Petenbrink appointed director of employee assistance and development

Dr. Nancy A Petenbrink is Fresno State’s new director of employee assistance and development in the Department of Human Resources, charged with helping maintain and enhance the health, well-being and performance of employees.

She comes from Florida International University, where Petenbrink is credited with initiating and building an employee assistant program (EAP).

She has worked in the private sector as an employee assistance consultant in Southern California and was the EAP director at Kernville Mental Health Center in Bakersfield.

The university’s employee assistance and development office provides professional help for employees’ personal and work-affecting concerns, while stressing prevention, self-initiative and confidentiality.

The office offers assessment and referral, problem resolution sessions, mediation and conflict resolution services in addition to supervisory consultation and training and production and coordination of on-campus professional development and wellness programs.

Petenbrink replaces Dr. John Franz, who held the post for 20 years. Franz returned to teaching in the Social Work Education Department last fall.