SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Jonathan A. Kukta, chief director of strategy, planning, and engagement for Penn State Finance and Business and the Commonwealth Campuses, has been appointed to the National Board of the National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS), which serves more than 600 college and universities.
Kukta, who has been with Penn State since 2002, currently oversees training and development, engagement events, special projects, and strategic planning within Finance and Business. He also provides operational strategy and planning support for Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses. In that capacity, Kukta and his team work closely with campus chancellors on a variety of initiatives, including strategic and master campus planning, functional liaison support, space and facility management, government and community relations, and other campus support efforts.
With more than two decades of involvement in NACAS, Kukta has held numerous leadership roles within NACAS East, the association’s largest region, which represents 210 member institutions across the Northeastern United States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and parts of Canada. His past positions include business partner liaison, membership committee chair, vice president, president, and past president.
During his term as NACAS East President in 2024–25, Kukta led several high-impact initiatives. He helped increase regional membership by 11%, oversaw the region’s largest-attended conference in Boston, and brought the “On the Road” professional development program to Penn State, hosting 65 professionals from across the region.
In 2020, Kukta was recognized with the NACAS East Region Rising Star Award, an honor voted on by peers across institutions in the region. The award acknowledges the accomplishments of an emerging leader in auxiliary, business, and campus services who has made meaningful contributions to their institution and the profession. Kukta also achieved the Certified Auxiliary Services Professional (CASP) designation in 2022, demonstrating his advanced knowledge and commitment to excellence across key areas including leadership, management, marketing, student development, communication, IT, financial services and physical facilities.
“It was an honor to serve as NACAS East President this past year, and I’m incredibly thankful and grateful for the support and collaboration of colleagues at NACAS and Penn State,” Kukta said. “I look forward to continuing that work on the national board and being part of an amazing group of colleagues across the country as we look to shape the future of campus services across higher education at such an important time.”
NACAS President LaNiece Tyree praised Kukta’s impact and dedication.
“Jonathan has been a dedicated leader throughout his service as NACAS East President, and his commitment to advancing auxiliary services in higher education is evident in every role he takes on,” said Tyree, assistant vice president of auxiliary enterprises at Howard University. “His experience and insight will be a tremendous asset to the Board as we continue to strengthen our association and support our members across all regions.”
Rich Steele, chief executive officer of NACAS, noted Kukta’s exemplary leadership in the organization’s largest region.
“Jonathan's leadership of our largest region, NACAS East, has been nothing short of exceptional,” Steele said. “His boundless energy, passion for higher education, and deep love of Penn State was truly evident as he led the planning of major regional conferences and hosted impactful programs on the Penn State campus.”
At Penn State, University leaders also recognized Kukta’s national appointment as a reflection of his professional excellence and service-oriented mindset.
“Jonathan’s appointment to the NACAS National Board is a well-earned recognition of his visionary leadership, collaborative spirit, and tireless commitment to student-focused operations,” said Sara Thorndike, senior vice president for Finance and Business and university treasurer. “His work strengthens not only Penn State’s campuses, but also the broader higher education community.”
Renata S. Engel, interim vice president for the Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor, echoed the praise: “His appointment to the national board highlights the dedication, expertise, and leadership he exhibits,” Engel said. “It will allow him to accomplish this on a larger scale.”
Beyond his leadership roles, Kukta has been a speaker and contributor at NACAS national and regional events. In recent years, he presented at the 2025 NACAS East Region conference on “Facilities, Finance and the Future of Campus Services,” and at the 2024 national conference with a session titled “Inspired to Impactful: Enhancing Employee Engagement and Morale, Penn State Finance and Business.” He also participated as a keynote general session panelist for the October 2024 NACAS Conference, discussing “Fads Versus Trends on Campus – Student Satisfaction, Revenue Drivers, Inflation Management.” Earlier that year, he led a session on “From Shelves to Screens: Reinventing the Penn State Bookstore.”
His earlier contributions to NACAS include facilitating webinars on “Trends in Auxiliary Services” in February 2021 and “Return to Campus” in July 2020. He has also authored articles for On-Campus Hospitality, including “Active Learning in Auxiliary Services” (September 2015) and “Exceptional Customer Service in Higher Education” (May 2012).
Kukta’s service has been recognized across Penn State with the William H. Reiber Outstanding Management Award from Housing & Food Services in 2017, the Penn State Schuylkill Outstanding Alumni Award that same year, the Penn State Hazleton Campus Service to Students Award in 2015, the Finance and Business Mentoring and Guidance Award in 2013, and the Finance and Business Leadership Award in 2012.
He follows in the footsteps of former Penn State leaders Kim Berry and Jim Sterganos, who also served as NACAS East presidents in the late 1990s and early 2000s.