George F. ‘Jody’ Harpster will serve as Shippensburg University’s temporary president beginning May 31, according to a press release from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).
PASSHE’s Board of Governors made the decision for Harpster’s position April 11.
SU began the search for an interim and new president after current SU president William Ruud accepted an offer as the next president of the University of Northern Iowa. He was offered the position in February.
Harpster was also SU’s interim president from June 2005 to February 2007 before Ruud initially became president. Harpster is also currently SU’s executive vice president for external affairs and university relations — a position he has held since 2008.
Harpster obtained a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Juniata College and a Master of Science in counseling and college student personnel administration from SU, according to the PASSHE press release. Harpster also holds a Ph. D in adult and higher education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
A national search for a new president of SU will continue as Harpster holds this temporary position. The search is a lengthy process that could take up to six months or more.
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