Patrick Mather, a Penn State graduate and Bucknell professor, will become the next dean of the Schreyer Honors College effective August 16.

Mather, who teaches chemical engineering at Bucknell has served as its engineering dean for five years, will succeed Peggy Johnson, who will retire from Penn State on August 15. Before arriving at Bucknell, Mather taught at Syracuse from 2007 to 2016, Case Western Reserve University from 2004 to 2007, and the University of Connecticut from 1999 to 2003.

Penn State Provost Nick Jones said he’s delighted Mather is returning to Happy Valley to lead the honors college.

“Patrick brings an impressive record as an administrator, educator, mentor and researcher to this role, and he also possesses a vision and passion for honors education — drawn from personal experience — that inspires excellence,” Jones said in a release. “I look forward to our honors scholars achieving even greater heights of academic, civic, personal and professional success under his leadership, and to the college continuing to find new and innovative ways to enrich our students’ lives both in and out of the classroom.”

Mather will report directly to Jones and serve as Schreyer’s top academic leader and executive officer. He’ll also oversee the university’s Presidential Leadership Academy and join Penn State’s Academic Leadership Council and University Park Council of Academic Deans.

Mather graduated from Penn State in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering science. He followed up by earning his master’s degree in engineering mechanics at Penn State in 1990.

While at Penn State, Mather joined the University Scholars Program, better known Schreyer’s predecessor. He said those experiences directly inspired him to reconnect with his alma mater.

“I was drawn to the position by the college’s global excellence, coupled with my own transformative experience in the University Scholars Program,” Mather said. “Since those formative years, I have watched the program grow into the truly distinguished college that it is today — thanks to the generosity of many individuals and the wise leadership of its deans — with activities and a tight-knit community that helps each student achieve ambitious learning outcomes and positions them well to become ethical agents of positive change.”

Mather has also written more than 150 peer-reviewed papers and produced more than 35 original patents. Additionally, he’s the editor-in-chief of the “Polymer Reviews” journal.

Nearly 2,000 students are enrolled in the Schreyer Honors College, representing about 3% of Penn State’s total undergraduate population.