President

transformational STEM education.

The Institution: Established in 2001, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology was founded by civic and business leaders to address the need for educational opportunities in science and technology-related fields to serve the high-tech needs of the region and beyond. The vision of HU is to provide academic programs at undergraduate and graduate levels for a diverse range of learners, using student-centered, technologically advanced, and experiential learning designs that emphasize student success, a sharp focus on specific interdisciplinary competencies, and strong linkages to career development. HU seeks to produce well-qualified, technically expert graduates whose understanding of the uses and applications of science and technology is honed by direct industry experience and rounded by a sound, cross-disciplinary education.

The institution fosters a diverse community of learners, provides access and support to students who want to pursue a career in science and technology, and supports business creation and economic development. HU currently enrolls 444 full-time undergraduate students across 16 Bachelor of Science programs in both residential and online formats. The University’s 2,421 full-time graduate students select from 12 master’s programs, and 139 students study across four doctoral programs, with a new Doctor of Physical Therapy program planned to start in 2026. Attracting students from more than 118 countries, HU has one of the most diverse student bodies among STEM institutions. HU supports STEM-UP, which is a networked organization of several universities focused on the advancement of working professional women in STEM careers, and 51% of the HU graduate student body are women. HU offers degrees centered on future-defining industries, taught by a talented team of full-time faculty who lead student engagement, corporate faculty who bring their expertise to the classroom as they unite academic and industry priorities, and adjunct faculty who help to meet the demands of fast-growing, cutting-edge fields. HU is dedicated to curiosity and creativity, and the University is relentlessly focused on imagining what a future-forward/futureproof education can and should look like. One hundred percent of undergraduates studying traditional on-campus programs complete internships, and 96% of graduates report they were employed, enrolled in graduate schools, or serving in the military.

Operating from its campus in the center of Pennsylvania’s capital city, HU is fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Several academic programs are individually accredited, including the graduate program in Project Management by the Project Management Institute’s Global Accreditation Center and the undergraduate Computer Science program by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. The University’s $73-million Academic Center includes 16 stories of state-of-the-art learning space. The sleek, ultramodern complex connects directly to Strawberry Square, a distinctive retail complex. The UPMC Health Sciences Tower at Harrisburg University, a 12-story building, is a focal point for healthcare programs, including nursing, pharmaceutical sciences, exercise sciences, and other allied health programs, as well as partnerships with healthcare institutions to bring innovative training for healthcare professionals. Another highlight of the Tower is the space dedicated to the Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics program, the only dedicated four-year program of its kind in the United States. These new labs feature 3D printers, machining equipment, industrial and collaborative robots, workstations for 2D and 3D modeling and computer programming, manufacturing systems, and pneumatic/hydraulic automation trainers.

The Position: The President/CEO reports to the Board of Trustees and is responsible for the University's overall performance and results, ensuring strict alignment with the mission, strategic plan, governance, and fiduciary duties. The President’s role necessarily relies upon establishing and maintaining a collaborative and transparent relationship with the Board by providing timely, accurate information on performance, finances, compliance, challenges, and risks.

The President/CEO provides executive leadership and oversight in collaboration with senior executives, including the Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer, Provost/Chief Academic Officer, and other executive positions. Effective leadership involves establishing measurable goals and holding accountability across the institution.

Core Responsibilities include:

• Financial and Operational Leadership: Combining visionary academic leadership with strong business acumen, the President/CEO ensures HU's fiscal health, operational excellence, and long-term sustainability. They lead the development and implementation of the strategic plan and fiscal strategy, including negotiating with bondholders and lenders for favorable debt management terms and financial stability. In collaboration with the CFO, COO, and the executive team, they oversee the preparation and management of the annual budget and long-term financial planning.
• Academic and Student Services Oversight: They provide leadership and oversight for academic and student services, ensuring programs meet evolving educational needs and accreditation standards. This includes dynamic, strategic, and collaborative leadership in academic program development, performance, student success, and workforce development programs aligned with industry and community needs.
• Compliance and Governance: The President/CEO establishes and maintains effective programs and procedures to ensure that all University operations maintain ongoing compliance with all applicable governmental, accreditation, HU governance documents, and other regulatory requirements. They also provide leadership and oversight for the identification and effective vetting of potential new programs and initiatives, and the effective oversight of HU’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
• Strategic Planning and Resource Development: They direct the development, implementation, and evaluation of the University’s strategic plan with clear, measurable objectives. A critical responsibility is identifying, articulating, and securing the necessary resources to efficiently deliver high-quality academic programs, student services, and research initiatives.
• External Relations and Fundraising: To expand the University’s resources, especially through philanthropy, the President/CEO takes a prominent role in cultivating and soliciting donors, governmental, and foundation support, and provides leadership in the University’s fundraising campaign. They advocate for the University with government agencies, accrediting bodies, and community stakeholders, building and maintaining relationships with public and private sector partners, donors, and alumni to enhance HU’s visibility and secure necessary resources.

