Larry Edward Penley (born February 9, 1949) is an educator, management scholar and university strategist.
As ASU dean, he introduced curriculum changes like a distinctive accounting curriculum,[9] a business honors experience that led to a high proportion of the University's honors graduates coming from the Business School,[10] and he established ASU's tech-MBA for the growing market segment of engineers.
[20] As CSU President, he accepted the invitation of Prospanica to become the first non-Latino on the board, he recognized Colorado civil rights leaders, John and Edna Mosley with honorary degrees.
[27] He developed the New Economy Initiative to enhance Arizona's economic competitiveness through increasing the number of college graduates in select, high-demand fields,[28] and with other Regents he focused on raising each university's distinctiveness and excellence, including their online programs, with university-specific metrics.
[29] Additionally, he stressed raising overall state attainment through initiatives such as improving community college-university relationships,[30] introducing new degrees,[31] freezing tuition during COVID,[32][33] reducing tuition for DACA students,[34] enhancing affordability through financial aid,[35] launching the Arizona Promise Program for lower-income students,[36] and refocusing Northern Arizona University on its expansion to non-traditional, underserved populations in the appointment of President Jose Luis Cruz Rivera.