UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — David Rose, former associate vice president for Penn State Auxiliary and Business Services, retired in November after a 34-year career with the University.
Beginning his career in 1986 as coordinator of Information Systems for Housing and Food Services, Rose has held numerous positions at Penn State, including financial officer for the Office of the Corporate Controller for Finance & Business, the Office of the President, the Office of Strategic Communications from 2007-15; and financial officer for the Office of the Corporate Controller for Student Affairs, and Development/Alumni Relations from 2005-07. He has served as associate vice president for Auxiliary and Business Services since 2015.
As a financial officer for many central offices for 15 years, Rose supported several new or expanded units, including Strategic Communications, Ethics and Compliance, Risk Management, General Counsel, the Enterprise Project Management Office, Human Resources, and the HR Transformation Project.
Rose played an integral role in enterprise system implementations of LionPath, WorkLion, and SIMBA, ensuring that project managers and implementation team leaders in Auxiliary and Business Services would be able to complete detail work required to meet project timelines.
The development and implementation of the id+ Card Program was “a major challenge but also a major accomplishment,” Rose says. As the first manager of the id+ Card Office when it opened in 1996, he collaborated with several university-wide committees to select the services the new card would provide, install the first on-site card production technology at every campus, plan in-person photo capture events, and issue the new id+ cards to every Penn State student and employee statewide.
Rose recalls that his first challenge upon being hired in 1986 was to implement, within three months, the new fully flexible declining-balance meal plans at all residential campuses state-wide. He was also part of a team that operationalized the addition of housing and food services at Penn State Berks in 1990. “Everything was new, including the staff, and the challenge was to be as prepared as possible to open on day one as if the unit had been operating smoothly for years,” he says.
Looking back over his career, Rose values the relationships he developed and the opportunities made available through the University. “Through Penn State, I’ve met and interacted with so many talented coworkers, colleagues, and leaders,” he says. “Each brought their unique perspective, along with a true commitment to providing positive experiences for students and other members of the University community. I’m grateful for the long-lasting friendships I’ve developed over the many years of my career.
“As a Penn State grad, it has been rewarding to be employed by such a well-respected institution of higher ed,” he continues. “Penn State provides many options for professional and personal growth for employees, and I am grateful for many opportunities to gain new experiences, to enhance my own career development, and to have contributed in part, however small, to changes over the years.”
Among many memorable moments throughout his years at Penn State, Rose recalls one in particular: “One of the most heart-warming memories I have is the reaction of students at Penn State Brandywine in fall 2017,” he says. “We opened a new residence hall and dining facility that semester, transitioning the campus from commuter to residential. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, several students and others spoke about how these new facilities would enhance the campus and their own Penn State experience. After many of us had performed endless work and financial analyses to make this happen, I’ll never forget the feeling of seeing first-hand how our work resulted in making students’ lives better.”
During retirement, Rose’s short-term plans include home renovation and spending more time with family and friends. When possible and safe, he plans to travel, with destinations that involve food, sports, fitness, and fun places of interest.