Regina Vasilatos-Younken, dean of Penn State’s Graduate School and vice provost for graduate education, has announced that she’ll retire on December 31, 2021, according to a news release.

Vasilatos-Younken officially took over the position in May 2015 after serving in an interim capacity for about two years. She’s been at Penn State for 45 years, as she began at the university as a graduate research assistant in 1976.

“What I’ll miss most are our students and the daily interactions with an extraordinary group of academic administrators, staff and graduate faculty in the Graduate School, who are truly committed and passionate about our student-centered mission, and tireless in their efforts to seeing that mission realized,” Vasilatos-Younken said.

Under her leadership, Penn State has seen a 50% increase in graduate applications and at least a 37% increase in total enrollments. This past fall semester, Penn State’s Graduate School had more than 14,000 students enrolled across University Park, Behrend, Great Valley, Harrisburg, Hershey, and Penn State’s World Campus.

“Under Jean’s longtime leadership, the Graduate School has become one of the nation’s largest and most highly renowned,” Nick Jones, executive vice president and provost, said. “Penn State’s graduate student enrollment has increased significantly in size and diversity, and the number and quality of graduate degree programs continues to grow.

“We are very grateful for Jean’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research and service over several decades, and we wish her all the best as she embarks on the next chapter in her life.” 

Along with her most recent position, Vasilatos-Younken has served as a professor, associate dean, and chair of the Intercollegiate Graduate Degree Program in Physiology since she arrived at Penn State in 1976.