Paul J. Clifford, the chief executive officer of the Penn State Alumni Association and Penn State’s associate vice president for alumni relations, has stepped down from his role effective Thursday, January 2, and left Penn State to pursue other opportunities, according to a university release.

Clifford led the alumni association for nine years and was the 11th CEO in the organization’s 154-year history. He led a staff of 55 and managed an annual budget of $13 million for the world’s largest dues-paying alumni association.

“Leading the world’s largest alumni association alongside our dedicated volunteers and connecting my fellow alumni to their alma mater has been the highlight of my career,” Clifford said in a statement. “Our alumni are passionate about Dear Old State, and it’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve them.”  

Clifford has spent his career in alumni relations across various universities. He’s worked at James Madison, SUNY New Paltz, and UConn in various roles, later becoming the associate vice chancellor for alumni relations at East Carolina and the president and CEO of the East Carolina Alumni Association. Clifford came to Penn State after a role as the associate vice president of advancement and executive director of the Oregon Alumni Association.

Clifford earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Bloomsburg and his master’s in higher education from Penn State. 

During Clifford’s tenure, the alumni association’s endowment increased 58%, and the organization negotiated affinity and sponsorship relationships yielding almost $25 million in guaranteed revenue for the organization across 10 years.

“Over the past nine years, Paul Clifford has been so much more than the CEO of the Penn State Alumni Association — he has been a visionary leader, a trusted friend, and the true embodiment of the ‘We Are’ spirit,” said Anand Ganjam, president of the Penn State Alumni Association. “His time at Penn State has been defined by his ability to foster meaningful connections and opportunities for alumni and instill a deep sense of pride — all driven by his clear and unwavering love for Penn State. While Paul will be deeply missed, I wish him and his family all the best as they begin their next chapter and have no doubt his legacy of service to Penn State will continue to inspire future generations of Penn Staters.” 

Penn State did not announce a procedure for Clifford’s replacement.