MONACA, Pa. — Jenifer Cushman, currently serving as campus dean of Ohio University Zanesville, has been appointed chancellor of Penn State Beaver, effective July 1.
“Jenifer brings a breadth and depth of experience to the chancellor post in key areas, including faculty development, curriculum and strategic planning, and community outreach. Her longstanding involvement in student engagement and community economic development and cultural initiatives will most certainly benefit the campus as it advances its strategic goals,” said Madlyn Hanes, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses. “I look forward to having her join us in July."
In addition to serving as chancellor of Penn State Beaver, Cushman will provide general oversight of the office of the campus director of nearby Penn State Shenango in Sharon. The two campuses share selected academic programs and administrative infrastructure.
“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to serve as chancellor of Penn State Beaver. I feel strongly about the outreach mission of The Pennsylvania State University and am looking forward to working with students, faculty, staff and the local community to identify areas for innovation and growth,” Cushman said.
As chief executive of Ohio University Zanesville, Cushman has overseen a regional campus of 2,000 students, which includes the Ohio University center at Cambridge. Her focus has been on increasing students’ educational opportunities while working directly with the community and local industry. Under her leadership, she instituted a strategic planning process that included faculty, staff, students and local leaders to identify the needs of the community and guide academic planning. Under Cushman, those collaborative efforts have been expanded to include alumni relations, development and marketing as a part of long-term planning.
Cushman, who is also an associate professor of German, has made expanding international opportunities a priority, including finding ways to bring international experiences to students who continue to study on campus. A key initiative under her leadership has been the development of a system-wide Collaborative Online International Learning course, opening up new learning opportunities for students across Ohio University. In keeping with her focus on broadening options for students, Cushman serves on an Ohio Department of Higher Education task force focused on attracting international students and increasing international educational possibilities for students in Ohio. Cushman is the immediate past president of the Association of International Education Administrators.
Before joining Ohio University, Cushman served as dean of international education and associate professor of German at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. While there, she oversaw management of study abroad and international student services, international partner relationships and helped lead a global engagement initiative. Her previous experience also includes serving as an adjunct professor at the Monterey Institute of International Education in Monterey, California, and as director of International and Off-Campus Study at the College of Wooster, in Wooster, Ohio.
Cushman earned a master’s degree and a doctorate from the Department of Germanic Languages and Literature at Ohio State University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in German and psychology from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. More recently, she was a participant in the American Council on Education Fellows program and the Harvard Institute for Education Management.
Carey McDougall, director of academic affairs and associate professor of art, is currently serving as interim chancellor and chief academic officer.