MEDIA, Pa. — Jennifer Nesbitt has been appointed chief academic officer at Penn State Brandywine, effective April 1. Nesbitt, a professor of English at Penn State York, has served as Brandywine’s interim director of academic affairs since last summer. She joined Penn State York in 2003 after teaching for three years at Wilkes University.

“Dr. Nesbitt brings more than 20 years of research, teaching, and service, along with extensive experience in administrative and committee leadership roles,” Brandywine Chancellor Marilyn J. Wells said. “She has had a significant impact on our campus in the short time she has served as our interim director of academic affairs.”

Nesbitt has collaboratively led efforts to achieve many accomplishments, Wells added, including:

• Championing career success at Brandywine, including a new Career Quest initiative this spring that is a collaboration with faculty and Advisory Board members.
• Partnering with academic staff and others on key initiatives to increase student registration and promote continuous improvement in enrollment and retention.
• Shepherding the campus advising plan through multiple stakeholder reviews, including students, faculty and Chancellor’s Council.
• Supporting more than 65 faculty in their annual review process and preparation for tenure and promotion, as well as mentoring newer faculty.
• Collaborating with University College academic officers and chancellors across three campuses — Beaver, Brandywine and Hazelton – to redevelop the memorandum of understanding for the collaborative bachelor of science in computer science.

“Dr. Nesbitt also brings a student-centric approach, strength in communications, a commitment to building consensus and an intimate knowledge of Penn State and its complexities,” Wells noted.

Nesbitt said she is both excited and honored to join Brandywine’s leadership team as chief academic officer, where she will have responsibility for faculty and staff leadership, academic programs, student academic success, and fiscal and resource management.

“The leadership’s commitment to collaboration for student success has been inspiring, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Brandywine campus community — faculty, staff, students, advisory board and community partners — to support our students on a lifelong learning journey,” she said. “As interim director of academic affairs, I have been impressed by the efforts of Brandywine faculty, who are dedicated to innovative research and to best practices in the classroom, especially as these promote equity and accessibility for our diverse student population.”

Nesbitt added, “Brandywine has a strong portfolio of academic programs, including collaborations across the Commonwealth Campuses, and a vibrant campus environment where students make an impact. I look forward to working together to promote our campus, celebrate our achievements and imagine our future.”

Among her many contributions to Penn State York, the University College and Penn State broadly, Nesbitt has served as a University faculty senator, chair of the Course-Sharing Committee in English for the Commonwealth Campuses and discipline coordinator in English for the University College.

Nesbitt earned a bachelor of arts degree in history and literature from Harvard University and a doctorate in English from Emory University. She was selected to participate in the Big Ten Academic Leadership Fellowship program where she delved into issues in higher education, communication and COVID/crisis response. She currently serves as editor of the journal The Space Between: Literature and Culture, 1914-1945.  

“I would like to thank Dr. Paul Greene, who chaired the search committee, and all the committee members for their thoughtful and intentional work over several months to bring forward a highly competitive, diverse and qualified slate of final candidates,” Wells said. “I am confident that Dr. Nesbitt’s experience, knowledge and approach will contribute to her successful academic leadership and service for Penn State Brandywine.”