Dr. David J. Werner, Chancellor Emeritus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), has been selected to serve as interim president of Mansfield University of Pennsylvania effective August 24.

The Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s (PASSHE) Board of Governors chose Dr. Werner to succeed on an interim basis Dr. John R. Halstead, who has served as Mansfield University president since July 1998. Dr. Halstead recently was named President of the State University of New York – Brockport.

Dr. Werner will serve in the temporary post at Mansfield University until June 30, 2006, or until the completion of a search for a new president. PASSHE Chancellor Dr. Judy G. Hample will meet with the University’s Council of Trustees on August 26 to begin the search process.

“Dr. Werner will provide excellent leadership and stability to Mansfield University during this important transition period,” Dr. Hample said. “He has a demonstrated record of success as a university administrator and has shown a commitment to students throughout his career.”

Mansfield University Vice President for Administration and Finance Dr. Mike Reid will serve as acting president of the University until Dr. Werner’s arrival on campus.

Dr. Werner served as chancellor of the 13,300-student Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus from 1997 to 2004. He spent last fall as a visiting researcher in human resources and public policy development at Ryukoku University in Kyoto, Japan. He began his academic career as an assistant professor at SIUE in 1968.

“I look forward to helping Mansfield University continue to move forward during the search for a new president,” Dr. Werner said. “I am especially excited about the prospect of working at a University that is focused on undergraduate students and that is located in such a beautiful part of the country.”

As chancellor of SIUE, Dr. Werner served as the chief operating officer of the comprehensive, metropolitan university located about 20 miles from downtown St. Louis. The University offers a wide range of baccalaureate and graduate programs in the arts and sciences and professional fields.

Dr. Werner holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from St. Louis University, and both a Master of Science degree and Ph.D. in industrial engineering and management science from Northwestern University. He worked as a research assistant as Northwestern while completing his graduate studies.

Dr. Werner was promoted to associate professor of management science at SIUE in 1971 and was named associate dean of the School of Business in 1973. He later served as acting director of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Production at the University and was named Dean of the School of Business in 1975, a position he held for 12 years.

He was named the University’s Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in 1987. While in that position, Dr. Werner initiated an assessment program for the University, oversaw the University’s reaccredidation by the North Central Association and started a new student orientation program.

Dr. Werner has received several awards during his career, including being named Administrator of the Year in 2001 by the Student Advisory Committee of the Illinois Board of Higher Education. He is a member various boards, including the United Way of Greater St. Louis and the Edwardsville Arts Center.

Mansfield University is one of 14 universities that make up the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. It enrolls 3,600 full- and part-time students and has more than 160 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.