PHILADELPHIA -- Marie Witt has been named vice president for the University of Pennsylvania Division of Business Services.

As the division vice president, she will be responsible for the strategic direction and operational management of a variety of units, including Housing and Conference Services; Dining Services; Transportation and Parking; the University Square complex, with the Penn Bookstore and Computer Connection; the University owned hotels, and other ancillary operations.

Most recently the division's interim manager, Witt was formerly associate vice president.  

"In her short tenure as interim leader, Marie has demonstrated strong leadership and sound business judgment," Penn Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli said.  "Marie has already had a positive impact on Business Services' operating results for the year, and I expect she will have an even greater impact in the years to come."   

Witt led a food services master planning initiative, negotiating a 10-year provider contract that yielded more than $2 million in savings and a $10 million capital commitment.  Her restructuring of the University Club generated $850,000 in annual savings, and under her watch annual bookstore revenue increased to $15 million from $11.2 million.   

A Penn alumna with a bachelor's degree in human resource management, Witt joined the University as a personnel specialist in 1981, then moved to Business Services in 1985 as a communications analyst for the Telecommunications Department.  In 1991, she became director of support services.  She previously participated in the University Leadership and Management Development program and is a candidate for a master's degree in organizational dynamics at Penn.

In 2002, her career at the University was recognized with a Models of Excellence Honorable Mention Award.  She is a member of the eastern and national Associations of College and University Business Officers.

She and her family live in Voorhees, N.J.