Chancellor and Dean, Penn State Abington

Posted by Penn State University on January 16, 2024

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) seeks a strategic, collaborative, and forward-thinking leader as its next Chancellor and Dean of Penn State Abington.

Penn State is the land-grant research-intensive (R1) university of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania serving over 90,000 students at 24 campuses. Located 15 miles north of Philadelphia’s center city, Penn State Abington is an undergraduate college of Penn State; it enrolls approximately 3,100 students and offers 25 baccalaureate degree programs and two associate degree programs. Students may also complete the first two years of nearly any of Penn State’s 275+ baccalaureate degrees at the campus before moving to another Penn State campus to complete their studies. The campus is organized into three divisions: Arts and Humanities; Science and Engineering; and Social Sciences, Business, and Education. The College’s successful continuing education programs are also valuable to its academic mission and offer corporate learning, off-campus credit education for organizations, and youth programs throughout the year. There are approximately 157 full-time faculty, 166 part-time faculty, and 144 staff and technical service employees. Penn State Abington offers an affordable, accessible, and high-impact education resulting in the success of the most diverse student body of all the Penn State campuses and is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st century public higher education within the context of a world-class research university.

Reporting directly to Dr. Margo DelliCarpini, Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses and Executive Chancellor, Penn State Abington’s chancellor and dean serves as the chief executive officer of this student-centered, regional comprehensive institution 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 engagement; and community and corporate relations. The position requires an individual who can independently provide strategic leadership and management to the Penn State Abington 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 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 heart of Montgomery, Bucks, and Philadelphia Counties. A minimum of five years of experience in higher education academic administration at a comprehensive institution is required along with responsibility for strategic oversight of personnel, planning, programs, communication, and resources. Candidates should possess a terminal degree from a recognized institution 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 this profile. WittKieffer is assisting Penn State Abington in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by February 26, 2024. Nominations, inquiries, and application materials can be directed to: Jen Meyers Pickard, Ph.D., and Randi Miller at PennStateAbingtonChancellor@wittkieffer.com