Following a national search, Indiana University of Pennsylvania President Michael Driscoll has selected Peter Holden, an administrator with extensive experience in leading administration, facilities, and finance functions, as vice president of IUP’s Division of Administration and Finance.
Holden comes to IUP from his work as chief financial officer at Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, Massachusetts. He previously worked in leadership positions in administration, finance, and operations in the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; in facilities, planning, and operations at Brown University’s Division of Biology and Medicine in Providence, Rhode Island; in project management at DynCorp in Washington, DC; and in customer support operations for TMA Systems Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
He will begin his work at IUP on January 26.
In his position at IUP, he will be a member of President Driscoll’s cabinet and will supervise the Office of Human Resources, Public Safety and University Police, the Finance Office, the Budget Office, Printing and Postal Services, Facilities Management, and Engineering and Construction.
Larry Wakefield has served as interim vice president for the Division of Administration and Finance since March 24; his last day at IUP is January 30.
“Mr. Holden is an excellent fit for this position, bringing extensive leadership experience in all aspects of financial, facilities, and operations management in both the education and private sectors,” President Driscoll said. “He understands and shares our commitment to student success, and we are very pleased to welcome him to the IUP community,” he said.
“I express my appreciation to Larry Wakefield for his outstanding work as our interim vice president,” President Driscoll said. “While providing stability, he has brought new ideas and thinking to the division and to the university, and has been an asset to moving IUP forward, especially related to our financial situation,” he said.
Throughout his career, Holden has collaborated with faculty and staff in developing and delivering new initiatives, including new revenue-generating ventures. He has expertise in planning, designing, and operating complex research facilities of $34 million and $101 million, and a $45 million state-of-the-art academic home for a medical school at Brown University. He was a principal in the application, development, and award of several large National Institute of Health and National Science Foundation grants.
“I see this role, the needs and expectations surrounding its scope and charge, and joining the IUP community as an ideal opportunity,” Holden said.
“As I both respect and appreciate that I have much to learn about IUP, I also see immense potential, serving as both a leader and as a team member, in engaging with the incredible dedicated individuals that define the IUP community. To me, it’s about delivering an excellent standard of service, building relationships, creating themes of partnership, and developing solutions, with both internal and external stakeholders of the university, all sharing the common goals of advancing the future successes of our students, our institution, and that of our greater community as a whole.
“I am humbled with this opportunity, and I look forward to working under the leadership of Dr. Driscoll, joining his leadership team of talented and committed individuals, and working with the administration and finance staff to advance IUP forward with its next chapter of its amazing story.
“My wife Andrea and I are already underway with planning our relocation to Indiana, with the goal of creating a new home for us, our dog Lucy, and a place for our two adult daughters, Grace and Victoria, to visit whenever they travel to the area,” he said.
At Williston Northampton School, where he has worked since 2023, he is responsible for all financial, operational, and personnel operations of the school, including financial planning, investments, business services, facilities management, human resources, auxiliary services, campus safety, children’s center, dining services, legal, government relations, and information technology.
As associate dean for administration, finance, and operations at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst from 2020 to 2023, and as associate dean for administration and finance there from 2018 to 2020, he provided critical organization, direction, analysis, delivery, management, and leadership in core services and takes steps to ensure that such services function effectively, efficiently, and in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as well as university policies, practices, and procedures.
As director of facilities planning and operations from 2005 to 2018 and as director of bio med facilities and support services from 1999 to 2005 at Brown University, he was responsible for overseeing all operations, including planning, design, and construction; space management and space inventory reporting, including off-campus space management and leasing activities; event management; transportation; and safety and security for the Division of Biology and Medicine’s operations at the university.
As project manager and as assistant project manager for DynCorp from 1996 to 1999, he provided facilities operations and construction services for one of the primary research facilities for the Food and Drug Administration.
As director of customer support services at TMA Systems Inc. from 1996 to 1998, he established the company’s customer support department, including supervision of the call center, training programs, and implementation services for the company’s 200-plus client base.
Holden earned his MBA from Bryant University and his bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University. He is a trustee and chairperson of the facilities committee of St. Andrews School in Barrington, Rhode Island; serves on the board of directors for the chamber of commerce in Easthampton, Massachusetts.; serves on the board of directors and as the Treasurer for Riverside Industries Inc. in Easthampton; and is an emeritus member and former vice chairperson of the Roger Williams University Construction Management Industry Advisory Board.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. As IUP celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025 and through the Impact 150 comprehensive campaign, the university honors a legacy of educational excellence while looking to its next 150 years of student success, innovation, leadership in healthcare education, and public service.