A key figure in Penn State’s planning for the future of its Commonwealth Campuses is leaving the university this summer.
Margo DelliCarpini, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor, will leave the university on June 30 to become provost and vice president for academic affairs at the College of New Jersey, Penn State announced on Tuesday.
Formerly the chancellor of Penn State Abington, DelliCarpini has held the vice president role since October 2023.
DelliCarpini’s departure will come a little over a month after President Neeli Bendapudi is expected to decide on which among 12 of the university’s 20 Commonwealth Campuses will be closed following the 2026-27 academic year.
She is one of three administrators leading the development of recommendations on which campuses to shutter. The group is expected to deliver its recommendations by the end of the current spring semester to Bendapudi, who said she plans to make a final decision before commencement in May.
DelliCarpini said the decision to leave Penn State is “bittersweet,” but that her new position will allow her to be closer to family.
“…I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside talented colleagues and dedicated students who make this institution so special. I am proud of what we have accomplished together in advancing student success, academic excellence and community engagement,” DelliCarpini said in a statement. “I will always be grateful for my time at Penn State and I look forward to seeing the future Commonwealth Campus ecosystem being in a position to foster opportunity and supporting student growth across the University.”
DelliCarpini has recently worked on the development of a regional administrative model, with multiple campuses led by a single administration, and the Future State initiative for identifying strengths and areas of growth to inform the future structure of the Commonwealth Campus system.
During her tenure leading the Commonwealth Campus system, DelliCarpini “has worked to enhance academic and administrative programs, support student success initiatives and foster greater collaboration across campuses,” according to the university.
“We appreciate Dr. DelliCarpini’s leadership and dedication to Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses,” Tracy Langkilde, Penn State interim executive vice president and provost, said in a statement. “She has worked tirelessly to support students, faculty and staff across the state, and while we will miss her contributions, we recognize that this next step is a great fit for her and an opportunity to be close to her family. We wish her success in this new endeavor.”
At the College of New Jersey, DelliCarpini “will lead academic affairs, drive strategic planning and manage resource allocation,” according to a news release.
Prior to her appointment as Penn State Abington chancellor in January 2021, DelliCarpini was vice provost for strategic educational partnerships and dean of the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She previously was professor and dean of the College of Education at Morehead State University in Kentucky, and a professor and department char at the City University of New York’s Lehman College.
