Dr. Mary-Beth Krogh-Jespersen, chancellor at Penn State Worthington Scranton, has announced that she will retire effective July 1, 2015 after 15 years of service to Penn State.
Dr. Krogh-Jespersen joined Penn State as chancellor at Worthington Scranton in 2000. During her tenure, she helped grow both the campus' academic programs as well as its facilities.
Penn State Worthington Scranton now offers eight baccalaureate degree programs, five associate degrees, four minor programs and a master's degree for nurse practitioners.
To support these expanded academic programs, Dr. Krogh-Jespersen updated existing facilities, such as the campus' biology, chemistry and physics labs, creating a Science Suite with updated and expanded labs that offer the latest in technology and facilities design and foster faculty and undergraduate student research.
She also spearheaded the construction of the Business Building to house the expanding Business program at the campus, which included e-learning classrooms, a Wall Street-style trading floor, breakout study rooms and a large lecture hall.
Existing buildings also saw upgrades, including the cafeteria, renamed The View Café, which underwent a million-dollar renovation to the kitchen and seating areas; the library, which now houses a computer lab, group study areas and new furnishings; and, now under construction, new athletic fields, including the Matt McGloin Baseball Field, the UGI Softball Field and an improved soccer field, all of which are part of multi-million dollar, multi-phase Athletics Facilities Renovation project.
Dr. Krogh-Jespersen also oversaw the fundraising for, and creation of, the David and Ann Hawk Student Success Center in the campus' Study Learning Center, creating an innovative space that houses student services such as financial aid, career services, tutoring, advising and health services, along with group and individual study areas and a computer room in an open, inviting and collaborative space.
Over the past 14 years, she also completed two successful fundraising campaigns, exceeding the campus' $5 million For the Future Campaign goal, raising over $6 million, and completed two strategic plans aimed at increasing academic success, enrollment, and student engagement.
A search for a new chancellor is presently underway.