David M. Callejo Pérez has been named the interim regional chancellor for Penn State’s Northeastern Pennsylvania campuses, taking over leadership of Penn State Scranton, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, and Penn State Hazleton effective April 1, 2026. Callejo Pérez, who currently serves as the chancellor and dean of Penn State Harrisburg, will manage all four locations simultaneously while the university continues a national search for a permanent regional leader.
He succeeds Durell Johnson, who held the interim role since September 2025. Johnson is returning to his position as the campus chief academic officer at Penn State Scranton. This leadership transition occurs during a pivotal and difficult period for the university’s presence in the region.
The end of an era for Penn State Wilkes-Barre
The next permanent chancellor will inherit a significantly smaller regional footprint. In May 2025, the Penn State Board of Trustees voted to close seven Commonwealth Campuses—including Penn State Wilkes-Barre—following the spring 2027 semester.
The decision was driven by several critical factors:
- Enrollment decline: Penn State Wilkes-Barre saw its student body drop to just 232 students for the fall 2025 semester, making it the least attended Commonwealth Campus in the state.
- Financial strain: Escalating operating costs and stagnant state funding forced the university to consolidate resources.
- Demographics: A shrinking college-age population in the region made maintaining the Lehman Township site unsustainable.
Support for transitioning students
To assist students impacted by the upcoming closures, Penn State has launched a "Degree Completion and Transition Support" resource. Additionally, the university is waiving certain tuition surcharges and student-initiated fees for those at closing campuses to help them finish their degrees or transfer to remaining locations like Scranton or Hazleton, which Penn State has labeled as "larger and more robust" hubs for the future.
While the Wilkes-Barre campus will stop enrolling new students after the fall 2025 term, it remains fully operational for current students through May 2027.
