TheBoard of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has conferred president emeritus status upon Clarion University of Pennsylvania President Diane L. Reinhard, who will retire in June.
Dr.Reinhard has been president at Clarion University for 13 years. During that time, she has led the university through an unprecedented period of growth, according to Board Chairman Charles A. Gomulka.
“Her leadership has served as a model for the System, particularly in her commitment to academic quality, student engagement, and responsiveness to the needs of her region and the Commonwealth,” Gomulka said.
Clarion University has grown both in terms of enrollment and academic stature during Reinhard’s tenure, ranking as a leader within the State System with 25 accreditations or approvals for programs and services.
Reinhard also led the university’s efforts in the development and delivery of collaborative programs designed to respond to economic development and workforce needs in the region and state. Those efforts have included the Health Science Education Center and a public/private partnership to develop a high technology industrial park. She also was instrumental in the expansion of educational opportunities at Clarion University’s Venango Campus, including the recent introduction of non-credit certificate programs aimed at workforce development.
She headed the successful completion of the university’s first capital campaign, which helped accomplish an unprecedented number of facilities renovations and improvements over the last 13 years, including the renovation and expansion of the Rena M. Carlson Library.
A university president must serve for at least 10 years to be eligible for emeriti status. He or she also must have “an exemplary record of service through demonstrated commitments of time, talents and resources” and “documented leadership in advancing the mission of the System in its service to the Commonwealth.”
The Board voted unanimously to grant the special recognition to Reinhard.
With more than 101,000 students, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. More than 360,000 System 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. The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg. The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.