New leadership is on the way at three Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities.

• Dr. Karen M. Whitney, vice chancellor for student life and dean of students at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), has been selected to serve as the next president of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, effective July 1. She will succeed Dr. Joseph P. Grunenwald, who served the university in various positions for more than 30 years, including the last seven as president.
• Dr. Barbara Dixon, a former president of Truman State University, will become interim president of Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, also on July 1. She will take over for Dr. Keith T. Miller, who will leave the university June 30 to assume the presidency of Virginia State University. Dr. Miller has served as LHU president since July 2004.
• Dr. David J. Werner, a former chancellor of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, will serve as interim president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), effective Aug. 1. Dr. Werner previously served as IUP’s interim provost and was interim president of Mansfield University of Pennsylvania during the 2005-06 academic year. He will replace Dr. Tony Atwater, who will leave the university June 30 to assume a leadership role with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C. Dr. Atwater has served as IUP president since February 2005.

Dr. Whitney and Dr. Werner were named to their positions today by the PASSHE Board of Governors. Dr. Dixon was selected by the Board in April.

In a separate action taken today, the Board extended the contracts of the remaining 11 PASSHE university presidents through June 30, 2013.

“We have chosen three excellent individuals to join our presidential leadership team,” said Board of Governors Chairman Kenneth M. Jarin. “These are challenging times for PASSHE and for all of our universities. I am confident the strong leadership in place will allow us to successfully meet all of the challenges we face as we strive to continually enhance the quality of education our students receive.”

“We are fortunate to have been able to add these three experienced leaders to our already outstanding cadre of university presidents,” said Marie Conley, chair of the Board’s Human Resources Committee. “Our students and campus communities at Clarion, Lock Haven and IUP will be well-served during this important time of transition.”

“Dr. Whitney, Dr. Dixon and Dr. Werner all have had extraordinary academic careers, and I am certain all will contribute significantly to PASSHE’s leadership team,” added PASSHE Chancellor Dr. John C. Cavanaugh.

Dr. Whitney has served as vice chancellor and dean of students at the 30,000-stutent IUPUI since 1999. Previously she was associate vice president for student life at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She began her academic career as an instructor at the University of Houston in 1980.

“We are very pleased with the appointment of Dr. Whitney as Clarion University's next president,” said Council of Trustees Chair Lee James. “Given her distinguished career and exceptional leadership in public higher education, she will serve the university very well. I am grateful to everyone who contributed to this very important decision.”

“I am thrilled and honored to be given the opportunity to serve the Commonwealth, the northwest region and Clarion University.” Dr. Whitney said. “I look forward to building on the history of accomplishments that define Clarion.”

Dr. Whitney earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Houston and a doctoral degree in higher educational administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

In her current position, Dr. Whitney is directly responsible for 12 departments and a $12 million budget. Her responsibilities include institutional strategic finance and planning, policy development and budget oversight. She works closely with community organizations and civic leaders on behalf of the university and has helped lead two capital campaigns.

Dr. Whitney is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the Association of College and University Housing Officers International and the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities. She has published numerous academic papers and has presented at a variety of professional conferences.

Dr. Dixon served as president of Truman State University from 2003 to 2008 and spent another year as a consultant to the institution’s Board of Governors. She has served on the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Presidents’ Council and the Professional Development Committee of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and was president of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, a national consortium of public liberal arts colleges.

She earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music from Michigan State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance, literature and pedagogy from the University of Colorado.

Dr. Werner served as chancellor of the 13,300-student Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus from 1997 to 2004. He also spent a semester as a visiting researcher in human resources and public policy development at Ryukoku University in Kyoto, Japan. He served as IUP’s interim provost during much of the 2007-08 academic year.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from St. Louis University, and both a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in industrial engineering and management science from Northwestern University.

The Board extended by one year the contracts of Dr. David L. Soltz, Bloomsburg; Dr. Angelo Armenti Jr., California; Dr. Michelle R. Howard-Vital, Cheyney; Dr. Robert J. Dillman, East Stroudsburg; Dr. Jeremy D. Brown; Edinboro; Dr. F. Javier Cevallos, Kutztown; Dr. Maravene S. Loeschke, Mansfield; Dr. Francine G. McNairy, Millersville; Dr. William N. Ruud, Shippensburg; Dr. Robert M. Smith, Slippery Rock; and Dr. Greg R. Weisenstein, West Chester.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, with nearly 117,000 students. The 14 PASSHE universities offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Approximately 454,000 PASSHE alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.