POSITION SPECIFICSPenn State Hazleton invites applications and nominations for the position of
Campus Chief Academic Officer (CCAO) to begin on or about July 1, 2026. The CCAO is a 48-week academic administrative appointment.
The CCAO is the senior campus academic officer, responsible for providing leadership for academic and faculty affairs in an environment of shared governance and collaboration. The CCAO reports directly to the Regional Chancellor and acts on behalf of the Regional Chancellor in their absence, or as designated. This position also receives direction and support from the Dean of the University College and is accountable to them, along with the Regional Chancellor, for implementing curricular and faculty affairs initiatives driven by the College.
As a key member of the campus leadership team, the CCAO collaborates with the leadership of a variety of departments such as Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, Information Technology, Strategic Communications, Development and Alumni Relations, Finance, etc. and engages, as appropriate, with advisory boards and external partners. The CCAO also collaborates with leadership in other units within the university to ensure that Penn State operates as one university, geographically distributed, creating clear, accessible, and consistent pathways for student success.
RESPONSIBILITIES:Specific responsibilities of the CCAO include:
- Faculty leadership - Develop and implement academic vision and strategy using current best practices, innovative solutions, and data-informed decisions. Lead faculty recruitment, mentoring, development, and evaluation; foster teaching and advising excellence and innovation; enhance resources to advance belonging and professional fulfillment; further efforts in grant writing and funding to support research and academic programs; facilitate community impact via faculty research and service; support belonging, inclusiveness, and fulfillment; and foster and participate in an environment of shared governance.
- Academic staff leadership - Lead professional staff (e.g., registrar, instructional designer) and academic support operations, (e.g., advising, career services as applicable, tutoring, and student disability resources); oversee staff recruitment, mentoring, development, evaluation; enhance resources to foster belonging and professional fulfillment; and foster innovation in academic support operations.
- Student engagement and success - Lead academic and career success advancement for students, from dual enrollment to first year through graduation, into careers and professional and graduate schools; steer and support student engagement and student experiential and high impact learning practices (first-year experience, global programs, undergraduate research, service learning, internships, peer mentoring, honors coursework, and capstone projects); partner with campus leadership on initiatives to increase student recruitment, retention, and persistence to graduation; and support continuous improvement of the overall student academic experience including advising.
- Academic program and curricular leadership - Direct academic program and curricular planning, administration, and assessment including interdisciplinary education and research; support investment in established programs and new program development to align degrees with student interest and workforce needs; partner with campus leadership on technology, facilities, space planning, equipment, and other resources to ensure excellence in teaching and learning, research and creative activity, service and community impact.
- Budget planning and cross-unit engagement - Develop and administer all budgets and resources for academic programs, faculty development, and student academic support; collaborate with campus leadership on fundraising and grant development advancement to enhance academics.
- Instruction - May teach up to 6 credits per year, depending on campus enrollment.
Qualifications:A doctorate or terminal degree; a minimum of five years in higher education as a full-time faculty member with evidence of excellence in teaching, research or creative activity, and service; and academic leadership experience and knowledge. Candidates must meet the academic qualifications for a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor at Penn State.
The most qualified applicants will show evidence of staying abreast of current and emerging trends in higher education, integrating them into their work practices and leadership; possessing extensive academic knowledge; and the ability to lead and serve in a comprehensive land-grant, public university with multiple campus locations. Prior experience in effectively communicating and collaborating with diverse internal and external constituents is required. Interested and qualified applicants from the Commonwealth Campuses are preferred.
APPLICATION:Applicants should submit a letter of application describing interest in the position and qualifications for the position, curriculum vitae, and the names, titles, telephone numbers, and email addresses of four professional references, with at least one being a current or past supervisor. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until an appointment is made.
CAMPUS INFORMATION:As Pennsylvania's sole land-grant institution and largest public university, Penn State is ranked as a top US public university and global institution - for academic standing, specialty programs, and research that impacts the world. Penn State Hazleton is a residential campus of Penn State, the land-grant University of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, serving over 90,000 students. The beautiful, suburban campus is located on 125 acres overlooking the Conyngham Valley and is conveniently located near Interstates 80 and 81 in northeastern Pennsylvania. The campus has a long-standing history of academic excellence and regional leadership in higher education. Current enrollment is 605 full and part-time students from 20 states and 10 countries. One of Penn State's most diverse campuses, 45% of students are from diverse backgrounds. Thirteen baccalaureate degree programs range from engineering focused on alternative energy and power generation to computer science to business. The five associate degree programs feature physical therapist assistant and medical laboratory technology. Students may also complete the first two years of nearly all of Penn State's 275 baccalaureate degrees at the Hazleton campus and then transition to another Penn State campus to complete their studies (2+2 program). The full on-campus student experience features robust cocurricular programming and eight men's and women's athletics teams that compete in the PSUAC and USCAA. The campus has strong business and industry partnerships, including the highly impactful Hazleton LaunchBox (https://hazleton.launchbox.psu.edu/), a signature program of the Invent Penn State Initiative, a commonwealth-wide network to spur economic development, job creation, and student career success.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCESEmployment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. Due to the financial and fiduciary responsibilities of this position, successful completion of a credit history check will be required in addition to standard background checks. This position requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid driver's license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to standard background checks.
BENEFITSPenn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.
For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
