Penn State has reached outside Pennsylvania to appoint a new senior administrator.

David J. Gray, the chief financial and administrative officer at the University of Massachusetts, is expected to join Penn State as its senior vice president for finance and business, the university announced Wednesday. His appointment, subject to approval by the university trustees, is tentatively to take effect Feb. 6.

Gray would succeed Gary C. Schultz, a longtime Penn State administrator. Schultz retired in 2007, then returned to work as senior vice president in September upon the departure of his immediate successor, Al Horvath.

Schultz resumed his retirement in November. The university announced that move shortly after Schultz was charged with perjury and failure to report, charges filed in connection with the Jerry Sandusky child-sexual-abuse case.

Schultz, through his attorney, has maintained that he is innocent. He will face a preliminary hearing Friday in Harrisburg.

Gray, for his part, holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Penn State -- one in political science, earned in 1977; the other, public administration, earned in 1979, according to the university.

"David is an outstanding choice for this position," Penn State President Rodney Erickson said in a news release. " ... He brings a breadth of financial and operating experience that also includes information technology, and his previous work with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has given him valuable experience in working in a multi-campus environment."

Gray has worked 11 years at the University of Massachusetts. He also has worked on the House Education Committee Republican Research Staff for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, according to the news release. He was a member of the Governor's Office of Budget and Management for the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, as well.

"Penn State University is a premier public research university, and to be invited to serve in a key leadership position there is a great honor," Gray said in the release. " ... Helping to advance Penn State's academic and service mission will be at the heart of all that I hope to accomplish."

The senior vice president for finance and business has oversight of the Office of Physical Plant, human resources, campus police, investment management, auxiliary and business services, the corporate controller and legal services, among other university functions.

Earlier coverage

• StateCollege.com's earlier and ongoing coverage of the Penn State-charges situation