MONACA, Pa. — Lillian Schumacher, vice president for academic affairs at Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio, has been named chancellor at Penn State Beaver, effective Feb. 1, 2016. Donna Kuga, interim chancellor at the Beaver campus, will remain in that capacity through the end of January.
In addition to serving as chancellor of Penn State Beaver, Schumacher 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.
“Dr. Schumacher is an accomplished leader,” said Madlyn Hanes, Penn State vice president for Commonwealth Campuses. “She brings exceptional experience in strategic planning, faculty and staff development, fundraising, and community and alumni relations to her new role.”
In addition to Schumacher’s broad experience as a senior administrator and university leader, particularly in the area of strategic planning processes, the search committee noted the passion and new ideas she will bring to the chancellor’s office.
“Dr. Lillian Schumacher's experience as an administrator and her participation in strategic planning were seen to be positive attributes for the chancellor's position at Penn State Beaver,” said Robert Szymczak, chair of the campus search committee and associate professor of history at Penn State Beaver. “Her energetic and enthusiastic presentation during the interview process was noted by a number of faculty and staff during her visit to campus. The search committee wishes her the best in this important task for the future of our campus and its faculty, students and staff.”
Schumacher was appointed Tiffin’s vice president for academic affairs in January 2014 after serving as dean of the School of Business since 2010. In this role, Schumacher oversaw all facets of the university’s academic programs, including more than 90 undergraduate and graduate majors, minors, certificates and concentrations. She worked closely with faculty and staff on program development, review and accreditation processes, and she was instrumental in the redesign of Tiffin’s online and distance education programs.
A champion of faculty development and student engagement efforts, she also worked to secure funding for scholarships and programming in support of student success and faculty professional development, which included a $1.2 million bequest to reestablish Tiffin’s Center for Teaching Excellence.
"I could not be more excited and honored about this appointment and joining the Penn State leadership team at Penn State Beaver and Shenango,” said Schumacher. “Both campuses are integral to their respective communities, creating ongoing opportunities for strategic partnerships to advance economic growth in this region of Pennsylvania. Together we will build on the strong Penn State legacy by expanding our reach through market-competitive academic programs and continuing education opportunities, working collaboratively with business and industry in western Pennsylvania to demonstrate the power of a Penn State degree."
As dean of Tiffin’s School of Business, Schumacher oversaw the development and enhancement of the school’s baccalaureate and master’s degree programs, worked with faculty and staff to identify and obtain revenue sources to support academic programming, and collaborated with enrollment management on recruitment and retention efforts. Schumacher also fostered effective relationships with local businesses, organizations and alumni to support internship and extended learning opportunities for students, as well as faculty professional development.
Prior to joining Tiffin University, Schumacher served as founding director of the Ph.D. in Global Leadership program at the Indiana Institute of Technology. She also served as a faculty member and director of graduate programs at the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Schumacher possesses 27 years of experience in higher education and corporate environments, including nearly 20 years of experience in teaching, course design and administration.
Schumacher earned a doctor of education in leadership studies, a master of organization development, and a master of arts in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University. She earned a bachelor of science in economics from Allegheny College in Meadville.