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 [email protected].