Charles (Charlie) Tennyson has been appointed Princeton’s new director of Transportation and Parking Services following a national search to fill the position. Tennyson previously served for five years as deputy director of the department.
Charlie Tennyson
Transportation and Parking Services (TPS) is part of University Services and oversees the TigerTransit shuttle system; parking permitting and management for students, employees and visitors; the Revise Your Ride incentive programs for faculty, staff and graduate commuters; bike and car share services; and parking and transportation support for large events. TPS’ commute trip reduction programs are an integral part of the University’s Sustainability Action Plan to reduce campus carbon emissions.
“I am thrilled to have Charlie as our new director of Transportation and Parking Services,” said Debby Foster, assistant vice president for campus services. “Charlie brings to the role not only extensive knowledge and operating experience; but also the energy, enthusiasm and innovation required to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as Princeton enters a period of sustained construction and change across our campus. Charlie genuinely cares about the future of mobility on our campus; as well as how our students, faculty, staff and visitors experience parking and moving on our campus. I have no doubt that his compassionate and data-driven leadership style will serve him well as he continues to collaborate with campus and local partners, listen to the needs of all stakeholders, and empower his team with the support and tools needed to be successful.”
Tennyson has extensive experience in transportation operations, policy and public engagement. As deputy director of TPS, he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the University’s transportation and parking system, including the University’s commuter parking program, Revise Your Ride commute trip reduction program, parking lot utilization, customer service, event management and TigerTransit.
He led the University’s first Campus Mobility Plan, which included forming an advisory council of student, staff and faculty leaders to study issues related to transit, bike share and car share on campus. As part of the project, TPS partnered with the Office of the University Architect, Facilities Operations, Department of Public Safety, and Office of Community and Regional Affairs to repurpose campus roads for greater pedestrian and bicycle mobility.
Tennyson was part of the project team that created a new customer service center for Housing, Transportation and Parking, Campus Dining and the TigerCard office. He also helped increase participation in the University’s Revise Your Ride commuter incentive program, which aims to reduce single occupancy vehicles coming to campus. In addition, he is an ambassador for the University Services Diversity and Inclusion initiative.
Before coming to Princeton in 2016, Tennyson worked at the University of Washington in a number of roles, including as a senior policy analyst for interagency transportation initiatives. He also has worked in public affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation and Intelligent Transportation Society of America, the nation’s largest transportation technology association.
Tennyson earned a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University and a master’s in public affairs from the University of Washington. He is in his third year of a Ph.D. program in higher education administration at Rutgers University. He is a certified administrator of public parking and previously served on the board of directors of the Intelligent Transportation Society of Washington.
