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Charles E. Patterson has been elected Mansfield University of Pennsylvania's next president, thanks to a unanimous vote of the Board of Governors of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education, according to a statement from the university.
Patterson will be entering the role of Mansfield University's president after serving for 17 years as the senior advisor for executive outreach in the U.S. Department of Educations Office of Federal Student Aid, according to the press release.
Colleagues of Patterson say his experience in the academic field will not only serve him well, but Mansfield University as a whole.
"Dr. Patterson has a broad background in higher education, ranging from the classroom to the highest levels of administration," said Board of Governors Chairwoman Cynthia D. Shapira in a statement.
"That background and his commitment to students will serve Mansfield University well as it strives to advance its mission of serving students, the community and the Commonwealth."
Throughout his career, Patterson was responsible for the development and execution of FSA's, the largest provider of student financial aid in the country, outreach and engagement efforts with higher education executives across the country, as well as numerous stakeholder organizations, according to the press release.
"We are elated to welcome Dr. Patterson as Mansfield University's next president," said Bobbi Kilmer, chair of the university's Council of Trustees, in the written statement. "He is an experienced leader who is uniquely qualified to take on the challenges our campus is facing. I am confident Dr. Patterson will provide the leadership and stability Mansfield needs to navigate the future while at the same time respecting our history and culture."
Patterson said he was "truly honored," and looks forward to taking on the role as Mansfield University's 28th president.
"I am leaving the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., to join a community of dedicated faculty and staff that inspire campus-wide excellence in teaching and student achievement," he said in a statement. "I look forward to serving alongside our campus and community leaders, as well as the extended Mountie Nation, as we shape the future of Mansfield University."
Patterson's tenure as president is slated to begin July 1.