Thomas Spencer

Professional Bio

Prior to joining the College of the Liberal Arts advising team, I was a teaching professor in Penn State’s Intensive English Communication Program (IECP). In addition to teaching in the IECP, I helped to develop special English language programs and managed student advising. This advising included advocating for international students who wanted to become full-time Penn State students, and helping them transition to Penn State academically and socially. In doing this work I discovered a passion for advising that has led me to my current job. I look forward to meeting with students, learning about their interests, concerns, and aspirations, and helping them achieve their goals.

Fun facts: I have spent a lot of time working and living overseas. I studied abroad in France and lived in Prague, Czech Republic for 4 years. In Prague I taught English as a Foriegn Language, learned Czech, and brushed up on my French in a class taught in Czech! I’ve also spent time in two of the directional extremes in Africa: In the north, I spent two weeks traveling around Tunisia in shared, long-distance taxis (louage), camping in the Sahara, and staying in a subterranean hotel that was used as Luke Skywalker’s home on Tatooine. In the south, I spent a summer in Cape Town, South Africa working as a residential and educational adviser through Vanderbilt University on a service learning study abroad program. In my free time I enjoy playing music (guitar, piano, bass), and hiking with my Border Collie/hound dog mix puppy with my wife.