UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Global has announced that Sabine Klahr will join the unit as its new associate vice provost on July 1. The appointment follows a national search to fill the position. Klahr brings over 20 years of leadership experience in international higher education, non-profit organizations, and consulting. Most recently, she served at the University of Utah as the associate chief global officer in the Office for Global Engagement.
“Penn State is a world-class university, and I am thrilled Dr. Klahr, a leader in international education, will join this institution,” said Roger Brindley, vice provost for Global. “Now more than ever, scientific, geopolitical and sociocultural systems and processes are inextricably global in nature and Penn State is a leader across higher education in promoting transnational and transformative academic and research impact. Dr. Klahr will support Penn State faculty, staff and students as together we continue to build the legacy of a globally engaged land-grant university.”
Prior to becoming the associate chief global officer in 2013, Klahr began her career in international education working in education abroad at Colorado State University and Western Michigan University and then served as senior international officer at Boise State University and subsequently Chatham University. Klahr has a long history of leadership for international education associations and organizations, culminating in serving as President of the Association for International Education Administrators (AIEA), the preeminent organization for leaders in international education, in 2013.
“I am truly delighted to join Penn State, one of the top academic and research institutions nationally with extensive global reach and impact,” Klahr said. “It will be a great privilege for me to contribute to Penn State’s excellence by supporting students, faculty, and staff to engage with the world. I also look forward to joining Dr. Brindley, a fellow leader in international education, in enhancing the capacity of Penn State Global to support the University’s global aspirations.”
After coming to the U.S. as a high school exchange student from Germany, Klahr earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees, both in botany, from the University of Oklahoma; and a doctorate in higher education leadership focused on international education from Montana State University-Bozeman.
In addition to working directly with the vice provost for Global in setting the direction of the unit, the associate vice provost will oversee the Penn State Global marketing and communications unit, the application development team, and the Planning and Partnerships unit while working collaboratively across all the offices in Penn State Global. The position also works with a dynamic community of practice within and outside the University with the goal of advancing the Penn State’s global profile while advocating for the unit’s partnerships, programming, and services.