Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Vice President for Student Affairs George F. “Jody” Harpster Jr. has been selected to serve as the University’s interim president effective July 1.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors chose Dr. Harpster, who has been a vice president at Shippensburg University for nearly 10 years, to succeed on an interim basis retiring President Anthony F. Ceddia. Dr. Ceddia, who has led the institution since 1981, plans to retire June 30.

Dr. Harpster will serve as the University’s interim president until at least December 2006. The search for a permanent president, which began late last summer, has been halted. A new search will begin in late summer 2006. Dr. Harpster will not be a candidate in the search for a permanent president.

“Dr. Harpster has had a long, productive career at Shippensburg University,” said PASSHE Chancellor Judy G. Hample. “He knows and understands the University community and will provide strong leadership and the stability necessary during this transition period.”

Dr. Harpster was named Vice President for Student Affairs at Shippensburg University in 1995. He previously was Dean of Students and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte from 1987 to 1995. He began his career in student affairs while attending Shippensburg University as a graduate student from 1972 to 1974.

“I am delighted with Jody Harpster’s appointment,” said Dr. Ceddia. “He has all of the leadership skills and intelligence to handle the job of interim president. I want to thank Chancellor Hample for her incredibly strong support of the Trustees and the University as they worked through the difficult challenges surrounding the presidential search. Her attention to, and respect for the needs of Shippensburg University is very much appreciated.”

Since coming to Shippensburg, Dr. Harpster has been responsible for the overall administrative management and supervision of the Division of Student Affairs, which encompasses 12 departments. The division, which has 129 full- and part-time employees and an annual budget of $28 million, oversees student financial aid and residence life; multicultural affairs; intercollegiate, intramural and club sports; recreation programs; career development and education; counseling; the student union and student activities; and student leadership development, among others.

Dr. Harpster serves as liaison to the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement and is involved with a variety of ad hoc groups and committees related to specific system-wide objectives or tasks, including collective bargaining. His specific duties have included budget development and management, crisis response coordination for student incidents, personnel and resource management, assessment, strategic planning, policy analysis and development, and fund raising.

“I am proud to have the opportunity to serve the Ship family as interim president.” Dr. Harpster said. “I appreciate the Trustees’ and the Board of Governors’ confidence in me. It is a daunting thought to consider following the outstanding service of President Ceddia, even on an interim basis. He is an extraordinary person and an educator of the highest regard.

“I look forward to working with the entire Shippensburg University community to continue to expand and enhance the academic reputation of the institution and the success of our students.”

Dr. Harpster holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Juniata College, a Master of Science degree in counseling and college student personnel administration from Shippensburg, and a Ph.D. in adult and higher education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

While working on his master’s degree at Shippensburg, Dr. Harpster served as a graduate counselor and summer conference assistant at the University. He then was hired as residence coordinator and summer conference coordinator at UNC-Charlotte. He later worked in the residence life area at UNC-Chapel Hill, serving as acting director of university housing from 1982-83. In 1983, he was named director of student life and assistant vice chancellor for student affairs at UNC-Charlotte, a position he held for four years until being named Dean of Students. He also served as an adjunct assistant professor while there; teaching a graduate course in organization and management of student personnel and supervising doctoral and master’s student interns.

Dr. Harpster has made more than three dozen presentations on a variety of student-related issues at meetings and conferences across the country. He has numerous publications to his credit and has served as a consultant to business, industry, government, education and religious organizations in areas including leadership, career development, team building and conflict resolution. He is a member of the American College Personnel Association, the Association for Student Judicial Affairs and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.

Shippensburg University is one of 14 universities that make up the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. It enrolls more than 7,600 full- and part-time students and has more than 320 full-time faculty.

With nearly 106,000 students, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. The 14 PASSHE universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Nearly 400,000 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, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.