When Chancellor Daniel Greenstein announced that he would depart from his role at Pennsylvania’s 10 state system universities this fall, he told students and faculty that his next steps involved a “compelling opportunity to work nationally.”
Now, students and faculty know what that opportunity is. Mr. Greenstein will serve as a higher education adviser at Baker Tilly, an advisory, tax and assurance firm.
The firm — which has 700 locations globally and 11 in Pennsylvania — announced its hiring of Mr. Greenstein on Tuesday.
“Dan’s experience, visionary leadership and passion for advancing equity in education align perfectly with our mission to help our clients achieve student and institutional success,” Vicki Hellenbrand, Baker Tilly’s managing principal of government and public services, said in a news release.
“As a key member of our higher education leadership team, Dan will play an integral role in guiding our strategy and enhancing our ability to deliver innovative solutions that truly make a difference for the institutions we serve.”
Baker Tilly advises universities in areas like affordability, mergers, enrollment and digital transformation.
In his role at the firm, Mr. Greenstein will focus on student outcomes, long-term institutional sustainability, and alignment of academic portfolios with market needs, among other areas.
“The sector faces profound challenges, and I’m eager to contribute solutions that help institutions better serve their students and communities,” Mr. Greenstein said in the news release. “The need for bold, forward-thinking strategies has never been more urgent.”
In July, Mr. Greenstein announced he would leave his state system position in October.
During his six-year tenure leading Pennsylvania’s 10 state-owned universities, Mr. Greenstein oversaw a systemwide redesign, tuition freezes and the consolidation of six universities into two.
He became the system’s fifth chancellor in September 2018 after serving in leadership positions at the University of California and with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The system’s board of governors is launching a nationwide search to identify the next leader. During the search, retired West Chester University President Chris Fiorentino has been recommended to serve as the system’s interim chancellor.
In Western Pennsylvania, state system schools include Pennsylvania Western University, Slippery Rock University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
First Published: September 10, 2024, 4:53 p.m.
Updated: September 10, 2024, 9:03 p.m.