May 06, 2022
Dr. Charles E. Patterson named 18th president of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg, PA – The Board of Governors of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education today
unanimously selected Dr. Charles E. Patterson to be the next president of Shippensburg
University of Pennsylvania effective immediately.
Patterson has been serving as the interim president of the university since June 30,
2021, and was previously president of Mansfield University, a State System university
in Tioga County, beginning in July 2019. Under his leadership, Mansfield University
implemented strategic priorities resulting in increased enrollment and student retention.
Before leading Mansfield, Patterson served as senior advisor for outreach at the US
Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid from August 2017 until he
arrived at Mansfield.
He began his higher education career in 2003 as assistant director for sponsored programs
at Baylor University. Six years later, he joined Georgia Southern University as chair
and vice president for research and economic development of the university’s Research
and Service Foundation, Inc. Next, Patterson was appointed interim president of Georgia
Southwestern State University in January 2015, a position he held for more than two
years before joining the US Department of Education.
Patterson earned a PhD in biochemistry and molecular bioscience from the University
of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in 2002. He graduated in 1993 from Mississippi
State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry.
“As interim president of Shippensburg University and former president of Mansfield
University, Dr. Patterson has demonstrated that he is the right person to lead the
university forward,” said Board Chair Cindy Shapira. “We believe his commitment to
working with students, faculty and staff will help guide Shippensburg on its mission
to provide an affordable and high-quality education. We are confident in our choice
of Dr. Patterson to continue the great work that’s happening at Shippensburg.”
“Dr. Patterson has led Shippensburg for nearly a year with a strong commitment to
student success and listening to all voices on campus,” said State System Chancellor
Dan Greenstein. “Shippensburg is an outstanding institution and with his remarkable
experience as a university leader, Charles is a perfect match for the university.
He has been a great partner at the State System, and I look forward to continuing
to work with him.”
Patterson brings nearly two decades of experience in university leadership to Shippensburg
and a record of growth and institutional transformation. As interim president he has
prioritized transparency, engagement, and collaboration.
"I am honored to be selected to serve Shippensburg University as its 18th president,”
said Patterson. “I continue to be inspired by the important scholarly work of our
Ship students and faculty. I look forward to working collaboratively with our many
stakeholders, partners, and friends of the university to ensure Ship is recognized
as the flagship institution it deserves to be."
With nearly 250 programs, Shippensburg University offers internationally accredited,
nationally ranked, and industry-aligned undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs,
preparing the workforce of the future,
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Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education oversees 14 four-year public universities
educating more than 93,000 students across the Commonwealth. The State System offers
more than 2,300 degrees and certificates in more than 530 academic areas.