Ellen Raineri, a Penn State Hazleton faculty member since 2017, was promoted to associate teaching professor of business.
HAZLETON, Pa. — Ellen Raineri has been promoted to associate teaching professor of business at Penn State Hazleton.
“We congratulate Ellen on her well-deserved promotion to associate teaching professor of business,” Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Elizabeth J. Wright said. “We look forward to the continued impact her dedicated teaching will have on students at Penn State.”
Raineri began her career at Penn State Hazleton in 2017 as an assistant teaching professor of business. She said she was honored to receive this milestone achievement in her teaching career.
“It’s been a lot of hard work these past six years,” Raineri said. “I’m grateful to be appreciated and recognized in this way.”
In her courses, Raineri prefers a teaching style that gives students practical skills that translate to the real world.
“I always tell my students that I won’t ever give them busy work,” she said. “Any assignments will be something that will be beneficial to them, whether it's useful in the field, in interviews, as part of their portfolio ... the work is always very meaningful for them.”
Throughout her career, Raineri has shown expertise in the fields of information assurance and security (IA&S), cybersecurity and management. Her knowledge has been complemented by her proficiency in using various tools and software, including learning management software like Canvas, Angel, WebCT/Blackboard, Sakari and D2L, and innovative online learning tools such as infographics, Google Jamboard, VoiceThread and FlipGrid, among others.
To raise awareness about cybersecurity and the danger of potential cyberattacks, she wrote a grant proposal and received funding to organize the Cybersecurity for Small Businesses conference in 2019 during Penn State’s Global Entrepreneurship Week. Attendees learned how cybersecurity affects entrepreneurship, why small businesses are easy victims of cyberattacks, the impact of small business cyberattacks, and common security risks to small businesses.
Raineri is deeply involved in University-wide committees and teams, as well. She has served on the Penn State Educational Technology Committee, the Penn State Library and Information Committee, the Penn State Faculty Affairs Committee, the Penn State Corporate Communications Cross Functional Team, and the Penn State Student Relations Committee, to name a few. Raineri serves as co-chair for the World Campus Business Club and has been a contributor to Penn State’s accreditation with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
In 2020, she partnered with Penn State Hazleton Career Services to launch the Interview Coach program to help students develop professional interviewing and communication skills. The program paired students with volunteers from a variety of professional backgrounds for mock interviews, providing a safe space for them to increase their confidence and receive helpful, positive feedback.
Raineri has been past chair of the Penn State Hazleton Undergraduate Research Committee, helping to organize and develop the annual Undergraduate Research Expo and Undergraduate Reseach Symposium. The latter allows students to showcase research or other scholarly work they performed alongside faculty members. Additionally, Raineri has included first-time student researchers on several publications.
Her overall contributions to research are extensive, with multiple articles published in respected journals, such as the Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice and the Global Journal of Entrepreneurship. Raineri has also been recognized for her efforts in peer reviewing articles and has been an active member of various professional organizations.
In addition to her academic background as a member of the business faculty at Penn State Hazleton and Penn State World Campus, Raineri's teaching and training experience spans several institutions, including Purdue University Global, Colorado State University Global Campus, Embry Riddle Worldwide Campus, Penn State’s Smeal College of Business, Misericordia University and Wilkes University.
At these institutions, she taught courses such as "Social, Legal, and Ethical Environment of Business" and "Principles of Management," demonstrating her commitment to fostering ethical business practices and imparting essential management skills to her students.
Furthermore, her industry and leadership experience spans over a decade, including roles as owner and commercial real estate broker at ARK Commercial Real Estate, commercial real estate broker at Hinerfield Commercial Real Estate, management consultant at Braino Inc., cyber security sales director at Backbone Security, vice president of sales at Leader Data Processing and SAP ERP business development manager at Itelligence.
Her contributions at Penn State Hazleton have earned her nominations for numerous campus awards, including the Penn State Hazleton Council Teaching Excellence Award in 2022 and Faculty Scholar Awards in 2021 and 2020. At the University Level, she received the Distinguished Service Award from Penn State Teaching and Learning with Technology in 2021.
Raineri received her doctorate in organization and management from Capella University and her MBA in information systems from Marywood University, where she earned the sole medal for "Excellence in Business." She also holds bachelor’s degrees in computer science and English and education, both from Wilkes University, and a graduate certificate in information and assurance security from Purdue University Global.
