Dear Penn State community,
Today marks a meaningful homecoming for me. As a first-generation student who arrived in State College from Athens, Greece, nearly four decades ago, Penn State transformed my life. I found in this University not only a world-class education, but also the support, challenge and inspiration that helped me build the confidence to pursue a life of purpose, learning and leadership. To now return and serve the institution that gave me so much is both humbling and profoundly personal.
I’m honored to begin this role as executive vice president and provost and help advance President Neeli Bendapudi’s bold, student-centered vision for a more accessible, innovative and impactful Penn State. I am deeply inspired by its focus — delivering opportunity and lifelong impact for students from all walks of life; enabling professional success for faculty and staff; and positioning the University as an engine of research, discovery, and economic development for Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world. It’s a vision I fully embrace — because I’ve lived its promise.
We are navigating a time of profound transformation in higher education — from evolving student expectations and the role universities play today, to the acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) and a growing focus on student belonging and well-being, among many other opportunities and challenges. Yet I believe Penn State’s scale, excellence, and land-grant mission uniquely position us not only to respond, but to lead.
Equally important is how we pursue success in this changing future. I will lead with a commitment to the many expressions of excellence that define Penn State — from groundbreaking research and inspiring teaching to institutional innovation and public service. That means setting a high bar for the excellence of our scholarship and the quality and relevance of our academic programs, ensuring our operations are strategic and accountable, and fostering an inclusive and vibrant community where every individual feels a true sense of belonging. This is the culture I hope to build together with you.
I believe our most impactful path forward will emerge from the collective wisdom and formidable intellectual potential of the Penn State community. I am eager to engage with you, listen deeply and to create our path forward together.
In alignment with President Bendapudi’s priorities, I share these initial focus areas as an invitation to collaboration:
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Future-ready education: Every Penn State graduate — regardless of major — must be equipped with the critical thinking, civic awareness, and creative problem-solving skills and mindset needed to thrive in a complex and evolving world. We need to expand real-world learning experiences, internships and student engagement in research; build capacity for lifelong learning; and lead in AI literacy so that all our students can responsibly and imaginatively apply these tools to human challenges. With our robust campus network across the commonwealth, a nationally recognized World Campus, and a vast extension network — paired with deep alumni engagement — we're uniquely positioned to empower Pennsylvania’s workforce with the skills, knowledge and experiences to succeed in an evolving economy.
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Interdisciplinary research and innovation: Penn State’s formidable disciplinary strengths, world-class research infrastructure and robust culture of collaboration uniquely position us to lead in advancing interdisciplinary research that addresses society’s most complex challenges. These challenges increasingly require science-based, human-centered, systems-level solutions — approaches that not only generate new knowledge, but also shape technologies, inform policies, and launch enterprises that improve lives and strengthen communities. I am excited to work alongside Andrew Read, senior vice president for research, to expand support for faculty and students to collaborate across disciplines in ways that accelerate discovery, fuel innovation, and move ideas from the lab to the marketplace.
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Renewed land-grant commitment: Penn State stands out among land-grant universities for its ability to provide broad access to high-quality academic programs while fueling local economic development across the commonwealth. As we refine and reshape our Commonwealth Campus ecosystem, I am committed to leading this transition with care, purpose and transparency — guided by deep respect for the generations of faculty, staff, students and community members who have built and sustained Penn State’s statewide presence. Their dedication has shaped lives and strengthened communities, in every corner of Pennsylvania. Now, we must build on that legacy with a bold, forward-looking vision for how Penn State can strategically integrate its commonwealth footprint to best serve the state in the decades ahead. One of my first priorities will be to visit every Penn State campus to listen, learn and engage directly with students, faculty, staff and community partners across the commonwealth.
I am excited to work collaboratively with our talented leadership team, including deans, chancellors and President’s Council members; our faculty senate and staff advisory council; and all of our faculty, staff and students, to build on the strong foundation that has been set.
To realize these ambitions, we must foster an environment where faculty and staff feel empowered to remain engaged, innovative and impactful throughout their careers. This means investing in structures that encourage ongoing growth, accountability and fulfillment, aligned with each faculty member’s evolving academic strengths and passions.
I am energized by the road ahead, excited by the opportunity to help lead this next chapter in Penn State’s story, and I look forward to learning from and working alongside the exceptional people who make up this community. Together, we will strengthen Penn State’s standing as a beacon of access, excellence and impact — across Pennsylvania and around the world.
Thank you for your warm welcome. I am honored to walk this journey with you.
With gratitude and excitement,
Fotis Sotiropoulos
Executive Vice President and Provost
The Pennsylvania State University