Dawn Pfeifer Reitz
Dawn Pfeifer Reitz is a strategic leader, award-winning educator, and communication and leadership consultant based in Greater Philadelphia. With decades of experience spanning higher education, organizational development, and professional training, she has built a career helping individuals and organizations translate vision into practical, high-impact outcomes. Known for her systems thinking and collaborative approach, Dawn designs and delivers workshops, custom training, and leadership programs that strengthen communication capacity and foster inclusive, high-performing cultures. Dawn’s journey in higher education began after an initial pursuit of journalism and law shifted toward student affairs and public speaking.
Over her thirty-year career, she has held roles ranging from residence life leadership and grant writing to adjunct faculty and full-time teaching positions. Currently an Associate Teaching Professor at Penn State University-Penn State Berks, Dawn coordinates the First-Year Seminar program and the CAS100 Effective Speech course, mentoring hundreds of students while fostering engagement, inclusion, and transferable professional skills.
Her commitment to student success, mentorship, and experiential learning has earned her multiple teaching awards, including the Outstanding Teaching Award from Penn State Berks and the Harvey Kelly Excellence in Teaching Award from the Pennsylvania Communication Association.
A dedicated mentor and thought leader, Dawn emphasizes adaptability, collaboration, and innovation in all her work. She actively partners with colleagues and organizations to rethink how communication and leadership show up in practice and culture. Beyond the classroom, she contributes to projects like the PowerSkills Suite and LionSide Chats, empowering students and professionals to develop critical skills for career and personal growth. Dawn is celebrated for her energy, structure, and heart, inspiring thousands of students and colleagues to achieve their full potential while modeling the values of equity, inclusion, and lifelong learning.
In addition to her work in Higher Education, Dawn also owns DSPR Consulting. DSPR Consulting is a strategic performance and learning systems firm that helps organizations align people, strategy, and execution.
• Workplace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Action
• West Chester University of Pennsylvania - M.S
• Outstanding Teaching Award, Penn State Berks (2021)
• Harvey Kelly Excellence in Teaching Award, Pennsylvania Communication Association (2018)
• Division of Student Affairs Legacy of Leadership Class of 2009 at West Chester University.
• National Communication Association
• The Abbe Society
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work, dedication, and a deep respect for collaboration. I learned the value of hard work early from my parents, who modeled persistence, responsibility, and pride in doing things well. That foundation continues to guide how I show up, stay committed, and follow through, even when the work is challenging. Equally important has been the influence of mentors and collaborators whose guidance, feedback, and support have shaped my growth and strengthened my approach to working with others.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is to actively seek mentors at every stage of your journey and to remain open to guidance, feedback, and learning. My career has been built on the shoulders of extraordinary women who modeled possibility, excellence, and generosity in different ways.
Early on, Dr. Jackie Hodes helped shape my professional direction with both clarity and unwavering support.
Tina DePrisco has been a constant source of knowledge, motivation, and encouragement, always challenging me to grow and reminding me to aim higher. She is truly my person.
Kelly Grosser has been one of my strongest advocates, offering belief and encouragement at moments when it mattered most.
More recently, Dr. Jill Burk has taught me invaluable lessons about navigating academia and professional growth, while Dr. Lolita Paff profoundly influenced my understanding of good teaching through her example, care for students, and commitment to the craft.
Together, these women have shown me that success is never achieved alone. It is built through listening, learning, and being willing to grow through the wisdom of others.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to be comfortable being an outlier—your career doesn’t need to follow a linear path. Seek out mentors, including those who may be younger than you, stay tenacious in the face of challenges, and trust in your transferable skills—they will carry you further than you might expect.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are family, meaningful connection, continuous growth, and doing the right thing with the knowledge I have at the time. I have been fortunate to share 31 wonderful years of marriage with my college sweetheart, and I am the proud mother of three adult children. One of my greatest joys is watching them continue to grow and apply the lessons they learned as they were growing up, which has deepened our relationships and strengthened our bond over time. I cherish the time we spend together and make space for personal passions that keep me grounded and inspired, including sports, reading, expanding my knowledge, enjoying musical theater, which my youngest child is currently studying, and spending time with friends and loved ones. Together, these values guide how I show up in both my personal life and my work, encouraging integrity, curiosity, balance, and lifelong learning.
