Administration

Search underway for vice provost for faculty affairs

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has launched a search for the position of vice provost for faculty affairs, a senior-level leader who reports to the executive vice president and provost.

Robert N. Pangborn, vice president and dean for Undergraduate Education, is chairing the search committee.

Blannie E. Bowen, Penn State’s vice provost for academic affairs, will retire June 30 after a nearly 30-year career at the University. With the hiring of a new vice provost, the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs will change its name to the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs to better reflect its scope.

The successful candidate will be a highly visible academic administrator responsible for overseeing the many facets of faculty affairs at all Penn State locations. The vice provost is a member of the President’s Council and Academic Leadership Council and works closely with deans, campus chancellors, department heads, faculty committees, and the University’s Office of General Counsel.

Primary among the vice provost’s responsibilities is overseeing the University’s promotion and tenure review process, sabbatical leave requests, and mandated periodic academic administrative evaluations of deans and other individuals who report to the provost. In addition, on behalf of the Office of the President, the vice provost manages executive searches for positions that report directly to the provost. The vice provost serves as a liaison to the University Faculty Senate in several capacities, including representing the provost on the Committee on Faculty Affairs and serving as a liaison to the Faculty Rights and Responsibilities Committee.

The vice provost also oversees several leadership and faculty development activities, including the Academic Leadership Forum, which is a series of seminars providing opportunities for leadership development to department heads and other academic administrators, and serving as Penn State’s liaison to the Big Ten Academic Alliance’s Academic Leadership Program and Department Executive Officer seminars. Other responsibilities include overseeing orientation sessions for new faculty, department heads, and other academic administrators, and overseeing the selection processes for the President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Integration, the Penn State Laureate, and the Administrative Fellows Program.

Candidates should possess credentials appropriate for a tenured appointment at the rank of professor and a record of outstanding achievement and commitment to teaching, research and service. The successful candidate will have experience as an effective and recognized leader; the skills necessary to hold a significant leadership position in a multifaceted and complex organization similar in size and scope to Penn State; and broad knowledge of the University’s mission, vision, values, and academic policies and procedures.

Penn State seeks to fill the position by July 1, 2017. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of four references to the University through its employment website at https://psu.jobs/job/70572. Nominations and inquiries may be sent to the search committee chair at VPFASearch@psu.edu. The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and continue to receive and review them until the position is filled. For more information, visit http://vpaa.psu.edu/

Members of the search committee are:

  • Robert N. Pangborn, search committee chair; vice president and dean for Undergraduate Education
  • Katherine M. Allen, associate general counsel
  • Kelly M. Austin, chancellor, Penn State Schuylkill
  • Lee Ann Banaszak, professor and head, Department of Political Science, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Kathryn D. Drager, associate dean for Research and Graduate Programs, College of Health and Human Development
  • Gerald K. Henry Jr., human resource strategic partner, College of Education
  • John D. Iceland, professor and head, Department of Sociology and Criminology, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Lance C. Kennedy-Phillips, vice provost for Planning and Assessment
  • Barbara O. Korner, dean, College of Arts and Architecture
  • Janelle B. Larson, head, Division of Engineering, Business and Computing, Penn State Berks
  • David H. Monk, dean, College of Education
  • Regina Vasilatos-Younken, vice provost for Graduate Education and dean of the Graduate School
  • Elizabeth J. Wright, director of academic affairs, Penn State Hazleton
  • Yuxi Zheng, professor and head, Department of Mathematics, Eberly College of Science
Last Updated May 5, 2017