Penn State York Chancellor David W. Chown plans to retire as chancellor of Penn State York effective Aug. 1. Chown has served the campus and Penn State for a little more than five years.
“Penn State York has certainly benefited from David’s leadership over the past five years,” said Madlyn L. Hanes, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor at Penn State. “Under his leadership, the campus has added additional four-year majors that can be completed in York, signed an articulation agreement with Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC), and expanded The Graham Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Studies (The Graham Center). That expansion includes a new home for the center and a variety of new opportunities for students interested in gaining knowledge concerning entrepreneurial leadership and economic development,” said Hanes.
Chown became the chancellor of Penn State York in February 2013, leaving his position as chief academic officer and senior vice president for the residential university of Upper Iowa University (UIU). Prior to his work at UIU, Chown served as business dean at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota; and served as dean of the McCamish School of Business at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia.
“My five years at Penn State York have gone by very quickly,” said Chown. “New majors were started, new facilities were planned and built, scholarships were increased, and athletic championships were enjoyed. The Graham Center evolved, and The Pullo Center began its second decade with an amazing array of performances,” he said. “Most of all, it was all due to people. I will cherish the people with whom I worked, both on campus and in the community,” said Chown.
In addition to accomplishments already mentioned, under his leadership the York campus hired its first full-time athletic director and added new athletic programs; the campus made history with the establishment of the Women’s Philanthropic Network (WPN), the first such group at the University; and the campus endowment has increased.
Chown holds a doctorate in business administration from The University of Iowa, a masters in management from Central Michigan University, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Central College, Pella, Iowa.
Following his retirement as chancellor from Penn State York, Chown will take on other duties for the University through Sept. 30. He and his wife, Peggy, director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Penn State York, plan to return to Iowa to live.
A national search is underway to identify a new chancellor for Penn State York, with a start date goal of Aug. 1.