New leader named for Penn State Fayette
Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus will have a new leader in February after a nationwide search netted a economic development leader who will bring his expertise to Fayette County. Emmanuel I. Osagie has been named chancellor of the local campus and is scheduled to begin work Feb. 1, university officials announced Wednesday. Osagie replaces Dr. Gregory Gray, now president of Miami Dade College Kendall Campus in Florida, and interim chancellor Dr. Sandy Smith, a 15-year veteran employee of the campus.
Osagie, who serves as vice provost for research and faculty development at The College of New Jersey and dean of its School of Business, said Wednesday he is “very excited and truly humbled” that he was chosen from dozens of candidates for the local leadership position.
“When I visited Penn State Fayette, I was taken aback by the hospitality and transparency of the faculty, staff and students and, indeed, members of the community,” Osagie said. “I’m looking forward to becoming a part of the community and working with each person to move the campus to the next level.”
Entering his 22nd year in higher education, Osagie has a rich background in economic development leadership.
He said a great accomplishment was being appointed author/director of the Tri-State Strategic Development Plan for Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi states under then-Arkansas Gov. and former President Clinton. Clinton started a coalition to develop the area known as the Mississippi Delta region, which was viewed as Third World in America, said Osagie.
In that capacity, Osagie took the learning and teaching into the community and had several town hall meetings to figure out what the community wished for and to share what was feasible.
“It was a give-and-take conversation,” he said. “If the community doesn’t subscribe to it, it won’t be sustainable.”
Though he offered no specific plans for Penn State Fayette, he said he is “sufficiently convinced that we can move to the next level and I’m glad to assume the position.”
In his years in higher education, Osagie has served as a teacher, administrator and associate vice chancellor.
He completed his Ph.D. in agricultural economics/econometrics at Louisiana State University and taught at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., for more than 15 years as a professor of economics, according to a news release from Penn State University.
He founded the Center for Economic Development at Southern University before serving as the university’s associate vice chancellor for the Office of Research and Strategic Initiatives, according to the news release. He began his career as a science teacher in Nigeria in the early 1970s.
In his first visit to northeastern United States, he was named vice provost at The College of New Jersey in 2001. He serves as the dean of its School of Business, which has a student population around the same size as Penn State Fayette.
His current school, The College of New Jersey, has 6,000 students and a strong liberal arts core that forms the foundation for degree programs offered through its seven schools, which include nursing, education, health and exercise science and engineering, according to the college’s Web site at www.tcnj.edu
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In Mercer County, N.J., Osagie serves as the chairman of the strategic planning committee of the county workforce investment board to look at the county’s overall economic development picture.
Osagie said one of the deciding factors in applying for the position at Penn State Fayette was the economic development element.
“I’m interested in being part of the community and to join in seeking solutions to economic development challenges in the area,” said Osagie. “That was the key in going after that position.”
John Romano, Penn State vice president for Commonwealth Campuses, said the university chose Osagie from dozens of applicants for the nationally advertised position. A search committee reviewed each applicant after the candidate search was launched in the summer, said Romano.
Romano said Osagie’s background in economic development seemed to be “a natural fit” for the Fayette campus.
“His broad academic experiences and work at The College of New Jersey and other institutions painted a picture that presented an individual who is very well and able to move the campus forward. We’re looking forward to the leadership he will provide,” said Romano.
“He’s an excellent candidate who was well received by the faculty, staff and students and well received at the main campus,” he continued. “We’re delighted that he decided to become a Penn Stater.”