UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penny Carlson, assistant vice president and executive director for Academic Services and Assessment, will retire from Penn State at the end of March. As part of the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses (OVPCC) since 2010, Carlson has contributed extensively to a range of initiatives focused on student access, success and institutional impact.
Promoted from executive director to assistant vice president in 2016, Carlson has served as a chief liaison between OVPCC and offices across the University including within Admissions, Advising, Enrollment Management, the Registrar and Student Aid.
In her current role, she has supported the implementation of student success and retention efforts; aided data collection and reporting to inform decision making; and has spearheaded scholarship initiatives including the Discover Award, OVPCC scholarships and the Raise Me Transfer Award for community college students, all of which have impacted access and affordability for students enrolling at Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses. Most recently, Carlson led the development of a strategic enrollment plan for the campuses and regionalization efforts for multiple campus functions.
“Penny has been a staunch advocate for our campuses and for the students they serve, stepping forward to lead significant initiatives and as a trusted partner in gathering and synthesizing complex data to inform our strategic direction during times of change,” said Margo DelliCarpini, Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses and Executive Chancellor. “As she moves into a well-deserved retirement, her leadership, knowledge and passion for Penn State will be greatly missed.”
Carlson’s 40-plus-year career has spanned multiple roles across the University, as well as at Harrisburg Area Community College. Early in her career, she contributed to the development of the Lion Ambassador student group, the University’s first fundraising campaign and efforts to grow support for the Children’s Hospital at Hershey. She later served as assistant director of development at the Penn State College of Medicine, where she coordinated fundraising efforts for the Children’s Miracle Network.
While at Penn State Harrisburg for 10 years, Carlson managed academic advising services, developed faculty training programs, contributed to curricular planning and was part of the team that transitioned Harrisburg to a four-year campus.
“As a first-generation student myself who started my college journey at Penn State Altoona, I tried throughout my career to impact Penn State’s access mission in whatever ways I could,” Carlson said. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked as part of great teams alongside very committed colleagues from the Commonwealth Campuses on initiatives that remain in place today and continue – hopefully – to make a difference for our students across the commonwealth.”
In retirement, Carlson looks forward to spending more time with her husband, Jim, her three children, who are all Penn State graduates, and her four grandchildren.