“Meet 220” is a series of posts featuring staff of the Smeal Professional Graduate Programs. “220” refers to the suite of offices within the Business Building where the team is housed.

Tami Confer, Managing Director for the Online Supply Chain Master’s and Certificate Programs, Professional Graduate Programs

What’s your role with the Smeal PGP office?

I am the Managing Director for the Online Supply Chain Master’s and Certificate Programs.  I have a wide range of duties including, but not limited to, academic and student services, advising, admissions and recruiting.  I collaborate with various University departments to plan, develop and coordinate our programs services that assist students in the successful completion of their academic careers at Penn State.  I have worked with these programs since 2007.

What did you do prior to coming to Smeal?

Prior to Smeal, I worked in Penn States Undergraduate Admissions Office counseling prospective students on admissions criteria.  I also assisted Directors in both Communication and Customer Service as well as Student Programs planning university publications and student activities.

What’s your favorite thing about your role?

I love that every day is different and full of challenges.  Working with both prospective and current students is very rewarding.  It’s important to me to personally assist each student with their individual needs and make their time at Penn State as successful and fulfilling as it can be.

What’s the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your resume alone?

Before I started working at Penn State in 2001, I lived in Carson City, Nevada and Freehold, New Jersey. I was a stay at home mom of two children for 10 years.  Now, I am a proud Mimi to a beautiful strong-willed little girl.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be and why?

This is a hard question for me.  I’m not sure I would want to trade places with anyone.  I would, however, like to have the chance to live on a beautiful palm tree covered island without a cell phone…. for just one week.