Chancellor, Dean, and Chief Academic Officer

Penn State Great Valley

Chancellor, Dean, and Chief Academic Officer

The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) seeks a visionary, strategic, and collaborative leader as its next Chancellor, Dean, and Chief Academic Officer of Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies. Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited.

Located near Philadelphia, Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies (PSGV) is one of 24 campuses within the Pennsylvania State University, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's overarching land-grant university serving over 90,000 students. Founded in 1963 as a special mission campus charged with meeting the graduate education and professional training needs of working adults. Penn State Great Valley is dedicated to academic excellence and the advancement of graduate students through engagement in research with renowned faculty and access to a network of accomplished professionals both locally and globally. The school enrolls approximately 1,000 students (70% of whom enroll online) and offers master's degrees and graduate certificates in business, engineering, finance, leadership, technology, and other workforce focused programs. PSGV also enrolls a substantial number of students in non-credit professional development programs such as Six Sigma Black Belt, project management, strategic leadership, and logistics and operations management. The campus is comprised of 36 full-time and 45 part-time faculty along with 42 full-time and 51 part-time staff employees and offers evening and hybrid courses in a flexible step-in step-out format to meet the needs of working adult professionals.

Reporting directly to Kelly M. Austin, PhD, Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses and Executive Chancellor, the Chancellor, Dean, and Chief Academic Officer (Chancellor) serves as the chief executive and academic officer of this student-centered, regional comprehensive school with responsibility for the quality of academic programs in teaching, research, and service, including the promotion and tenure process; strategic planning; budgeting; philanthropy; faculty and staff development; outreach and alumni; and community and corporate relations. The position requires an individual who can independently provide strategic leadership and management to the Great Valley campus while operating as an integral part of the broader Penn State community, working collaboratively with the other chancellors, administrative leadership, and units including the ongoing cultivation of key partnerships including Penn State Global, the Graduate School, and Penn State World Campus. The Chancellor is a key executive of the University and serves as a member of the Academic Leadership Council, the Council of Campus Chancellors, and the Advisory Committee for Graduate Education. The priorities for the new Chancellor will be continuing to articulate and champion a compelling vision for Penn State Great Valley; enhancing and developing the academic program mix; growing additional opportunities to support innovation, economic, and workforce development; and leading the stellar team and administrative complex in the context of the broader Penn State community. 

The successful candidate will be an experienced and student-centered academic leader with an entrepreneurial outlook who is able to take charge of an effective and thriving campus and serve as a steward of Penn State in the broader Philadelphia region. Significant experience in higher education academic administration at a comprehensive institution is required along with extensive experience in graduate programs and responsibility for strategic oversight of personnel, planning, programs, communication, and resources. Candidates should possess a terminal degree and have a teaching and research record with academic credentials commensurate for an appointment at the rank of full professor with tenure. The successful candidate will have a commitment to high-quality disciplinary and interdisciplinary education, as well as to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Qualified candidates should demonstrate the experience, aptitude, and willingness to lead significant corporate relations and fundraising efforts. 

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile which can be found at www.wittkieffer.com. WittKieffer is assisting Penn State in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by October 24. 

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal. Nominations and inquiries can be directed to: Suzanne Teer, Jen Pickard, Ph.D., and Randi Miller at PennStateGreatValleyChancellor@wittkieffer.com.   

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: For more about safety at Penn State, and to review the Annual Security Report, which contains information about crime statistics and other safety and security matters, please go to http://www.police.psu.edu/clery/, which will also provide you with detail on how to request a hard copy of the Annual Security Report.

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion and belonging that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, and leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity. We value inclusion and belonging as core strengths and essential elements of our public service mission.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.