UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State is implementing two organizational changes to align key engagement, communications and enrollment functions to maximize their collective impact in support of critical University priorities.
Beginning this month, the University will establish the Division of External Affairs, a newly structured organization designed to build upon the University’s strong foundation in external engagement and will bring together the offices of Strategic Communications, Government and Community Relations, Outreach, and the Corporate Engagement Center under a unified framework. In addition, Development and Alumni Relations will have a dotted line into this new organization to allow for even greater synergy among these critical functions.
The new Division of External Affairs will unify Penn State’s efforts to tell its story, strengthen partnerships and expand its reach. By bringing together Strategic Communications, Government and Community Relations, Outreach, Corporate Engagement Center, and Development and Alumni Relations, the University will have a single, coordinated platform for engagement that connects Penn State’s work to the needs of students, alumni, industry, and the commonwealth.
The organization will be led by Michael Wade Smith, who has been named senior vice president for external affairs. Smith will bring together the following vice presidents into his reporting line, including Rachel Pell, vice president for Strategic Communications; Mike Stefan, vice president for Government and Community Relations; and Larry Terry, vice president for Outreach, along with Jay Davenport, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations, who will report into the president with a dotted line to Smith. At this time, Smith will continue to function as the president’s chief of staff, and through March 1, continue to provide interim leadership for the Division of Development and Alumni Relations.
Before joining Penn State in 2022, Smith led the offices of Government Relations, Community Engagement, and Communications and Marketing at the University of Louisville, along with the Office of the President and Employee Success Center. Previously, at the University of Kansas, he was the chief of staff in the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor and the chief marketing officer and director of external affairs in the School of Business.
At the same time, to strengthen connections across the full student experience from first interest through graduation and beyond, Penn State’s Office of Enrollment Management will now report to the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost. The move more closely aligns academic and student success priorities across all campuses to allow every student to have a seamless, supportive and transformative experience during their time at Penn State. This will bring Enrollment Management into direct collaboration with Undergraduate Education, Student Affairs, Commonwealth Campuses, the Fox Graduate School, Penn State Global, Online Education, Educational Equity, Faculty Affairs, and the Office of Planning, Assessment and Institutional Research.
“By integrating these areas across the University we can expand upon established success to further elevate our voice nationally, deepen relationships with stakeholders, and showcase the value and impact of Penn State’s mission,” said President Neeli Bendapudi. “These leaders and teams are extremely talented and contribute so much to Penn State. I look forward to this additional level of collaboration with our exceptional leaders to align key priorities for the institution with a shared purpose.”
Each vice president will continue to oversee their respective units and remain as members of the President’s Council.