UNIVERSITY PARK – Donald Leslie, assistant vice president and associate dean for Undergraduate Education, has announced that he will retire from Penn State at the end of June. During his 36 years at the University, he has been a strong advocate for undergraduate students and has positively impacted many of their academic experiences.
Leslie’s long ride with the University dates back to his years as a Penn State undergraduate in landscape architecture and has been interrupted only by his master’s work at Michigan and several years in private practice. Returning to the University in 1971, Leslie has been involved in all aspects of the undergraduate experience, from the teaching in the department, to college-level service as associate dean in the College of Arts and Architecture, to his current role as assistant vice president at the University level.
In his current role, he has been a champion for developing a comprehensive experience for all Penn State first-year students, provided administrative support for the ROTC programs, and been responsible for oversight of a creative and vibrant summer session. Leslie also has been instrumental in ensuring that modern and technology-enabled university instructional facilities are available to students and faculty, most recently co-directing the development of a state-of-the-art e-testing center and chairing the University Committee on Instructional Facilities. In recent years he has guided the e-Learning Cooperative initiative to provide a seamless online course experience for Penn State students at all campus locations.
Leslie’s list of professional accomplishments dates from the mid-1980s when he served in every elected office of the Pennsylvania Delaware Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, including chapter president and trustee to the national organization, and received the Chapter Distinguished Service Award. In 1988, he was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). He was the recipient of ASLA’s President’s Medal in 1994 for outstanding service to the society and the profession and was elected to serve as ASLA’s national president in 1996. He continues to serve the society as chair of numerous committees and as parliamentarian to the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees.
Leslie has been the recipient of numerous University awards, including the Shirley Hendricks Continuing Education Award for Outstanding Academic Leadership, Outreach and Cooperative Extension; the College of Arts and Architecture’s Alumni Achievement Award; and the Faculty Associate Recognition/Appreciation Award from the Office of Student Affairs.
“Don has had a very distinguished career and is the consummate professional. We have been very fortunate to have had his advice, counsel, and dedication in enhancing the academic environment for our undergraduate students. Although the Penn State community will surely miss one of its strongest advocates for undergraduate students, I am happy that it will present the additional time and opportunity for Don and his wife, Linda, to share new and other activities and adventures,” said Robert Pangborn, vice president and dean for Undergraduate Education.
In retirement, Leslie looks forward to spending time with his wife, enjoying their children and grandchildren, doing some traveling, engaging in some limited professional consulting and community service work, and devoting time to his hobby of collecting and restoring vintage fountain pens.