Penn State has named Josh Davis as its first senior vice provost and chief of staff, effective January 5, 2026.

Davis will provide high-level strategic leadership and serve as an advisor and leader across the entire university. He will support vice president and provost Fotis Sotiropoulos with financial planning and operational effectiveness, driving key initiatives, managing special projects, and fostering innovation.

“Josh Davis brings to Penn State an exceptional breadth of experience and a proven track record of leadership across higher education, global affairs, and public service,” Sotiropoulos said in a release. “From his work in the U.S. Department of State to his extensive engagement in international partnerships, and most recently his impact as chief of staff at a Big Ten institution, Josh has demonstrated a rare ability to navigate complexity with clarity, purpose, and integrity.” 

Davis was previously vice chancellor and chief of staff at Nebraska, as well as associate vice chancellor for global affairs and senior international officer, and held other global leadership positions. He has also worked in the US government as an international affairs officer, a foreign policy fellow, and a foreign affairs officer. The Ohio native holds bachelor of arts degrees with honors in history and art history from the University of Akron and a juris doctor degree from Akron’s School of Law.

“I’m deeply appreciative of the opportunity to be the first person to serve in this role and am excited to help build on and expand Penn State’s legacy as a land-grant institution,” Davis said. “I know the University’s Board of Trustees recently approved Penn State’s new strategic plan, and I’m eager to leverage my two decades of experience to help realize this plan to the fullest and advance Penn State’s reputation as a global leader.”