Dr. Deanna S. Forney
March 27, 1947
October 21, 2024
PALMER TOWNSHIP
Dr. Deanna S. Forney, 77, of Palmer Township, PA, passed away Monday, October 21, 2024, in Holy Family Manor.
Born in Somerset, PA, on March 27, 1947, she was a daughter of the late Madge Zimmerman.
Dea was a graduate of Wilson Area High School and was the valedictorian of the Class of 1965. She graduated from Gettysburg College in 1969 and received academic honors and the Student Life Committee Award for quiet influence exerted for the improvement of the campus. Dea also earned an M.A. from Penn State University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland-College Park. She later received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of Counseling and Personnel Services at Maryland.
Dea's career was in higher education. She served as a student affairs practitioner at Penn State, the State University of New York at Oswego, the University of Delaware, Allegheny College, and Gettysburg College. Then, for 24 years, she served on the graduate faculty (College Student Personnel Program) at Western Illinois University, where she received Faculty Excellence and Professional Achievement Awards. She greatly enjoyed working with graduated students from throughout the U.S. and Canada, and she was known for her use of humor, music, and video clips in the classroom. On her retirement, a scholarship was named in her honor.
Dea authored or co-authored many publications, including the books, Student Development in College and Using Entertainment Media in Student Affairs Teaching and Practice. She was also a frequent presenter at professional conferences and served as a consultant to several colleges and universities nationally and internationally.
Dea served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, and she was named a Faculty Fellow by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and a Senior Scholar by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). She also served as Chair of ACPAs subgroup on professional preparation and as a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of College Student Development and ACPA Books and Media. She was named a Diamond Honoree by ACPA for outstanding contributions to the field of college student affairs.
Dea's interests included films, TV, and reading. She was a life-long fan of rock music, amassing a large collection of CDs, tapes, and vinyl. She was delighted to have met Chuck Berry, the father of rock and roll. Dea was a charter member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and attended the grand opening in 1995. A brick with her name and the message, "Keep on truckin!", is located outside the museum.
Dea is survived by her sister, Pamela J. Pearson and her husband Dr. Raymond Pearson, of Tatamy; a niece, Amanda and her partner Sarah Richline; a nephew, Adam and his wife Moria; and a great-nephew, Carter Joseph.
Services will be held at 1:30pm Friday in the Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., 2101 Northampton Street, Wilson Borough. Call Friday 12:30-1:30pm in the funeral home. Burial will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine. The family requests that you dress casual and if you desire, wear your favorite rock 'n' roll or concert t-shirt. Offer online condolences at www.strunkfh.com.
The family would like to thank Holy Family, St. Luke's Hospice, and her oncology team for their compassionate care during her illness.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 www.cancer.org or a charity of one's choice.
Dr. Deanna S. Forney, 77, of Palmer Township, PA, passed away Monday, October 21, 2024, in Holy Family Manor.
Born in Somerset, PA, on March 27, 1947, she was a daughter of the late Madge Zimmerman.
Dea was a graduate of Wilson Area High School and was the valedictorian of the Class of 1965. She graduated from Gettysburg College in 1969 and received academic honors and the Student Life Committee Award for quiet influence exerted for the improvement of the campus. Dea also earned an M.A. from Penn State University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland-College Park. She later received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of Counseling and Personnel Services at Maryland.
Dea's career was in higher education. She served as a student affairs practitioner at Penn State, the State University of New York at Oswego, the University of Delaware, Allegheny College, and Gettysburg College. Then, for 24 years, she served on the graduate faculty (College Student Personnel Program) at Western Illinois University, where she received Faculty Excellence and Professional Achievement Awards. She greatly enjoyed working with graduated students from throughout the U.S. and Canada, and she was known for her use of humor, music, and video clips in the classroom. On her retirement, a scholarship was named in her honor.
Dea authored or co-authored many publications, including the books, Student Development in College and Using Entertainment Media in Student Affairs Teaching and Practice. She was also a frequent presenter at professional conferences and served as a consultant to several colleges and universities nationally and internationally.
Dea served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, and she was named a Faculty Fellow by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and a Senior Scholar by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). She also served as Chair of ACPAs subgroup on professional preparation and as a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of College Student Development and ACPA Books and Media. She was named a Diamond Honoree by ACPA for outstanding contributions to the field of college student affairs.
Dea's interests included films, TV, and reading. She was a life-long fan of rock music, amassing a large collection of CDs, tapes, and vinyl. She was delighted to have met Chuck Berry, the father of rock and roll. Dea was a charter member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and attended the grand opening in 1995. A brick with her name and the message, "Keep on truckin!", is located outside the museum.
Dea is survived by her sister, Pamela J. Pearson and her husband Dr. Raymond Pearson, of Tatamy; a niece, Amanda and her partner Sarah Richline; a nephew, Adam and his wife Moria; and a great-nephew, Carter Joseph.
Services will be held at 1:30pm Friday in the Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., 2101 Northampton Street, Wilson Borough. Call Friday 12:30-1:30pm in the funeral home. Burial will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine. The family requests that you dress casual and if you desire, wear your favorite rock 'n' roll or concert t-shirt. Offer online condolences at www.strunkfh.com.
The family would like to thank Holy Family, St. Luke's Hospice, and her oncology team for their compassionate care during her illness.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 www.cancer.org or a charity of one's choice.