UNIVERSITY PARK – Henry “Hank” McCoullum, director of science diversity initiatives in the Penn State Eberly College of Science, has won the 2009 Forum on Black Affairs Humanitarian Award. The award was created in 1985 to honor a person who has provided outstanding service to African-American citizens of Pennsylvania, especially at Penn State and in Centre County. Such service includes leadership of offices, program, or organizations that develop or implement policies impacting African-Americans.
McCoullum was nominated for the award by W. Terrell Jones, Penn State’s vice provost for educational equity. “Hank is one of the most student-oriented staff members at the University,” said Jones. “He truly cares about the students he works with and wants them to succeed. In fact, Hank often has gone out of his way to help students. I am aware of many occasions where he has invested his own resources to help students graduate and follow their dreams.”
A Penn State graduate, McCoullum earned a master’s degree in educational administration in 1974. Since 1986, he has been the director of science diversity initiatives in the Eberly College of Science. His primary duty as director is to lead the college’s diversity strategic plan, which includes recruitment and retention activities, academic residential programs such as the Pennypacker Experience Program, the First Year in Science and Engineering Program, and the Bunton-Waller Fellows Scholars Program. In addition to serving as director of the science diversity initiatives, McCoullum also has been an instructor in the Department of Kinesiology since 1998 and the adviser of the Table Tennis Club since 1974.