PASSHE Chancellor Dan Greenstein to step down

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Dr. Dan Greenstein, Chancellor of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), announced that he will complete his service as chancellor on October 11, 2024.

Dr. Greenstein released a letter thanking the students and staff at the PASSHE universities for the opportunity to serve as chancellor and reflecting on his time in his role.

“For six years, I have poured my heart and soul into our system, its people, mission, and places. My passion for our work, students, and cause is unwavering,” Dr. Greenstein said in his letter. “It is an honor and a privilege to serve you as chancellor. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity, the collegiality, the camaraderie, and the progress we have made.”

Greenstein has served as Chancellor of PASSHE since 2018, leading the state’s system of public universities and serving 80,000 degree-seeking students and thousands more enrolled in certificate and other career-development programs. According to his biography, he led a system-wide redesign effort focused on increasing opportunities for students, including those in underserved populations, while enhancing the financial sustainability of the universities.

During Greenstein’s tenure, PASSHE consolidated several universities into “Commonwealth Universities” including Mansfield, Lock Haven, and Bloomsburg. Commonwealth Universities kept their individual identities but share resources including University Presidents.

“Since he arrived, Dan has been singularly focused on redesigning PASSHE and positioning it for the future,” said Cynthia Shapira, chair of the Board of Governors. “He is passionate about higher education, he is passionate about student success, and we are a better system today because of his leadership.”

When looking back on his tenure, Greenstein pointed to PASSHE’s reclaiming of their affordability advantage as central to those redesign efforts.

“Perhaps the single most important thing we’ve done is freeze tuition every year since I arrived, thus securing PASSHE’s place as the most affordable four-year option for students,” said Greenstein. “That was possible only because of the hard work of our universities in controlling costs, because of the mission-mindedness of the Board of Governors and because of the renewed investment by the legislature and the governor.”

The Board of Governors will conduct a national search for the next chancellor and will identify an interim chancellor who will be appointed when Greenstein concludes his service.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.