Workstream Leadership

Since the Roadmap for Penn State’s Future was announced in January of 2024, work to position Penn State’s Commonwealth Campus structure for a strong and stable future has been ongoing, involving many voices from across the University. In February of 2025, President Bendapudi charged an executive leadership team with leading a group to develop recommendations for the future composition of the campus ecosystem. President Bendapudi has shared recommendations with the Board of Trustees, however, it is important to emphasize that no final decisions have been made. The final, future makeup of our Commonwealth Campus ecosystem system will be determined only after fulsome discussions between University leaders and the Board of Trustees, which are ongoing.

The committee has launched a series of nine workstreams on critical issues and questions related to campus transitions, with workstream leaders engaging subject matter experts and shared governance bodies representing faculty, staff and students.

As the final future shape of the Commonwealth Campus ecosystem is determined, workstreams will work closely with the executive committee to recommend the best path in distinct areas of university business, working to minimize impacts of students, faculty and staff, and to address challenges and opportunities. These workstreams, whose leaders are listed below, will continue their efforts throughout this process.

Executive leadership

  • Margo DelliCarpini, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses
  • Tracy Langkilde, interim executive vice president and provost
  • Michael Wade Smith, senior vice president and chief of staff

Workstream leadership

Overall workstream support

Focus: Planning, coordination and engagement across workstreams.

  • Audrey McDonough, project manager, Office of Enterprise Change and Transformation
  • Bennett Ulmer, business analyst, Office of the President

Student transition and retention

Focus: Providing every student with a clear, supported path to degree completion, with as much of it occurring on the local campus as dictated by student preference.

  • Elizabeth Wright, regional chancellor for Penn State’s Hazleton, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre campuses
  • Rick Brazier, dean, University College

Faculty transitions

Focus: Providing ongoing support to students and personnel through at least the spring semester of 2027, identifying opportunities for reassignment whenever possible, and career transition support.

  • Ron Darbeau, associate vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and Chancellor, Penn State Altoona
  • Rick Brazier, dean, University College

Staff transitions

Focus: Providing ongoing support to personnel and student employees through this period of change, identifying opportunities for reassignment whenever possible, and career transition support.

  • Lisa Marranzini, assistant vice president for administration, Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses

Facilities and finance

Focus: Managing resources and infrastructure investments at remaining campuses.

  • Michael Wade Smith, senior vice president and chief of staff

Regulatory issues, accreditation and data

Focus: Ensuring continued compliance with accreditation and state requirements.

  • Lance Kennedy-Phillips, vice provost for planning, assessment and institutional research

Alumni, community and donor engagement

Focus: Engaging stakeholders and maintaining strong external relationships.

  • Michael Wade Smith, senior vice president and chief of staff

Communications

Focus: Proactively communicating changes and addressing concerns.

  • Rachel Pell, vice president for Strategic Communications

Research and external funding

Focus: Understanding the impact to the research enterprise and providing transition support, where necessary.

  • Tracy Langkilde, interim executive vice president and provost
  • Rick Brazier, dean, University College

Cross-Functional Engagement and Mapping

Focus: Coordination across operational units to ensure staff and resource readiness across Commonwealth Campus locations.

  • Todd Camp, senior director of administration, Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses
  • Jonathan Kukta, director of strategic initiatives, Office of Finance and Business