UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Sabine Klahr, associate vice provost for Penn State Global, will begin serving as interim vice provost of the unit today (March 1). Klahr takes over for Roger Brindley, who announced on Jan. 11 his departure from the role.
Klahr joined the University as associate vice provost in July 2022, bringing with her 25 years of leadership experience in international higher education. As associate vice provost, Klahr oversaw global partnerships, strategy and analysis, and marketing and communications, while working across all units in Penn State Global and collaboratively with departments around the University.
“We are deeply appreciative of Sabine’s willingness to step up and serve as interim vice provost for Penn State Global as the University continues to grow its international reputation and presence,” said Justin Schwartz, executive vice president and provost. “This is a very important leadership role that helps drive Penn State’s engagement across the globe and fulfill our core missions of teaching, research and outreach, and I’m thrilled she’s taking this on.”
Among her accomplishments as associate vice provost, Klahr is completing a global partnership framework for Penn State to focus on strategic and sustainable connections around the world with university-wide engagement. These partnerships will be intrinsic to Penn State’s land-grant mission of addressing global challenges focused on local context and collaboration. Related to global partnerships, she has launched a travel award for faculty and staff to engage with select partner institutions and organizations. Working with university leadership, Klahr will work to define a global strategy for the University, including a focus on Penn State’s engagement in India.
Before coming to Penn State, she was associate and acting chief global officer at the University of Utah’s Office of Global Engagement for 11 years. Klahr began her career in international higher education working in education abroad at Colorado State University and Western Michigan University before becoming a senior international officer at Boise State University and then Chatham University.
“I am thrilled to lead a truly exceptional team in Penn State Global with a deep commitment to advancing the University’s global engagement and excellence,” Klahr said. “I look forward to supporting Penn State’s roadmap outlining strategic directions and initiatives from a global perspective so that the University continues to enhance its global profile and reputation. As a top-ranked global university, Penn State is in the position to have a significant impact on addressing global challenges and I feel privileged to help facilitate it via Penn State Global.”
Klahr has a long history of leadership for international education associations and organizations, culminating in 2013 serving as president of the Association for International Education Administrators (AIEA), the preeminent organization for leaders in international higher education. AIEA recognized her with a distinguished leadership award in 2016.
Fulbright Awards took Klahr to India in 2011 and Norway in 2018. In Norway, she worked with a national government-supported organization that administers funding for higher education international initiatives.
Originally from Germany, Klahr earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in botany/plant ecology from the University of Oklahoma as an international and first-generation student. After working in science and outdoor education, she earned a doctorate in education leadership focused on international higher education from Montana State University-Bozeman in 1998.