Claudia Petrescu appointed to role at Illinois State
Friday, April 25, 2025
Claudia Petrescu, associate vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School, has been named associate vice president for graduate education and internationalization initiatives at Illinois State University.
"Dr. Petrescu has been instrumental in implementing K-State's vision to be a next-generation leader for graduate education," said Jesse Perez Mendez, provost and executive vice president. "Her leadership has established a strong path for K-State to reach this goal, and we wish her well as she embarks on this new chapter in her career."
Petrescu joined K-State in January 2021 as its first vice provost for graduate education, while concurrently serving as Graduate School dean and a member of the political science department's faculty.
Across those roles, Petrescu has led the Graduate School's work to create a new strategic plan, develop a graduate student success model, enhance organizational excellence in graduate education, institute a data-informed graduate education culture, launch several initiatives to improve graduate student retention and success, establish a Graduate Advisory Board and create fundraising strategies.
Prior to her time at K-State, Petrescu served in chief strategy officer and graduate school dean positions at Oakland University in Michigan. She also served in various administrative and faculty roles at Eastern Michigan University.
During her time in Manhattan, Petrescu has been chair of the budget committee of the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools, as well as a member of the Council of Graduate School’s Advancement Advisory committee. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for several community organizations, including Konza United Way, Rotary Manhattan, and Command and General Staff College Foundation Fort Leavenworth.
Petrescu was an American Council on Education fellow at Georgia State University, where she learned how to harness the power of innovative thinking to create a culture of transformation and change.
Petrescu holds master’s degrees in social and public policy from Duquesne University and in economics from Babes-Bolyai University in Romania. She earned her doctorate from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. She has also completed post-graduate studies in international affairs at the National School of Public Administration and International Relations, also in Romania.
Petrescu will step away from the role of vice provost and dean of the Graduate School on May 24 and focus on transitioning to her new role at Illinois State University.
More information on the process of selecting an interim replacement will come in the next few weeks.