Jennifer Hamer

Dr. Jennifer Hamer has an accomplished career as a scholar and as a higher education administrator. As a sociologist, her academic scholarship and teaching focus on working-class and African American families, qualitative methodologies, and equity in higher education. She has served as editor for three journals, Race and Society; Black Women, Gender, and Families; and Women, Gender, and Families of Color, the latter two of which she founded. Her comprehensive administrative experience includes service as department head, associate dean, program director, associate dean, vice provost, and special advisor to university leadership, among other appointments across multiple institutions. She has served as a senior faculty mentor since 2020 and in this role led University’s Midcareer Faculty Advancement Program, designed to facilitate the promotion of associate professors, created the Faculty Equity Leader opportunity in the Office for Educational Equity, and expanded the resources available to all faculty at Penn State University.  She is a parent (of children and a pup), partner, sibling, and knitting and fitness enthusiast. Dr. Hamer is available as a professional and mentor to all faculty, and has considerable experience and interest in supporting the success of women, parents, caregivers, people of color, and others who may be challenged in the traditional academic workplace.

Coaching credentials include the following:

A.C.T. Leadership and Performance Coaching, Brown University School of Professional Studies (certified)

Lifestyle and Wellness Coaching Program, Executive Education, Harvard Medical School (anticipated completion Fall 2025

Penn State campuses Jennifer is responsible for: 

• Abington
• Berks
• Brandywine
• Harrisburg
• Hazleton
• Lehigh Valley
• Schuylkill
• Scranton
• University Park
• Wilkes-Barre
• York
• Great Valley