UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Roger N. Brindley, vice provost for Penn State Global, has announced he will step down from his post to join Acumen as president of its North America operations, effective March 1.
Sabine Klahr, associate vice provost for Penn State Global, will serve as interim vice provost.
“It has been a pleasure to represent the remarkable international scholarship of our faculty, and to amplify that work around the world,” Brindley said. “This is a truly bittersweet moment for me. I have made so many colleagues and friends at Penn State, and I sincerely hope to maintain those relationships and work together in the years ahead.”
Brindley joined Penn State as vice provost for Penn State Global in April 2020, having previously served as vice president for USF World at the University of South Florida.
“Roger has made a truly measurable impact in raising the University’s stature and reputation as a premiere global institution of higher education,” said Justin Schwartz, provost and executive vice president. “We are extremely grateful for everything Roger has done to support and promote Penn State’s core missions of teaching, research and service on a worldwide stage. His leadership has provided critical support to our students, faculty and staff through challenging times.”
Penn State Global facilitates the University’s international initiatives and its many multidisciplinary partnerships around the world; implements Penn State’s education abroad programs; advances global learning throughout the curriculum; supports Penn State’s global communities across the commonwealth; advocates for international alumni and development; and advises all the international students and visiting faculty and scholars.
As vice provost, Brindley led the University’s comprehensive international strategy, including leading an Association of American Universities effort to expand U.S.-India university partnerships; collaborated closely with senior Penn State and administrative and faculty leadership; and spearheaded the University’s strategic international agenda, including developing new initiatives and strategic partnerships, while responding to the ever-changing higher education trends around the world. He was also responsible for securing external and internal funding to support international activities and represented Penn State to external constituents around the world.
At Penn State, Brindley has worked to promote the University’s international reach and solidify its global research reputation.
In the 2023-24 QS world rankings, Penn State rose from 93rd to 83rd, placing 24th in the United States and 8thacross all public U.S. universities. Similarly, in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Penn State rose to 122nd in the world, jumping 29 places (20th among U.S. public universities).
Penn State also remained in the top three in the U.S. and moved up globally from No. 47 to No. 40 out of nearly 1,600 international institutions that participated in the 2023 Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings, while advancing to 37th (4th in the United States and 2nd among U.S. publics) in the QS Sustainability Rankings.
Penn State was ranked first in the nation in faculty Fulbright Scholar awards, and has consistently been among the top producers of Fulbright students.
During his tenure, Brindley raised the profile of Penn State Global across the University by cultivating the staff’s leadership and expertise. Today, Penn State Global has become a major resource for the institution, helping to connect faculty and staff and promote interdisciplinary collaboration across academic colleges and campuses, while enhancing international student and scholar success.
“Over the past four years, I am most proud of the relationships we have built across the faculty, staff and administration of the University in colleges and on the Commonwealth Campuses,” he said.
Brindley holds a bachelor of arts with honors from Middlesex University in London; a master’s in education from Berry College in Rome, Georgia; and a doctorate in education from the University of Georgia, Athens.