The University of Colorado has a new chancellor, but the choice is no surprise as the school only interviewed one candidate.

Dr. Justin Schwartz was rolled out on the Boulder campus last month in a series of forums, three of which were broadcast on a public livestream. 

Friday morning, CU president Todd Saliman announced that the Board of Regents unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Justin Schwartz — a nuclear engineer who joins CU after serving as Penn State’s permanent executive vice president and provost for under a year.

“CU Boulder will have a dynamic new leader with an outstanding vision who will build upon an impressive foundation already in place,” Saliman said in a news release. “He appreciates our deeply held commitment to our mission of serving Colorado, Coloradans and society.”

He was named Penn State’s executive vice president and provost May 1, 2023. Prior to that, he held the interim role for about 10 months.

Schwartz replaces Chancellor Phil DiStefano, who announced his impending retirement last September after 50 years with the university, 15 of those as Chancellor. Schwartz will assume his position in July. 

Schwartz was chosen after a national search, according to the CU website, but in an email to the community, Saliman explained that he had hoped to consider more than one finalist. He said that after talking with candidates “it became clear a multi-candidate pool was not an option.” 

Schwartz’s spent part of his career at North Carolina State University as head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and was noted for his attention to diversity in 2011 after he doubled NC State’s female faculty of the department twofold and hired its first minority professors.

“It is an incredible honor to serve the University of Colorado, our students, faculty, staff and alumni, and the people across our state,” said Schwartz in a news release. “CU has incredible momentum, and we will carry the torch into a new era for the institution, elevating every aspect of our university.

“It was clear throughout my conversations with members of the Search Committee and my engagements during my public visit that the CU community has a deep passion for the university, the city of Boulder and the state of Colorado. I am thrilled to be a part of all with my family.”