HARRISBURG, PA – Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) announces its next Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Kevin M. Purcell, PhD. With an extensive background in both academia and industry, Dr. Purcell brings a wealth of experience and an instinct for innovation to this role in the university’s leadership team. With over two decades in higher education, including the most recent nine years at HU, Dr. Purcell brings a seasoned, thoughtful, and science-minded perspective to this position.
“Kevin is well known to the Harrisburg University community,” said HU President Eric Darr, PhD. “He brings energy, insight, and a deep understanding of our needs. As Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Purcell will shape the evolution of HU’s academic programs and research endeavors. His leadership will advance our institution’s mission of disruptive innovation, life-affirming research, and societal impact in the Capital Region, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and beyond.”
Dr. Purcell’s academic journey is marked by a deep commitment to education and research. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania and his Master of Science in Biology from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. In 2009, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He has authored or co-authored two-dozen research papers on topics ranging from data science and population dynamics to molecular and quantitative ecology.
Before joining the HU community, Dr. Purcell served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at North Dakota State University, a Postdoctoral Associate at Duke University, and a Research Associate with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Dr. Purcell has served Harrisburg University with distinction in several positions over the years – including Adjunct Professor (2015) and Associate Professor (2018). He also served as Interim Provost in 2023.
Harrisburg University plays an integral part in sculpting nationally significant new models of science and technology learning. Dr. Purcell’s role as Provost and Chief Academic Officer is key to continuing the mission-driven approach to job-ready bachelor’s and master’s degree programs like those offered here.
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in the fields of science, technology, and mathematics. For additional information about the University’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
