Administration

Papazoglou named associate vice president for Auxiliary and Business Services

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State announced today (June 5) that John Papazoglou, regional director of hospitality for Texas-based Baylor Scott & White Health, has been named associate vice president for Auxiliary and Business Services.

Papazoglou, whose appointment is effective July 3, succeeds Gail Hurley, who will retire on June 30 after a 32-year career at Penn State.

Papazoglou comes to Penn State with 25 years of experience in all facets of hospitality operations within the health care, restaurant and airline catering industries. Most recently he has been responsible for hospitality operations at eight hospitals — totaling more than 1,700 beds — in the Baylor Scott & White Health system, the largest nonprofit health care system in Texas and one of the largest in the United States.

“John is the ideal person to lead Auxiliary and Business Services into the future, as he has wide-ranging experience in developing and leading hospitality and support services in a variety of settings,” said David Gray, senior vice president for Finance and Business at Penn State. “Auxiliary and Business Services provides a diverse array of essential services to the University, and John’s expertise in the areas of food service, customer service, facilities, retail and airport operations will help us to build upon the many successes achieved under Gail Hurley’s outstanding leadership.”

As associate vice president, Papazoglou will provide the overall vision and strategic direction for the following administrative units:

  • the Bryce Jordan Center, the University’s multi-use facility for academic programs and sports and entertainment events;
  • Hospitality Services, comprised of the Nittany Lion Inn and the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center;
  • Housing and Food Services, which operates student housing and dining at 11 Penn State campuses and food operations at an additional three locations;
  • Multimedia and Print Center, which provides printing, copying and mailing services for the University;
  • Procurement Services, which includes Purchasing Services, General Stores and Central Distribution, and Lion Surplus;
  • Transportation Services, which oversees parking, fleet, bicycle and mass transit; and
  • University Park Airport, which supports the commercial air service at the terminal and serves as the fixed-based operator.

In addition to overseeing Auxiliary and Business Services’ centralized administrative infrastructure, the associate vice president also is responsible for the id+ Office, and serves as the primary liaison for the Penn State Bookstore contract and the University’s pouring rights contract. Auxiliary and Business Services has 519 staff and staff support employees, 875 bargaining unit employees, and approximately 894 wage and 4,180 student employees during peak work periods, with an overall operating budget of approximately $350 million.

“I cannot put into words how excited I am to be joining one of the best public universities in the country,” Papazoglou said. “Penn State and Baylor Scott & White are both organizations with long, rich histories of improving the lives of our communities, and this was one of several reasons I decided to pursue this opportunity. In my new role, I hope to take the experiences I’ve gained working in large hospitality and health care organizations to build on the great work being done in Auxiliary and Business Services, and to serve its vision to make Penn State better for current and future generations.”

Prior to his work at Baylor Scott & White Health, Papazoglou was senior director of nutrition services and multi-unit general manager for Baylor University Medical Center. Previously he served as general manager of Marie Gabrielle Restaurant and Gardens in Dallas, Texas, and also worked for Delaware North Companies in a variety of roles, including general manager of Richmond International Airport in Virginia.

Papazoglou is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has supported several charitable initiatives within the health care system. In 2009 he earned a Jefferson Award for Public Service from the Jefferson Foundation for creating and leading the Cornerstone Homeless Feeding Program at Baylor.

A New Jersey native, Papazoglou earned a bachelor of science in business management from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and a master of public administration in health care administration from the University of Texas at Tyler.

Papazoglou and his wife, Wendy, will be moving to the State College area along with their two young sons, Adam and Alexìs.

As associate vice president for Auxiliary and Business Services, John Papazoglou will oversee the Bryce Jordan Center, Hospitality Services, Housing and Food Services, Multimedia and Print Center, Procurement Services, Transportation Services, and University Park Airport. Credit: Courtesy John PapazoglouAll Rights Reserved.

Last Updated June 5, 2017