Elizabeth Tisdell named distinguished professor

Elizabeth Tisdell
Credit: Penn State Harrisburg

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Elizabeth Tisdell, professor of lifelong learning and adult education, has been named a distinguished professor by the Penn State Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. She is one of 13 faculty University-wide named as a distinguished professor for 2021.

The title of distinguished professor recognizes a select group of professors who have achieved exceptional accomplishments. Designees must be acknowledged leaders in their fields of research or creative activity; have demonstrated significant leadership in raising the University standards with respect to teaching, research or creative activity and service; and have demonstrated excellent teaching skills and contributed significantly to the education of students who subsequently have achieved recognition of excellence in their fields.

An internationally and nationally recognized and respected leader in the field of adult education, Tisdell joined Penn State Harrisburg in 2002 as an associate professor. She received early tenure in 2006 and was promoted to professor in 2009. Her scholarly interests lie in the areas of adult education, transformative education, spirituality and culture in education and society, and medical and health education. She has an extensive publication record, having published 7 books, 70 refereed journal articles and book chapters, and 66 conference proceedings. She has made nearly 100 international, national, and regional presentations and has been a resident scholar three times.  Tisdell has also supervised 48 doctoral dissertations since arriving at Penn State Harrisburg.

In addition, Tisdell has served on editorial review boards and for five years as the co-editor of one of the leading peer-reviewed journals in her field, Adult Education Quarterly. She received the 2017 Imogene Oakes Outstanding Research Award from the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education Society and the 2018 Penn State Harrisburg Outstanding Faculty Research Award. She was also elected to the Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame in 2015.

At Penn State Harrisburg, Tisdell has been the professor-in-charge of the graduate program in lfelong learning and adult education for the past 14 years and the chair of health and professional studies in the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education since 2016. She also has served on numerous University and campus committees, and on the Commission of the Professors of Adult Education, which she chaired from 2012 to 2014.

Tisdell joins Simon Bronner, distinguished professor of American studies and folklore, the first Penn State Harrisburg faculty member to earn the title in 1991; Shaun Gabbidon, distinguished professor of criminal justice, 2010; Beverly Cigler, distinguished professor of public policy and administration, 2015, Glen Mazis, distinguished professor of humanities and philosophy, 2018; Richard Young, distinguished professor of supply chain management,2018; and Erdner Kaynak, distinguished professor of marketing, 2020.