UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – In support of Penn State’s efforts to optimize its organizational operating structure, the University’s Finance and Operations departments have been restructured, promoting three Finance and Operations staff to higher leadership positions, capitalizing on incoming efficiencies Created by the Optimization Services Team (OST) program.
“While we are in the early stages of the OST evaluation process, we are able to foresee where progress will be made and create efficiencies within our organization. I am delighted that we have talent on our team ready to take on new and greater responsibilities, Allows us to streamline our organizational structure,” said Sara Thorndike, senior vice president of finance and operations. “At the same time, I am extremely grateful to the individuals who have previously served in these roles for their hard work that made this result possible.”
Thorndike has three vacant vice president positions in her division and is transitioning responsibilities between the finance and business leadership teams and moving oversight of certain areas to other positions. The restructuring resulted in a net reduction of three senior executive positions.
As part of the reorganization, David Snyder, currently Assistant Vice President, Ancillary and Business Services (ABS), has been promoted to Vice President, Ancillary and Business Services. The position vacated by John Papazoglou in January will not be filled. In addition to his current responsibilities, Snyder will oversee ABS units, including housing and food services and transportation services, as well as the Bryce Jordan Center and College Park Airport. Snyder’s position will evolve over time as several ABS areas of responsibility for which he is currently responsible will be incorporated into the OST evaluation process.
Snyder was named ABS assistant vice president in January 2021 after eight years as director of business and finance for Bryce Jordan Center and Hospitality Services. He has worked for ABS for nearly 25 years, including positions in housing services, accounting and finance.
The vacancies of vice-chancellor for budget and university budget officer will also not be filled, the duties of which were previously assumed by current vice-chancellor for finance Virginia Teachey. Teachey’s new title is vice president of budget and finance.
Teachey joined Penn State in December 2021 as UNC Pembroke’s vice president for finance and most recently as vice chancellor for finance and administration. She has over two decades of successful financial and operations management experience, including enterprise risk management, strategic planning, policy development and implementation, facilities management, audit and compliance.
Jen Feeman, assistant vice president for finance and business and associate treasurer of the School of Medicine, will be promoted to assistant vice president for finance and operations and director of medical school treasurer, replacing Kurt Kissinger. Feynman will report to Thorndike.
Feeman was named assistant vice president for finance and business for the School of Medicine in 2018 after previously serving as director of budget and planning for the school. She has also served as director of operations for the Department of Psychiatry at Penn State Health and as financial liaison for Penn State Health’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
“I am delighted that we have been able to recognize these talented and dedicated finance and business colleagues by promoting them to our leadership team,” said Thorndike. “Thanks to the strong team we have in place, I am confident that we will be able to continue to meet the needs of the University and those we serve, while also reducing expenditure significantly.”
The financial and business restructuring took effect on 1 February.
