Teresa Diehl to retire after nearly 30 years of service at Penn State
Teresa Diehl, associate dean of administration in the Eberly College of Science, will retire at the end of June 2025, after nearly 30 years of service to Penn State. Diehl joined the Eberly College of Science in 2014 where she has overseen information technology, facilities, communications, outreach, and several budget- and leadership-related processes for the college.
“Teresa’s ability to navigate complex, multidimensional projects has been a huge asset to the college,” said Tracy Langkilde, interim executive vice president and provost and professor of biology. “She led the reorganization of the IT department and communications team, planning for renovations of our instructional laboratories, restructuring and re-visioning the outreach efforts of the college, planning for the new physics building slated to open in the first quarter of 2027, and numerous other projects. She has done all of this while also being a tireless advocate for the teams that keep the day-to-day activities of the college running. It is going to be a daunting task to find someone to fill her shoes.”
Teresa came to Penn State in 1996 to serve as the director of the Department of Transportation Services. Before that, she performed similar duties at the United States Military Academy, where she served as the Provost Marshal’s Office plans officer. As director of the University’s Department of Transportation Services, Teresa managed the transportation and parking resources for 41,000 students and 16,000 employees across 17,000 parking spaces, including four parking structures.
“I've had the pleasure of working alongside Teresa Diehl for all 12 years of her time as college leaders, and her steady guidance through countless transitions has been invaluable,” said Mary Beth Williams, acting dean of the Eberly College of Science. “She’s been a driving force in moving the college forward, and her presence will be deeply missed.”
Teresa also participated in Penn State’s Administrative Fellows Program in 2008. This program pairs faculty and staff who have the potential for effective leadership with senior administrator mentors. She was mentored by then-Vice President of Outreach Craig Weidemann and worked on the Operation Reset Core Team aimed at moving outreach from a subsidized to self-supporting entity. Her fellowship was followed by two special projects for the University: she led a review of the Commonwealth Campus Housing Study and served as project coordinator for the Pegula Ice Arena project. She is also a graduate of Leadership Centre County, class of 2014.
“Teresa expected a lot and gave just as much,” said Eric White, director of information technology for the Eberly College of Science. “In a role that often involved saying 'no,' she led with clarity, compassion, and a deep commitment to doing what was right. She supported me and her teams through every challenge, no matter how difficult. I always appreciated her willingness to face the fires alongside us when navigating the college through change.”
Teresa earned a doctorate in workforce education and development at Penn State in 2008, a master’s in public administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 1996, and a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany in 1986. Diehl was a member of the United States Army Military Police Corps from 1984 to 1986. She then served as Relocation and Special Programs Advisor/Manager and then Crime Prevention Program Manager in Germany from 1988 to 1991, before taking her position at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY.
“It’s going to be a difficult transition for me,” Diehl said. “I am used to being incredibly busy with work, but I’m looking forward to spending time with my husband, son, and grandchildren and traveling to visit family. The main thing that I’ll miss is the people. I’ve had the privilege of working with so many wonderful people during my time at Penn State and look forward to keeping in touch.”