The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) seeks an innovative, results-oriented, and experienced leader to serve as the next executive vice president and provost. Reporting to President Neeli Bendapudi, the provost serves as the University’s chief academic officer and oversees all academic units within the University’s colleges, schools and campuses, as well as major academic support units. Applications, inquiries, and nominations are invited.
Founded in 1855, Penn State established its land-grant mission to include teaching, research and public service to support the citizens of the commonwealth. In collaboration with industrial, educational, governmental and agricultural partners, the University is a leader in research, learning and engagement that facilitates innovation, embraces inclusion and sustainability, and inspires achievements that will affect the world in positive and enduring ways. Operating and functioning as one university geographically distributed, Penn State enrolls approximately 88,000 students across 20 physical campuses in Pennsylvania and online via its highly ranked Penn State World Campus. The University’s digital innovation and expertise have evolved alongside its World Campus, which is recognized as one of the nation’s best online programs.
Penn State’s next provost will have the opportunity to help lead the University’s strategic plan and guide the future of Pennsylvania’s largest and only land-grant university. Working closely with fellow administrators, deans of academic colleges and other units, and many others across the University, the provost helps set and lead academic priorities, deliver research and teaching excellence, support access, and advance the land-grant mission. This is an exceptional opportunity for a forward-focused leader, attuned to the rapid changes occurring in higher education and eager to work in close partnership with the president and colleagues across campus to get ahead of and lead Penn State through these changes.
The successful candidate must possess a terminal degree, a strong scholarly record, and be recognized as a thought leader or contributor in their field of expertise. The next provost will have the intellectual curiosity and breadth to work across diverse academic domains and champion disciplines and interdisciplinary programs across every school and college. The provost must demonstrate an established record of effective and collaborative leadership, including compelling evidence of having advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion. The successful candidate will be a skilled communicator and active listener who values shared governance and places a priority on consultation with faculty and staff. Strong emotional intelligence is a must.
WittKieffer is assisting Penn State in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received no later than November 18, 2024. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or résumé, and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the profile available at www.wittkieffer.com.
Application materials, nominations and inquiries can be directed to: Suzanne Teer, Sandra Chu, and Cathryn Davis at PennStateEVPProvost@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 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.
