Penn State conducts national search for first senior vice provost and chief of staff
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- Penn State launches national search for senior vice provost and chief of staff.
- New role will support incoming provost Fotis Sotiropoulos starting August 2025.
- Search committee seeks leader with higher ed experience and strategic insight.
Penn State is conducting a national search for a newly created position, senior vice provost and chief of staff, which will directly support the incoming provost, Fotis Sotiropoulos.
The new position will “provide high-level leadership and serve as an adviser and integrative leader across academic and administrative units,” the university said in a release announcing the search late last week. The senior vice provost and chief of staff also help coordinate and support senior staff, manage projects and drive innovation, along with other duties, the release states.
Kathy Bieschke, senior vice provost and interim dean of Undergraduate Education and chair of the search committee, said the role will provide significant support to Sotiropoulos, who is set to begin in August. A Penn State alum, the world-renowned researcher in computational fluid dynamics is joining Penn State after being in the role of provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. Sotiropoulos succeeds Tracy Langkilde, who served in the interim after Justin Schwartz left for a new position in 2024.
“We are looking for a dedicated leader who will quickly integrate into the University’s many communities and constituencies, and drive forward the University’s top initiatives,” Bieschke said.
Along with Bieschke, the internal search committee includes Sabine Klahr, vice provost for Penn State Global, Dan Kuhn, financial officer for the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, Craig J. Newschaffer, dean of the College of Health and Human Development and professor of biobehavioral health, Bre Robinson, executive assistant in the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, Michael Wade Smith, senior vice president and chief of staff, and Elizabeth Wright, regional chancellor and chief academic officer of Penn State Hazleton, Penn Scranton and Penn State Wilkes-Barre. They’re also working with the recruiting firm WittKieffer.
“The ideal candidate will have a proven record of leadership in higher education, possess financial savvy, be able to execute complex initiatives, navigate ambiguity and build trust across diverse constituencies. Penn State is seeking a strategic thinker who can anticipate needs, offer candid counsel and operate with diplomacy and integrity,” the release states.
Those interested can submit their CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes included in a leadership profile developed by WittKieffer. Applications, nominations and inquiries can be sent to PennStateProvostCoS@wittkiefer.com. Candidate materials should be received by Sept. 5 for full consideration.
