Pfannestiel Leaving Clarion for Provost Post in NY

| December 23, 2017

CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – Dr. Todd Pfannestiel, interim provost of Clarion University, has accepted the position of provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Utica College, Utica, N.Y. He will begin June 1.

(Photo by Ron Wilshire)

Pfannestiel is in his 20th year at Clarion University, where he began as adjunct professor in 1998 and advanced to full professor. In 2011, he began a two-year appointment as faculty fellow for planning, assessment and improvement, then became dean of the College of Arts, Education and Sciences in 2014.

In 2016, Pfannestiel stepped in as interim provost and vice president of academic affairs. As such, he worked with other university constituents on admissions, which resulted in the first enrollment increase in eight years in fall 2017.

As dean, then as provost, he led the university in developing new academic programs that are relevant to workforce needs and in demand by students, including the opioid treatment specialist certificate, bachelor’s degree in respiratory care, concussion management certificate, and the concentration in arts and entertainment management.

Pfannestiel served as Clarion’s acting president after the departure of Dr. Karen Whitney in September, until Pete Fackler was appointed interim president in November.

He has advised numerous student groups. As History Club advisor, Pfannestiel developed, with his students, the popular Clarion University Ghost Experience, a local Halloween tradition since 2001. Pfannestiel also advised Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society, CU Ice Hockey Club and Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

He represented fellow faculty members in many capacities.

“Todd Pfannestiel’s noteworthy accomplishments and contributions at Clarion University over 20 years speak for themselves,” Fackler said. “He is universally liked and respected and will leave behind a cadre of friends and supporters.”

In announcing Pfannestiel’s acceptance of the provost position to her campus, Utica College President Laura Casamento said Pfannestiel separated himself from a very strong pool of qualified candidates as the right person to be Utica’s next chief academic officer.

“He is a collaborative, confident and innovative administrator with an exceptional record of achievement and a demonstrated ability to articulate a vision and the path to getting there,” Casamento said. “More importantly, he is a passionate educator who is deeply committed to student-centered teaching, the value of the liberal arts, and high-impact learning.”

“Clarion University has helped to shape my professional and personal life for 20 years,” Pfannestiel said. “Along the way, I’ve taught many remarkable students and worked with wonderful colleagues, together with whom we have advanced the institution in many exciting ways. Utica College presents many new opportunities; and we’ll have those same great relationships there. My wife and I will always have strong connections to our Clarion family and will enjoy watching its continued growth.”


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