Presidential Search

Search Process

The Penn State Board of Trustees led a phased approach to select a world-class leader to be the University’s next president. Following President Eric J. Barron’s retirement announcement, the Board of Trustees moved forward with the presidential search process by naming a Presidential Recruitment and Selection Committee to lead the search alongside the experienced executive search firm, Spencer Stuart.

A critical element of the process began in spring 2021 with a Next Gen Penn State “listening phase” to gather input and recommendations from Penn State community members, resulting in a report used to help create the position profile. Over the coming months, the Presidential Recruitment and Selection Committee and Spencer Stuart worked together to solicit and review nominations and recruit a pool of the highest-quality candidates for consideration by the Board of Trustees. Following a comprehensive interview process — which also included meetings with faculty members — the full Board of Trustees voted unanimously for Bendapudi to be the University’s next president.

The search process included:

• Broad and inclusive community engagement conducted by the Next Gen Penn State Advisory Group with participation from students, faculty, staff, alumni, local community members and trustees.
• Formation of an engaged Presidential Recruitment and Selection Committee that includes student, faculty and staff representation.
• Clearly articulated Presidential Position Profile that was informed by community feedback, Next Gen Penn State findings and the PRSC.
• Comprehensive candidate research and strategic and substantive outreach.
• Focus on developing a diverse pool of sources and prospects.
• Rigorous assessment of leading candidates in multiple interviews and meetings, including with select faculty members.

A small group of faculty met with Bendapudi, providing an opportunity for in-depth conversation around academic and research culture, opportunities, challenges and priorities. The faculty representatives chosen for their high standings, community ties, expertise in their fields and commitment to the University were Thomas La Porta, Evan Pugh Professor, William E. Leonhard Chair Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department, and director of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Laura Guertin, professor of earth sciences at Penn State Brandywine; Christina Grozinger, Publius Vergilius Maro Professorship in Agriculture in the College of Agricultural Sciences; Andrew Read, director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and Evan Pugh Professor of Biology and Entomology; and Michele Duffey, assistant teaching professor and director of the Kinesiology Physical Activity Program.

Community Input

As a critical element in the presidential search, Next Gen Penn State was a comprehensive listening phase in April 2021 to engage and solicit input from key stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, volunteers and community members, on the qualities needed in a future leader. The process was chaired by David Kleppinger, vice chair of the Board of Trustees, and included a 47-member advisory group. Using the collective feedback from a University-wide survey, feedback form and small-group stakeholder meetings, the Next Gen Penn State Advisory Group developed a public report that the Presidential Recruitment and Selection Committee is using to inform its process.

The Next Gen Penn State process garnered:

• 14,243 survey responses from students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.
• 300+ feedback form comments received directly through the Next Gen Penn State website.
• 36 listening sessions with 276 individuals from a variety of University groups.