University Park, Pa. -- Fredric M. Leeds has been named campus executive officer for Penn State Shenango, a unit of Penn State's Commonwealth College, effective Feb. 1.
Currently acting campus executive officer at Shenango, Leeds has been director of academic affairs there since 1986. He also served as acting CEO from July 2001 through Jan. 2003. He joined the Shenango faculty in 1971 as an assistant professor of French and earned tenure in 1977.
"After having conducted two national searches in the past three and a half years, we determined that the very best candidate for the current opening was already here," said Diane Disney, dean of Commonwealth College. "Dr. Leeds is totally committed to the campus, where he is highly respected. He has done an excellent job while acting in the position and should do even better now that there is a permanent appointment."
Leeds has written articles on French literature; is a member of the National Romance Language Honor Society; and has done extensive bibliographical work on 20th-century literature. Over the years, he has authored grants to strengthen the campus' academic programs and to support the educational aspirations of displaced workers.
Off-campus, Leeds has served on the board of the Shenango Valley Urban League, the Sharon Mayor's Committee on the Arts and other community boards.
In accepting the position, Leeds said that he was delighted to be assuming his new role in Penn State's Commonwealth College. "After many years of working with the Penn State Shenango faculty, staff and students, it is a great honor to be selected to be the CEO. I am confident of the continued growth and success of the campus."
Leeds earned his baccalaureate degree in French from Hunter College, and his master's and doctoral degrees in French from Penn State. He also holds the Certificat de Langue Francaise from the Sorbonne.
Located on a 14-acre campus in downtown Sharon, Penn State Shenango offers six associate's degrees, four baccalaureate degrees and a master's degree, as well as the first two years of education for more than 160 Penn State majors. One of 12 campuses in the Commonwealth College, the Shenango campus enrolls 958 students. The campus currently is beginning a major renovation of Sharon and Lecture Halls and upgrading of outside areas.