From Penn State Altoona this afternoon: “Ron Darbeau, vice president for faculty affairs and academic operations at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, has been named chancellor of Penn State Altoona, effective Jan. 3rd. Darbeau succeeds outgoing Chancellor and Dean Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry, who will retire at the end of 2022 after more than 38 years of service to Penn State and 43 years in higher education. Bechtel-Wherry has led the Altoona campus since 2005. “We look forward to welcoming Ron to Penn State, where he will draw on his career success as an administrator in higher education to shape the future of Penn State Altoona,” said Kelly Austin, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor. “His longstanding experience as an educator, researcher and academic leader — particularly in the areas of faculty development, academic and student affairs, and institutional effectiveness — will positively impact Altoona’s campus and community for years to come.”
“I am both grateful and excited for the opportunity to work with the talented and dedicated faculty, staff and administrators at Penn State Altoona to capitalize on the wonderful legacy left by the inimitable Lori Bechtel-Wherry,” said Darbeau. “It is a singular honor to accept the leadership of this campus in its continuing mission that highlights student success, academic excellence, diversity, sustainability and community engagement — values which resonate strongly with my own. With the support of the campus community and its extended family, I intend to usher in a period of prosperity and strategic growth for Penn State Altoona.”
Darbeau most recently served as vice president for faculty affairs and academic operations at Commonwealth University, the integrated institution of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities that was established in July 2022. There, he served on the president’s cabinet and provided leadership for faculty affairs for four campuses of approximately 13,000 students and 800 faculty. He oversaw graduate education and sponsored research, institutional effectiveness and institutional research, libraries, the Clearfield branch campus of Lock Haven University (LHU), and workforce development. He joined LHU as provost and vice president for academic affairs in July 2020.”
