PSU Altoona chancellor’s ‘life has been education’
Darbeau already making impact on campus
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When Lori Bechtel-Wherry announced she would be stepping down as chancellor at Penn State Altoona, the college had to move quickly to name her successor, without sacrificing quality in the process.
After a month and a half at the helm, Ron Darbeau feels ready for the challenge and is already impressing community members and leadership at the commonwealth campus.
Darbeau applied to the position at Penn State Altoona in October and was named chancellor in mid-December. The turnaround had to be quick, Darbeau said, because of the impending departure of Bechtel-Wherry. He assumed his new position on Jan. 3.
Darbeau was born in Trinidad and Tobago and grew up extremely poor. His father had one year of high school before dropping out to take care of his family after his own father died, and his mother didn't go to high school. Darbeau had no running water or electricity in his house growing up.
"I am what sociologists would call positive deviance," Darbeau said in his speech at the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Club on Thursday.
Darbeau said his background would typically not lead to where he is now. Before applying to and accepting the position at Penn State Altoona, Darbeau had an extensive career in higher education, spanning from teaching chemistry at McNeese State University in Louisiana to various positions at the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith, and at Lock Haven University.
"I shouldn't be where I am," Darbeau said.
Life of education
Darbeau said he feels indebted to higher education for making his career path possible. He said he has a "drive" to give back to higher education.
"My life has been education," Darbeau said. "It has been very good to me."
Darbeau spent almost 20 years in college classrooms, teaching chemistry to hundreds of students. He also mentored more than 80 students in their research. He said he never wanted to transition into administrative roles because he feared he would be limited in his ability to do research and spend time in the classroom.
Darbeau eventually warmed up to the idea, but still very much misses teaching.
"There is not a day where I do not miss the classroom," Darbeau said.
Higher education runs in the family for Darbeau now. His wife, Nyla, also has her doctorate in chemistry and is an academic advisor in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State University Park. Darbeau said his wife was historically the "trailing spouse" in their careers, but her job was the reason the family moved from Arkansas to Pennsylvania.
Darbeau's four children are all pursuing higher education as well, with career paths ranging from neurosurgeon to teacher. Darbeau said his children and their children will never experience the hardships he had as a child.
"Higher education is transformative," Darbeau said.
Vision is key
Before moving to Penn State Altoona, Darbeau was provost at Lock Haven University. Darbeau entered his position at a difficult time, according to faculty union president Richard Goulet, but navigated issues of retrenchment with as much poise and openness as could be asked.
"Dr. Darbeau was willing to discuss issues of concern with faculty during this challenging period at LHU in a professional manner," Goulet said.
Darbeau said his transition to Penn State Altoona has been "amazing." Since he arrived on campus, he has been on a "listening tour," visiting faculty and students to hear about their hopes and expectations for the college. Darbeau said he has been extremely humbled by those conversations and plans to keep those lines of communication open throughout his tenure. He said the campus "runs the risk of missing the mark" if it doesn't listen to the will of the students.
Darbeau gave Bechtel-Wherry a lot of credit for paving the way for his arrival. He said he is a builder and Bechtel-Wherry created the perfect "toolkit" of community relationships and campus expansion in downtown Altoona.
Darbeau said he feels well-equipped to address the difficulties Penn State Altoona is facing thanks to the foundation Bechtel-Wherry left for him to build upon.
Darbeau said new university leadership is promising and one of the main reasons he came to Penn State Altoona. New university president Neeli Bendapudi has stressed the importance of commonwealth campuses since she came into the position, and Darbeau said the support of the administration is crucial.
Steve Sheetz, member of the Penn State Altoona advisory board, said Darbeau has been engaged with the community and the campus since he arrived in December. Sheetz said Darbeau reached out to him almost immediately and wanted to get involved with as much as possible.
"He's really making an effort to get involved and make a contribution," Sheetz said. "I am super impressed with him."
Sheetz said Darbeau was one of the first to join a committee Sheetz created to recruit minorities to the Sheetz Fellow Program. His eagerness to volunteer in so many areas is encouraging, Sheetz said.
Darbeau said he has been welcomed wholeheartedly by the business community since he arrived and in his speech at the breakfast club, Darbeau said he is looking forward to creating mutually beneficial relationships with businesses.
"A college campus is a guest in the community," Darbeau said.
Joe Hurd, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said he is glad to have Penn State Altoona's continued involvement with the chamber and is looking forward to seeing what Darbeau accomplishes.
"The message is incredibly on target," Hurd said. "We appreciate your involvement and your leadership."
Darbeau said the college will be asking businesses what they need in prospective employees so the campus can adapt curriculum and classes to meet those needs. Darbeau said the campus will evolve during his time as chancellor and he intends to ensure that the campus plays a major role in the growth of the community.
"You will not recognize it (Penn State Altoona) in a decade," Darbeau said.
Mirror Staff Writer Nate Powles is at 814-946-7466.
The Darbeau file
Name: Ron Darbeau
Age: 58
Residence: Boalsburg
Family: Wife, Nyla, of 29 years; daughters: Cyanna, 26, Narisse, 24, Lai'el, 16; son, Jean-Luc, 22.
Education: Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of the West Indies; master's degree in organic chemistry from Johns Hopkins University; Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Johns Hopkins University.
Career: Professor of chemistry for 19 years (including 12 as head of the chemistry and physics department) at McNeese State University, Louisiana, 1998-2015; dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and the School of Education, as well as interim dean of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith, 2015-20; provost and vice president of academic affairs at Lock Haven University, 2020-22.