UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Rick Brazier, dean of Penn State’s University College, will step down to rejoin the faculty and pursue other opportunities at the University. Brazier, who has agreed to remain in the role until a replacement is appointed, has been dean since September 2024 after serving in an interim capacity since 2022.
“Rick has provided steady, thoughtful leadership during a pivotal time for our campuses,” said Renata Engel, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor. “I am deeply grateful for his dedication to Penn State, his support of faculty — particularly through his oversight of promotion and tenure — and the high standard he has set within the college.”
The University College serves as the academic and administrative home for seven continuing Penn State campuses — Beaver, Brandywine, Greater Allegheny, Hazleton, Lehigh Valley, Schuylkill and Scranton — and seven campuses scheduled to close after the 2026-27 academic year: DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York.
As dean, Brazier has provided strategic leadership across the University College, overseeing faculty affairs, promotion and tenure processes, academic program development, and initiatives that support student success. Under his leadership, the college has strengthened faculty collaboration and expanded support for teaching and research across the Commonwealth Campuses.
“It has been a privilege to serve as dean of the University College and to support the dedicated faculty, staff and students across the Commonwealth Campuses,” Brazier said. “I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together to strengthen our academic community, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to Penn State in new ways.”
Brazier began his career as a research associate in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences in 1996 before joining the faculty at Penn State DuBois. Over nearly three decades, he has held multiple leadership roles within the Commonwealth Campuses, including senior associate dean for faculty and research and mathematics discipline coordinator. He was a founding member of the team that built the LaunchBox network at Penn State and has contributed to numerous University and college committees that have helped to advance support for students and faculty.
A professor of mathematics and geology, Brazier is a recipient of Penn State’s George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching. He holds a doctorate and master’s degree in applied mathematics from the University of Arizona and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom.