UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State is launching a national search for its next executive vice president and provost. As the chief academic officer for the institution reporting directly to the president, the provost works with deans, chancellors, faculty, and staff across the University and helps set and lead academic priorities, uphold research and teaching excellence, support access and affordability, and advance the land-grant mission.  

A search committee has been created to select the best pool of candidates for the position. The search firm of Russell Reynolds Associates, with 47 offices worldwide, has been hired to assist in filling this critical academic leadership position.  

“Penn State is a highly respected institution with a global reputation that has consistently drawn talented individuals with incredible academic, leadership and research experiences. We are fully expecting to attract a strong and competitive field of potential candidates,” said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi. “The provost is a critical position to fill, and our search committee intends to identify the right individual who shares Penn State’s values and vision, is wholly supportive of our land-grant mission, and truly wants to help faculty, staff and students find success during their time with our University.” 

The national search for a candidate to fill the role of University provost will be led by a search committee comprised of faculty, staff and students from across the campuses, and will be co-chaired by Michael Wade Smith, Penn State’s senior vice president and chief of staff, and Michele Stine, chair of the University Faculty Senate and teaching professor of biobehavioral health in the College of Health and Human Development. 

The search will begin in January with the goal of identifying the top candidate as quickly as possible. The full search committee includes:  

• Kelly Austin, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor 
• Kathy Bieschke, vice provost for Faculty Affairs 
• Sydney Gibbard, undergraduate student and president of the University Park Undergraduate Association 
• Harold Hayford, associate teaching professor of mathematics at Penn State Altoona 
• Tina Hennessey, assistant vice president of University Development  
• Terra Ingram, chair of the University Staff Advisory Council and administrative staff coordinator/business manager for Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science Institute (SAFES) 
• Jennifer Kraschnewski, professor of medicine, pediatrics and public health science in the College of Medicine and director of the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) 
• Clarence Lang, Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts and professor of African American Studies 
• Kim Lawless, dean of the College of Education 
• Bruce Logan, director of the Institutes of Energy and the Environment; Evan Pugh University Professor and Kappe Professor of Environmental Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering 
• Henock Louis, KPMG Professor of Accounting and chair of the Accounting Department in the Smeal College of Business
• Brian Patchcoski, assistant vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion in Student Affairs 
• Heather Preisendanz, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering in the College of Agricultural Sciences and associate director of Research, Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science (SAFES)  
• Jada Quinland, graduate student and president of the Graduate and Professional Student Association  
• Michael Wade Smith (co-chair), senior vice president and chief of staff 
• Michele Stine (co-chair), chair of the University Faculty Senate and teaching professor of Biobehavioral Healthin the College of Health and Human Development  
• Chang Tan, assistant professor of art history and Asian studies in the College of Arts and Architecture 
• Virginia Teachey, associate vice president for finance 
• Marwan Wafa, chancellor of Penn State Scranton 

Penn State’s executive vice president and provost oversees the University’s academic units — including colleges at University Park and campuses — and major academic support units such as University Libraries, Penn State IT, and the Offices of Educational Equity and Affirmative Action, among others. The provost serves on the President’s Council, chairs Penn State’s Council of Academic Deans and the Academic Leadership Council, and serves as an ex officio member of the University Faculty Senate and Senate Council.  

In August, Justin Schwartz, previously the dean of the College of Engineering, was named interim executive vice president and provost. 

To inquire about the application and nomination process, please contact PennState.Provost@russellreynolds.com.