Dr.Diane L. Reinhard has been selected to serve as interim president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) effective January 26. She will serve as the university’s chief executive officer until the completion of a national search for a permanent president.

Dr. Reinhard retired last June after serving with distinction for 13 years as president of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, also a member university of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Previously, she was dean of the College of Human Resources and Education at West Virginia University (WVU), and served a 10-month term as WVU’s acting president. She holds a doctoral degree from Ohio State University and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

“Dr. Reinhard provided outstanding leadership to Clarion University during her more than decade-long tenure as president,” said State System Chancellor Dr. Judy G. Hample. “I am confident she will provide that same type of leadership to IUP, and will work well with the university’s Council of Trustees, faculty, staff and students to keep this proud institution moving forward.”

IUP President Dr. Derek J. Hodgson last week announced he was resigning effective this Friday. IUP Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Mark Staszkiewicz will serve as acting president following Dr. Hodgson’s departure and until Dr. Reinhard’s arrival.

“I welcome the opportunity to return to the State System and to work with the greater IUP community during this important period of transition,” Dr. Reinhard said. “I have experienced from a distance – through collaborative programs between Clarion and IUP – the talents of IUP students, staff and faculty. It will be my pleasure to work on behalf of another fine State System university.”

Dr. Reinhard said she is excited about the opportunity to serve as IUP’s interim president, but will not be a candidate for the permanent position.

Susan Delaney, chair of the IUP Council of Trustees, said she was pleased both with the selection and the speed with which it was made.

“Diane Reinhard is an experienced and proven leader,” Delaney said. “We could not be more fortunate than to have someone of her stature join our community at this time in IUP’s history.”

Chancellor Hample already has begun working with IUP’s trustees to take the steps necessary to begin a national search for a new president. The goal is to complete the search process by this fall so a new president is in office when the 2004-05 academic year begins.

IUP is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. With more than 104,000 students, the State System 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 375,000 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.