Arizona Board of Regents commemorates service of Regent Larry E. Penley

The Arizona Board of Regents today acknowledged the service and leadership of Regent Larry Penley, who is completing his term after more than a decade of contributions to Arizona’s public higher education system. Throughout his tenure, Regent Penley played an important role in advancing the board’s mission and supporting the state’s universities and students.

“Regent Penley has been a defining voice and source of stability on the Arizona Board of Regents,” said ABOR Chair Doug Goodyear. “His leadership leaves an enduring legacy for our universities and the students they serve. The board is grateful for his years of service in shaping Arizona’s future.”

A tireless champion of higher education, Regent Penley was appointed to the board by former Governor Doug Ducey in October 2015 and served two consecutive terms as board chair from 2019 to 2021.

“Regent Penley’s service to Arizona has been defined by steady leadership, principled decision making and a deep commitment to student success,” Ducey said. “Through his work on the board, he helped strengthen our universities and position them to compete nationally, while remaining focused on affordability and outcomes. Arizona is better off because of his dedication.”

During his service as chair, Regent Penley helped lead a number of important efforts for the board. He was a driving force behind the board’s New Economy Initiative, a bold campaign that rallied the Arizona business community, higher education leaders and citizens to meet challenges and prepare for the opportunities of the new economy.

He also guided the board and university system through the unprecedented challenges brough on by the COVID‑19 pandemic. Under his leadership, the board established clear COVID‑19 guiding principles, offering universities a consistent framework centered on the health and safety of campus communities while sustaining excellence in education and research.

Throughout his term, Regent Penley consistently prioritized students and their success. He worked to advance educational attainment across Arizona, recognizing its importance not only to individual opportunity and quality of life but also to the strength of the state’s workforce. Each year, he personally participated in the All‑Arizona Academic Team Scholarship ceremony, recognizing community college students for their academic excellence and their continued pursuit of higher education at Arizona’s public universities.

Regent Penley also played a key role in reimagining general education across the universities, placing a stronger emphasis on lifelong skills such as written communication, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and civic knowledge. These efforts help prepare students both for their careers and for engaged citizenship.

“Regent Penley consistently raised the level of thinking, debate and expectation around what this board and our universities could accomplish,” said ABOR Executive Director Chad Sampson. “On a personal level, I will always value the generous counsel he offered, his ability to frame complex issues with clarity and the insight he shared so freely with leaders across the state.”