YORK, Pa. -- John J. Romano, Penn State's former vice president for commonwealth campuses and former CEO at Penn State York, will come out of retirement to lead the York campus while a search is conducted for the campus' next top administrator. Chancellor Lisa Plowfield, who began her tenure at York campus in August 2011, has announced her resignation. Romano will begin his interim appointment on Aug. 1.
Penn State Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses Madlyn Hanes extended her best wishes to Plowfield, and thanked Romano for his willingness to return to the York campus while a national search for the next chancellor takes place.
"John Romano's 40-plus years of service to Penn State will no doubt be an invaluable resource for the entire York campus community through this transition, and we are happy to welcome him back," Hanes said. "We also are fortunate to have highly capable, dedicated faculty and staff at the York campus, all of whom will play an important role in maintaining the campus’ momentum."
Hanes said the search for a new chancellor will begin in the fall.
Romano, who served for eight years as CEO at Penn State York from 1985 to 1993, said he looks forward to his role in helping the campus to thrive while the search for long-term leadership takes place.
"Penn State York continues to be a strong educational provider and a major contributor to the region," Romano said. "I'm proud to join the campus' excellent team of faculty and staff as we work together to carry out the campus' academic mission."
Romano originally joined Penn State in 1968. He served as a faculty member in the colleges of Education and the Liberal Arts, and also served as assistant and then associate dean for undergraduate studies in the College of the Liberal Arts on the University Park campus. In 1993, after his time as CEO at York campus, Romano became vice provost and dean for enrollment management and administration at the University, before accepting the role of vice president for Commonwealth Campuses, a position he held from 2005 until his retirement in 2010.