UNIVERSITY PARK – David J. Gray has been named senior vice president for Finance and Business at Penn State effective Feb. 6, 2012, subject to approval by the University’s Board of Trustees at the January meeting.
Gray will oversee the division, which includes the offices of Physical Plant, Human Resources, University Police, Investment Management, Auxiliary and Business Services, Corporate Controller, Legal Services and Commonwealth Campus Business Operations, as well as lead financial, endowment, business and administrative activities at all Penn State campuses.
“David is an outstanding choice for this position,” Penn State President Rodney Erickson said. “He comes to us from the University of Massachusetts, where he was the chief financial and administrative officer. Â He brings a breadth of financial and operating experience that also includes information technology, and his previous work with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has given him valuable experience in working in a multi-campus environment.”
In addition to his leadership roles at the University of Massachusetts and with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, Gray previously served on the House Education Committee Republican Research Staff for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and was a member of the Governor’s Office of Budget and Management for the New Jersey Department of the Treasury.
“David Gray has made a great contribution during his 11 years of service at the University of Massachusetts,” said University of Massachusetts President Robert L. Caret. “He has guided our successful online education program, has been an astute financial manager and leader, and has played a key role in our drive to bring more efficiency to our university system. We will miss David’s wisdom and leadership but understand his desire to return to Penn State to serve his alma mater.”
Over the past 18 months, Gray has led the University of Massachusetts’s Trustee Efficiency Task Force, which is comparable to Penn State’s Academic and Administrative Services Review Core Council.  At Penn State, he will play a key role in the University’s future strategic planning and efficiency improvement processes.
“Penn State University is a premier public research university and to be invited to serve in a key leadership position there is a great honor,” Gray said. “I am excited to join with President Erickson and the members of the administrative team at Penn State in addressing the important challenges of improving efficiency, managing resources effectively and demonstrating accountability. Helping to advance Penn State’s academic and service mission will be at the heart of all that I hope to accomplish.”
Gray earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Penn State in 1977, and a master of public administration degree from Penn State in 1979.
