UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Michael Stedelin, senior director for strategic optimization and IT solutions, has been promoted to assistant vice president for research strategic planning and solution development at Penn State, effective Aug. 15. In this role, Stedelin will provide senior leadership in integrating mission planning, systems and solutions within the research domain so that organizational capabilities are prioritized, adopted and scaled effectively to meet the University’s research goals.
Stedelin will oversee strategic planning, the development of long-term roadmaps, and the sponsorship of initiatives that advance Penn State’s research mission. His work will span transformation leadership, business process improvement, data intelligence, systems development, and research solution design. Working with senior leaders across the University, Stedelin will ensure that research governance, planning and processes align with institutional best practices and standards.
“Mike’s ability to connect strategic vision with actionable solutions makes him an invaluable leader for Penn State’s research enterprise,” said Andrew Read, senior vice president for research. “His leadership will strengthen our capacity to deliver innovative systems and processes that drive research success across disciplines.”
Stedelin’s responsibilities also will include fostering collaborations with Penn State IT, through his dual reporting and membership with the Penn State IT senior leadership team, Information Security, and other institutional partners so that research systems and computing solutions meet operational needs and cybersecurity standards. He will lead continuous improvement efforts through stakeholder feedback and analytics to maintain alignment with evolving research priorities.
“I’m honored to take on this role and contribute to advancing Penn State’s research mission,” Stedelin said. “By integrating strategy, technology and process, we can ensure our research community has the tools and capabilities it needs to make a global impact.”
Stedelin holds a bachelor’s degree in computer management information systems and an MBA from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He joined Penn State in 2017 and has played a key role in advancing strategic initiatives across the University’s research enterprise. Penn State is recognized as one of the nation’s leading research institutions, with $1.337 billion in annual research expenditures supporting discoveries and innovations that address global challenges.