Lycoming College appoints interim provost and dean of faculty

Williamsport, Pa. — Lycoming College President Kent Trachte has appointed Sandra Kingery, Ph.D., as interim provost and dean of the faculty at Lycoming College starting on July 1. She is taking on the position after the previous provost and dean of faculty who served for 13 years, Philip Sprunger, Ph.D., returned to the economics department faculty.

An outstanding scholar, teacher, and member of the faculty since she was hired as a tenure track faculty member in the modern language studies department in 1998, Kingery has held two different faculty chairs, including the Richmond Chair from 2017-2023 and the W. Gibbs McKenney Chair in International Studies and Professor of Spanish, which she currently holds.

Kingery has served multiple terms on Faculty Executive Council, including serving as the chair of the faculty, and full terms on both the Promotion and Tenure, and the Budget, Salaries, and Benefits committees. She has also chaired the General Committee on Academic Affairs four different times, worked on Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaccreditation teams, and directed the Faculty Mentor Program. During her time at Lycoming, Kingery has also served on more than 50 peer evaluation committees and 55 search committees.

One of Kingery’s first strategic projects will be leading a group of faculty members and administrators that have been charged with developing proposals for additional academic offerings. She will also work with the Office of the President on inclusive hiring policies and practices that will support a commitment to diversify the faculty and staff.

“The breadth and length of her outstanding service to Lycoming College has prepared Sandy well to take on the role of interim provost and dean of the faculty,” said Trachte. “The Faculty are very pleased that Sandy has been named to this role, and I am confident that she is the right person to build upon Provost Sprunger’s exceptional work.”

“I am thrilled to come into this role after Phil’s 13 years of tremendous service,” said Kingery. “Lycoming is a place where I have enjoyed both teaching and leadership roles, and I look forward to continuing to work with our extraordinary faculty.”

Kingery earned both her master’s and doctoral degrees from University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a bachelor’s degree from Lawrence University.