Mark Dingfield named executive vice president at Penn
As executive vice president, Dingfield will oversee Penn’s business and administrative operations, including finance, investments, human resources, business services, information technology, facilities and real estate services, audit, public safety, and more.
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Mark F. Dingfield has been named executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania effective August 2025, pending approval by the Board of Trustees. The announcement was made by President J. Larry Jameson. He succeeds Craig Carnaroli.
Dingfield currently serves as Penn’s vice president for finance and treasurer. In that role, he has led efforts to strengthen the University’s financial position, modernize core business operations, and support forward-looking planning across Penn’s academic and clinical enterprises. He has built close partnerships with University and Penn Medicine leaders to ensure that operations are responsive, sustainable, and aligned with Penn’s long-term vision.
Among his many contributions, Dingfield led the launch of the Quaker Commitment, a landmark initiative that enhances Penn’s financial aid program by further supporting middle-income students and families. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a central leadership role on the University’s Response Team, helping to design and implement Penn’s testing infrastructure and campus health strategy at a moment of extraordinary demand. He also co-sponsored several significant administrative transformations, which laid the foundation for more modern, integrated support for Penn’s faculty, staff, and students.
As executive vice president, Dingfield will oversee Penn’s business and administrative operations, including finance, investments, human resources, business services, information technology, facilities and real estate services, audit, public safety, and more. He will work closely with Penn’s academic and clinical leadership to support innovation, strengthen operational resilience, and advance the University’s mission amid significant change in higher education and health care.
“Mark is a principled, dynamic leader who brings intellectual rigor, financial acumen, and an instinct for collaboration,” Jameson said. “He understands the mission and complexity of Penn and the opportunities it creates. As we look to the future, Mark offers clarity, energy, and a fresh perspective to a role that is critical to the University’s continued momentum. I am confident he will be an exceptional partner and steward in the years ahead.”
Before joining Penn, Dingfield held leadership roles at Princeton University and Microsoft. He earned his B.A. from Swarthmore College, M.Sc. from the London School of Economics, and Ph.D. in political science from Temple University. He serves on the board of directors for the American Association for the Advancement of Science and on the advisory board of the West Philadelphia YMCA. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Laura Dingfield, an associate professor of clinical medicine at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, and their three sons.
“It is a profound honor to take on this role at such a pivotal time for Penn,” Dingfield said. “As our university navigates change within a rapidly shifting world, this moment requires thoughtful strategy, meaningful engagement with our community, and deliberate action. I look forward to working closely with President Jameson, our faculty, staff, and community partners to advance Penn’s mission and shape its future.”
Dingfield succeeds Craig Carnaroli, who has served as senior executive vice president since 2004.
“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Craig for his decades of distinguished service,” Jameson said. “He has been an indispensable leader whose impact is evident across Penn’s campus and culture.
“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.”
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