Administration

Schreyer Honors College dean to step down

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Christian Brady, dean of the Schreyer Honors College, announced today (May 17) that he will be stepping down from his role at Penn State, effective May 31.

“For all 19 years of my academic career, I have carried responsibilities of administration. That has meant pursuing promotion and tenure, teaching, publishing -- all while also being an administrator and without a sabbatical. Now is a good time for a break, a time to complete projects and consider what future opportunities might be ahead of me,” Brady said.  

Brady has served as the dean of the Schreyer Honors College for a decade. Under his leadership, the college has been recognized as one of the top honors colleges in the nation.

Applications to the Schreyer Honors College have continued to grow and since 2006, scholarship funding and travel grants have increased while new and expanded programs have been added to the co-curricular experience. The college was recently ranked among the nation’s premier institutions by Public University Honors Press by receiving eight out of eight mortarboards for program excellence, along with only six other programs in the country. 

At this year’s spring commencement ceremonies, the Schreyer Honors College conferred 435 scholar medals. Ninety-nine percent of its 2016 graduating class achieved cum laude status with an average grade-point average of 3.84.

“We appreciate all that Dean Brady has done on behalf of the college over the past 10 years, as the college gained recognition and flourished,” said Penn State Executive Vice President and Provost Nick Jones. “He has laid a strong foundation for his successor to bring equal enthusiasm to the position and care just as deeply for the students as Chris has done.”

Brady said, “I am very proud of what we have accomplished in this last decade. We are now widely viewed as one of the very best honors colleges in the nation. Our students and alumni are truly transforming the world in amazing and positive ways.”

With the end of the spring semester and the conclusion of his 10th year as dean, Brady said the timing was favorable to finally take a break from his administrative responsibilities. 

“The time in my career and in the college’s life seems opportune,” he said. “Some time away from administration would allow me time to finish some book projects that have been of necessity on the back burner.

“Much has happened in my own life in the last few years. My wife and I have been extremely busy and as our daughter graduates from high school and begins her Penn State career it is time for me to consider my future. Stepping down at this time also will give me the opportunity to consider what the future might be for me as an administrator and/or academic,” Brady said.

Jones said his office will appoint an interim dean in the near future. 

The Schreyer Honors College enrolls approximately 1,800 students across all Penn State locations — just 5 percent of the University’s entire undergraduate population — and offers more than 200 honors-level courses.

Last Updated May 18, 2016