Jana Jaffa

Associate Director of International Employment and Specialty Graduate Programs

Dr. Jana Jaffa has been working full-time at Penn State since 2014 and within Smeal since 2016. Her background includes a B.A. in Spanish, an M.Ed. in Higher Education, and recently a dual- title D.Ed. in Higher Education and Comparative and International Education. She has seven years of professional experience in Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. Jana has traveled to over 15 countries and has been invited to present internationally in Spain, Ireland, Canada, and Greece and participated in a staff exchange to South Korea. She has enjoyed co-leading international trips (Dominican Republic and Panama) and is actively involved in several international committees, including the NAFSA Teaching, Learning & Scholarship Research Committee and the NACADA International Advisory Board. Her research interests include: student engagement, organizational culture, academic integrity, and internationalization of higher education.

As the Associate Director of International Employment and Specialty Graduate Programs of the Smeal Business Career Center, she works closely with the one-year residential master’s students and international students to provide specialized career coaching support. She enjoys working with students to identify ways to build their professional and academic portfolio as part of their life-long journey!

In her free time, she volunteers at Centre County PAWS and with the ClearWater Conservancy. Jana runs half marathons, participates in triathlons, and enjoys hiking. Jana is also a semi-professional piano player and is a member of the State College Choral Society. She has performed at Carnegie Hall in Pittsburgh, PA, recorded a CD with the Raleigh Ringers in North Carolina and plays in local church musical ensembles. Jana’s favorite thing about Penn State is the wonderful opportunity to get involved on campus and in the community – there’s always something to do (and many times they are free or almost free)!