Pennsylvania Western University announced Tuesday that Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, founding president of Pennsylvania Western University is transitioning to a new role with Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

Pehrsson will become the president-in-residence and CEO for PennWest Investment.

She will step down from her current role as PennWest president and assume the role full-time on July 1, at the conclusion of her five-year presidential term.

“I have been honored to lead California, Clarion, and Edinboro universities through their transition to becoming PennWest, and to see our new university reach this critically important point,” Pehrsson wrote in an email sent to all PennWest students, faculty, and staff.