Qualifications: The next President must be deeply dedicated to HU’s mission and values as an institution focused on science and technology fields. They must demonstrate a profound commitment to serving a diverse student body, particularly first-generation college students.

The Search Committee and Board of Trustees will be considering and giving preference to the following qualifications and skills:

• Business and Financial Acumen: Strong business acumen and financial management skills to efficiently and effectively evaluate and manage program operations and finances, as well as marshal and allocate resources across the University’s competing needs.
• Leadership and Collaboration: Unwavering commitment to academic freedom and open discussion as well as the ability to navigate the complexities of higher education through excellent collaboration and consensus-building, bringing together diverse constituents, including the Board, faculty, students, alumni, and the broader community.
• Strategy and Management: Experience in establishing clear strategic and tactical goals with meaningful metrics, decisive management skills, and demonstrated courage in making difficult decisions within a resource-conscious environment.
• Advocacy and Fundraising: Superior communication skills and the ability to advocate for HU to all audiences as well as demonstrated success in securing transformational gifts, governmental, and foundational support.
• Interpersonal and Decision-Making: An active and engaging management style, coupled with the ability to foster and lead honest, difficult discussions to develop positive solutions. A demonstrated ability to maintain a transparent, collaborative process of decision-making, displaying superior diplomatic and people skills, including the ability to listen, build consensus, solve problems, manage conflict and ambiguity, and effectively explain decisions.
• Academic Expertise: Knowledge and experience in higher education accreditation processes and compliance issues as well as evidence of fostering excellence in teaching and scholarship.
• Leadership Style: An authentic, genuine, visible, open, and accessible leadership style; a servant leader who displays integrity, honesty, enthusiasm, resilience, personal humility, a strong work ethic, and a sense of humor.

The ideal candidate will have an earned appropriate academic or professional degree and/or senior business or governmental executive experience coupled with experience working with higher education institutions, reflecting appropriate credentials and professional experience consistent with HU’s mission.

The Location: Situated along the Susquehanna River in Central Pennsylvania, Harrisburg and the surrounding central Pennsylvania region offers a high quality of life with an affordable cost of living. Residents benefit from a broad range of housing options, including urban, suburban, and rural communities. While serving as the center of Pennsylvania’s government, the south central PA region is also a rising technology hub and a center for nationally recognized, highly ranked health care systems and institutions. These attributes contribute to a growing population of skilled professionals, leading the region to be recognized as one of the United States’ fastest growing and most livable metro areas. The region boasts a diverse cultural scene, offering a rich variety of restaurants and entertainment options. Key attractions include the Frederick Law Olmstead designed Harrisburg Riverfront Park, Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, National Civil War Museum, Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, FNB Field, Hersheypark, Chocolate World, Zoo America, and the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex, to name just a few. The region also provides ample opportunities for outdoor recreation with numerous state and regional parks, water-related activities on the Susquehanna River and nearby Chesapeake Bay, the Appalachian Trail and multiple community and regional trail complexes for hiking and biking, and regional winter sports venues. Harrisburg is exceptionally accessible, featuring Harrisburg International Airport and Amtrak service to the NE Corridor and Pittsburgh, along with a network of interstate highways, providing convenient access to Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh, and shore areas along the mid-Atlantic region and Chesapeake Bay.

Compensation: The anticipated base salary range for this position is $380,000–$475,000, dependent on candidate experience and qualifications. The Board of Trustees anticipates including a significant metrics-based bonus element tied to factors that reflect institutional priorities, to be agreed upon as part of the overall compensation package.

Application: Interested candidates should submit only a cover letter and resume/curriculum vitae to RPA Inc. at HUPresident@rpainc.org. For a confidential discussion about this opportunity or to make a nomination, please email Kira Heath, Search Manager; Amanda O’Donnell, Vice President and Senior Consultant; or Dana John Cohick, President, at the email address listed above. The first review of candidates will begin on January 15, 2026, and first-round interviews will commence thereafter.