The Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) selected Shippensburg University Interim President George F. “Jody” Harpster Jr. as its new president. The board announced its decision on Jan. 22.

Harpster served as interim president since May 2013, and previously from June 2005 to February 2007. He also held the position of executive vice president for external affairs and government relations.

“Dr. Harpster’s long, successful history at Shippensburg makes him the ideal choice to continue to lead the university into the future,” said Board of Governors Chair Guido Pichini, according to the PASSHE press release. “He is dedicated to the university and to its students, and to ensuring that both succeed.”

Harpster will take on the role of the university’s 16th president on Jan. 26.

“Whatever you saw in me, from me, and with me as the interim is what you are going to see when I’m the president,” Harpster said during a press conference in Old Main after his selection. He stressed that he will remain the same person and leader for the institution as he was during his time as interim president.

Harpster expressed his “sincere gratefulness” to those who participated in the presidential search. He said one of his main goals is to make SU the best university possible.

“I want Ship to be ranked number one in as many categories that are used as measures of this university by the State System, by any national organization or by any of the national publications,” Harpster said.

Because SU was experiencing various challenges, including financial ones, when Harpster took over as interim president, he said he did not have the choice of sitting back and waiting for the presidential search to be over. Instead, he took on the roles and responsibilities of SU president while the interim to overcome those challenges.

“I never saw the interim as an interim job,” he said.

Harpster had a leading role in advancing several new programs at SU, including the new engineering programs, according to State System Chancellor Frank Brogan.

“It took forward-thinking leadership to develop these programs,” Brogan said. “Dr. Harpster has demonstrated that kind of leadership in every one of the important roles he has held at Shippensburg over the last two decades. I look forward to continuing to work with him on behalf of the university and the State System.”

Michael Schaul, chair of SU’s Council of Trustees, said there was an “overwhelming consensus” from campus organizations to select Harpster as president, particularly the students, which is most important, according to the PASSHE press release.

The presidential search, which began actively in October, included a national search with more than 80 candidates. The top three candidates met with various groups on campus in December.

“I am honored and humbled to have been selected as the next president of Shippensburg University,” Harpster said, adding that he is proud to serve SU and thanked those who have placed their confidence in his leadership abilities.

Harpster, who is an SU alumnus, commented that he feels a deep connection to the institution, and because of the way he grew up, can relate to many of SU’s current students.

Harpster received his master’s degree in counseling and college student personnel administration from Shippensburg in 1974.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Juniata College and his doctorate in adult and higher education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He spent more than 10 years serving as director of student life, dean of students and assistant vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

While financial and budget-related challenges have increased from when Harpster was first an interim president, he said sharing campus resources is important to overcome these obstacles.

Harpster’s first priority is students’ academic success.

“The Ship family is the number-one thing,” he said. “People here care about one another.”

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