff support for the Sr. Diversity Planning Analysts, the Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity and the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equity. Prior to coming to the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity, she worked at Penn State’s School of Nursing as a staff assistant for 13 years.

Kathy’s belief is that all people have feelings just like you and their blood is red just like you. She view’s herself as coming a long way in diversifying herself. She enjoys meeting all people and will do almost anything to help people in need.

Kathy is married to a small business owner in State College, PA. And has 2 stepchildren, a son, age 26 and daughter, age 24. Both are college graduates and doing quite well.