Penn State Scranton Appoints Durell Johnson as Interim Chancellor

Durell Johnson, Ph.D., chief academic officer at Penn State Scranton, has been named interim regional chancellor for Penn State’s Hazleton, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre campuses.

Johnson has been with the University for over 25 years, starting at Penn State Scranton in 1999 as an assistant professor of human development and family studies. After earning tenure, he was promoted in 2005 to assistant director of academic affairs, served as discipline coordinator for the Division of Health and Human Development in the University College from 2008-09, and was named associate director of academic affairs in 2009 before being promoted to chief academic officer in 2016.

“I’m honored to have been selected for the role of interim chancellor,” Johnson said. “I look forward to supporting our students, faculty and staff at all three campuses and maintaining the academic excellence and positive community impact for which Penn State is known.”

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Johnson holds a baccalaureate degree in psychology from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, a master’s degree in experimental child psychology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a doctoral degree in developmental psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

He resides in Clarks Summit.