Dr. Christine Mahan, the Chief of Staff and Vice President for Planning and Effectiveness at Eastern University, has been selected by City & State Pennsylvania as one its 2024 Trailblazers in Higher Education.

Mahan serves as the principal advisor to Eastern’s president and provides leadership for the university’s strategic planning, institutional research, accreditation, risk management, and institutional effectiveness activities.

City & State Pennsylvania is a multimedia news outlet that dedicates its non-partisan coverage to state and local government, political, and advocacy news. The Top Trailblazers in Higher Education list is in its inaugural year and aims to honor individuals revolutionizing higher education and leading the charge toward an improved system for future generations. 

“I am incredibly humbled to have earned this recognition,” said Mahan. “To be recognized as an advocate for positive change and seen as a trailblazer in an industry full of esteemed individuals is an honor. I feel fortunate to be part of a community at Eastern University that is so committed to developing innovative pathways to an inclusive and accessible future.”

Mahan has served in the higher education industry for more than 30 years and has been with Eastern for almost 15 years, initially as the Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness in 2010. Prior to Eastern, she served in administrative roles at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Maryland.

Mahan earned her Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Maryland, her M.A. in English from the University of Iowa, and her B.A. in English and Rhetoric from the University of Illinois. Her research interests include access issues for first-generation and low-income students, which is also a core focus for Eastern and is reflected in the university’s commitment to affordability through low tuition rates and accessibility for those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to earn a degree.

Learn more about how Eastern University is committed to providing students with transformative, accessible, and affordable education.