Penn State will begin a nationwide search for its next executive vice president and provost this month.

The search comes after former provost Nick Jones stepped down from the position in August 2022. Justin Schwartz, former dean of the College of Engineering, has since acted as interim executive vice president and provost.

The executive vice president and provost directly reports to the president and works closely with university officials, faculty, and staff. The provost oversees university colleges, the Penn State Libraries, Penn State IT, and other academic support units.

Additionally, the provost serves on a variety of university councils, including the President’s Council and the University Faculty Senate.

A 19-member search committee consisting of faculty, staff, and students will lead the search and work to quickly identify the best candidates for the position. The committee will be co-chaired by Michael Wade Smith, senior vice president and chief of staff, and Michele Stine, chair of the University Faculty Senate and professor of biobehavioral health.

“Penn State is a highly respected institution with a global reputation that has consistently drawn talented individuals with incredible academic, leadership, and research experiences. We are fully expecting to attract a strong and competitive field of potential candidates,” Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said in a release. “The provost is a critical position to fill, and our search committee intends to identify the right individual who shares Penn State’s values and vision, is wholly supportive of our land-grant mission, and truly wants to help faculty, staff, and students find success during their time with our University.” 

A complete list of the search committee members can be found here. Any inquiries about the search process can be sent to PennState.Provost@russellreynolds.com.

About the Author

Megan Dougherty

Megan Dougherty is a senior majoring in English and an associate editor at Onward State. She loves making music, consuming the maximum daily amount of coffee recommended by the FDA, and overanalyzing Taylor Swift lyrics. Feel free to follow her on Instagram @meganedougherty and forward any (free) The Eras Tour tickets to her email, mvd5891@psu.edu

How Centre County Voted In The 2026 Midterm Elections

Centre County saw a 55.32% voter turnout rate in the general election.

Man Accused of Stealing Vehicle From State College Hotel & Driving Drunk

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 12.

‘Blood In The Water’: Penn State Football Cornerback Audavion Collins & Secondary Elevating Surrounding Units

“He does a good job of making everyone else around him better because he’s the hardest-working guy on the field at all times.”