Penn’s Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Mark Dingfield will serve as the University’s next executive vice president, according to a Thursday announcement from Penn President Larry Jameson to the University’s senior leaders.
Dingfield will serve as Penn’s chief financial and administrative officer, reporting to the president in collaboration with the provost. His term is set to begin August 2025, pending approval by the University Board of Trustees.
“Mark is a principled, dynamic leader who brings intellectual rigor, financial acumen, and an instinct for collaboration,” Jameson wrote in the announcement. “He understands the mission and complexity of Penn and the opportunities it creates.”
Jameson emphasized the “clarity, energy, and fresh perspective” that characterized Dingfield’s tenure as vice president for finance and treasurer. He also noted Dingfield’s ability to develop partnerships with leaders across the University and Penn Medicine to modernize business operations, characterizing him as a "pragmatic, collaborative, and solutions-driven leader who bridges strategy and execution."
In his previous position, Dingfield oversaw Penn’s financial functions, including short-term investments and capital financing strategies. The announcement highlighted Dingfield’s role in launching the Quaker Commitment, an initiative that expanded Penn’s financial aid offerings for middle-income students and families.
Dingfield will succeed Craig Carnaroli, who has held the position since 2004 and is set to leave Penn to serve as the chief financial officer at Stanford University next fall.
In the announcement, Jameson lauded Carnaroli’s “decades of distinguished service.” Carnaroli’s 25 years at Penn have been characterized by considerable financial turbulence for the University, including the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“He has been an indispensable leader whose impact is evident across Penn’s campus and culture,” Jameson wrote of Carnaroli, who recently led the charge of new financial measures in the wake of federal funding cuts for the University.
Carnaroli’s exit comes alongside the departures of other peers in the University community. 1993 Penn graduate and Deputy Provost Beth Winkelstein will leave the University to serve as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Northeastern University effective Aug. 22 — as will 1975 University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School graduate and Vice President of Government Affairs Jeffrey Cooper once his successor is named
“As we turn to the future, I have every confidence that Mark’s forward-thinking vision, steady leadership, and deep commitment to Penn’s mission will guide us forward with strength and purpose,” Jameson wrote.
“It is a profound honor to take on this role at such a pivotal time for Penn,” Dingfield said in the announcement. “As our university navigates change within a rapidly shifting world, this moment requires thoughtful strategy, meaningful engagement with our community, and deliberate action.”
Dingfield worked at Princeton University for seven years in various roles, including as executive director for planning, analysis, and technology. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Swarthmore College in 2001 and a Ph.D. in political science from Temple University in 2016.
