Jon Anderson, provost and vice president for academic affairs and a professor at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, is Pennsylvania Western University’s new president.

The State System of Higher Education board of governors chose Anderson Wednesday during a special meeting held by Zoom to find a permanent leader for the university of 11,300 students.

His appointment is effective July 1.

The chief academic officer at Southern Utah was one of two names forwarded to the State System board.

Courtesy of PennWest Jon Anderson to lead Pennsylvania Western University, effective July 1.  

The other candidate was Philip Cavalier, provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he was interim chancellor for six months last year.

Southern Utah is a regional institution with more than 15,000 students. Before coming to SUU, Anderson was provost and vice president for academic affairs at Middle Georgia State University, its five physical campuses and online program offerings. He also worked at University of West Georgia, serving as deputy provost and associate vice president.

He was the State System board’s unanimous selection.

“Dr. Anderson impressed the Board of Governors with his focus on student success, his commitment to shared governance, and his experience with integrating academic and student support systems across multi-campus institutions,” Board of Governors Chair Cynthia Shapira said in a statement released after the meeting.

PennWest is the largest State System campus in Western Pennsylvania, and its second largest public university in Western Pennsylvania after the University of Pittsburgh.

It was established in July 2022 by the mergers of what had been separate State System universities at California, Clarion and Edinboro.

She alluded to enrollment and financial challenges facing the university.

“At this pivotal moment for PennWest, we believe that Dr. Anderson is the committed, collaborative and strategic leader this university needs.”

In remarks to the board and in a statement afterward, Anderson said he looks forward to the opportunity.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to put down roots in Western Pennsylvania and help to shape the future of PennWest,” Anderson said. “The role of a regional university is to serve students and elevate communities — and PennWest lives that mission every day. I am honored to be part of its story.

“My family and I look forward to exploring all three campuses and meeting the faculty, staff and students. We are excited to engage with alumni and to get to know the surrounding communities that are an integral part of California, Clarion and Edinboro.”

Shapira called the search process “wide” and “inclusive” and praised those involved in it.

Kenneth Mash, president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, said professors at PennWest wanted a deliberate search, given the stakes, and recommended patience. They felt, however, that the search was rushed.

“Nevertheless, they look forward to progress, but they are weary. They want assurance that there will not be irrational cutting of programs, there will not be the irrational laying off of faculty, and that students will have the best possible opportunity to be successful,” he told the board. “They want stability.”

PennWest has been searching for a permanent successor to president Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, who stepped away from the job in February 2023. R. Lorraine “Laurie” Bernotsky has served as interim since then.

Anderson, 50, was not available to be interviewed Wednesday, PennWest spokeswoman Wendy Mackall said. His salary will be determined in the coming weeks. Bernotsky’s salary as interim president at PennWest is $331,700 annually. She will be at PennWest until June 30.

Thirty-five candidates were reviewed by the search committee, assisted by a search firm. Eleven were interviewed.

Names of the final two contenders — Anderson and Cavalier — were submitted on May 6 by the PennWest Council of Trustees to the State System and its board of governors.

The school is working to rebound from enrollment losses since 2010.

Fewer high school graduates, declining population generally and other worries such as student debt have been a particular challenge.

As of last fall, PennWest enrolled 11,305 students. That’s 22%, or 3,172 students, smaller than the 14,477 students than California, Clarion and Edinboro universities attracted in 2021 before they merged.

In addition to PennWest and West Chester, the 10 State System universities include Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Slippery Rock University in the west, and Cheyney, Commonwealth University (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Mansfield), East Stroudsburg University, Kutztown University, Millersville University and Shippensburg University.

Anderson has a doctorate in business administration from the University of Kentucky, a master’s in business education from the State University of West Georgia and a bachelor’s of science in sociology from Utah State University. He also has an associate of applied science in general studies (health and education) from Ricks College in Idaho.

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