Jonathan A. Kukta

Chief Director of Strategy, Planning and Engagement for Finance and Business and Commonwealth Campuses

Jonathan Kukta serves as the Chief Director of Strategy, Planning and Engagement for Finance and Business and Commonwealth Campuses at Penn State. In this role, he oversees training and development, engagement events, DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) programs, special projects, strategic planning, and internal communications for the 7,500 employees within Finance and Business. He also provides operational strategy and planning support for Penn State’s twenty Commonwealth Campuses. Kukta collaborates closely with campus chancellors on a wide range of initiatives, including strategic and master campus planning, administration, space and facility management, government and community relations, and other operational matters.

Prior to his current position, Kukta served as the Senior Director for Regional Strategy and Planning. From 2021 to 2024, he was the Director of Business Services and Operations at Penn State Schuylkill, where he was responsible for facilities, operations, IT and telecommunications, risk and emergency management, sustainability, conference services, real estate, event coordination, community outreach, and local government relations. He also served as the campus liaison to University Police and Public Safety (UPPS), Housing and Food Services (HFS), and Barnes & Noble.

Kukta began his Penn State career in 2002 as Assistant Director at Penn State Berks. In 2007, he became Director of Housing and Food Services for the Hazleton, Schuylkill, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton campuses. In 2017, he assumed the same role for the Berks, Schuylkill, and Lehigh Valley campuses. In 2021, he was appointed Director of Business Services and Operations at Schuylkill.

Since 2008, Kukta has also served as an adjunct faculty member, teaching courses in business, human resources, marketing, and hospitality facility operations and design. He has contributed as a guest writer for On-Campus Hospitality Magazine.

Kukta holds a Master of Business Administration from Alvernia University and a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Penn State University. He is also a Certified Auxiliary Services Professional (CASP).

An active member of the National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS) for over two decades, Kukta currently serves as President of the East Region in 2024-25 and serves as a member of the national board. In 2020, he received the Rising Star Award, recognizing emerging leadership across 250 institutions in thirteen U.S. states and Canada.

At Penn State, he has been recognized with:

2011 Finance and Business Quality Service/Quality People Leadership Award
2013 Finance and Business Quality Service/Quality People Coaching and Mentoring Award
2015 Penn State Hazleton Student Government Association Service to Student Award
2017 HFS William H. Reiber Outstanding Management Award
2017 Penn State Schuylkill Outstanding Alum Award

In his local community, Kukta serves on the Orwigsburg Planning and Zoning Board.