Larry D. Terry II, executive director of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia and professor at the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, has been selected as the vice president for outreach at Penn State University. His appointment begins Jan. 23.

Founded in 1931 to serve local and state government in Virginia, the Weldon Cooper Center delivers public impact research and leadership development in service to democracy and is an affiliate of UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy.

“Larry will be greatly missed. In his time here, he has reimagined the Cooper Center’s potential and redefined how the University can positively impact democracy at the local and regional level,” Vice Provost for Outreach Louis Nelson said. “Larry nurtured a collective vision of inclusive public service that is a key component of the University’s commitment to flourishing communities across the Commonwealth. I look forward to his accomplishing great things at Penn State.”

As executive director, Terry focused on delivering targeted, unbiased and nonpartisan public impact research and leadership development services across the state, and undertook the center’s first comprehensive strategic plan.

“I see the Weldon Cooper Center as really defining ‘democracy in action,’” Terry said. “The center is poised to add new research and training services that translate to a comprehensive set of deliverables for leaders and policymakers statewide and beyond. I couldn’t have asked for a more dedicated team than my Weldon Cooper Center colleagues and I will always be appreciative of our time together in serving the Commonwealth of Virginia.”  

Read more at the Cooper Center site.