January 05, 2017
Dr. Christopher M. Fiorentino named president of West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg 鈥� The Board of Governors of Pennsylvania鈥檚 State System of Higher Education today
selected Dr. Christopher M. Fiorentino to serve as president of West Chester University
of Pennsylvania, effective January 9. Dr. Fiorentino has held the position of interim
president at the university since April 2016.
Prior to being named interim president, Dr. Fiorentino had served as vice president
for external operations at the university since 2013. He previously spent nearly 20
years as dean of West Chester鈥檚 College of Business and Public Affairs. He came to
the university in 1983 as an assistant professor of economics. His tenure within the
Department of Economics included four years as chair.
鈥淒r. Fiorentino has been a distinguished member of the West Chester University family
since he first joined the faculty more than 30 years ago,鈥� said Board of Governors
Chair Cynthia D. Shapira. 鈥淗e not only understands the university鈥檚 mission; he has
helped to shape it. The Board has great confidence that he will continue to provide
exceptional leadership to the institution into the future.鈥�
State System Chancellor Frank T. Brogan also praised Dr. Fiorentino鈥檚 outstanding service to the university, especially since assuming the role of interim president nine months ago.
State System Chancellor Frank T. Brogan also praised Dr. Fiorentino鈥檚 outstanding service to the university, especially since assuming the role of interim president nine months ago.
鈥淚t has been a pleasure working with Dr. Fiorentino as interim president, and I look
forward to doing the same as he assumes the position of president,鈥� Mr. Brogan said.
鈥淚 am certain he will continue to play a valuable role, not only in West Chester鈥檚
future, but also in the future of the State System as he works with the other university
presidents on behalf of all of the universities and our more than 100,000 students.鈥�
After spending 10 years as a member of the WCU faculty, during which time he was voted
鈥淥utstanding Business Professor of the Year鈥� by the West Chester University Society
for the Advancement of Management, Dr. Fiorentino was named dean of the university鈥檚
College of Business and Public Affairs in 1993. As dean, he helped to secure AACSB
International accreditation for the School of Business; developed off-campus academic
centers, including the Graduate Center in West Goshen Township and the Philadelphia
Center; and worked with faculty and supporters to create the Cottrell Entrepreneurial
Leadership Center.
He also has represented the university throughout the region, including serving as a member of the West Chester Business Improvement District Board, leading a task force that recommended improvements to Chester County鈥檚 budgeting and financial management processes; and developing and launching the Center for Community Solutions, which opened in 2015 and connects regional government and non-profit organizations with WCU faculty and staff experts to address community needs.
He also has represented the university throughout the region, including serving as a member of the West Chester Business Improvement District Board, leading a task force that recommended improvements to Chester County鈥檚 budgeting and financial management processes; and developing and launching the Center for Community Solutions, which opened in 2015 and connects regional government and non-profit organizations with WCU faculty and staff experts to address community needs.
鈥淚 thank the Board of Governors for the confidence they have shown in me by appointing
me as the fifteenth president of West Chester University,鈥� Dr. Fiorentino said. 鈥淢y
years of leadership at WCU have prepared me well for the challenges and opportunities
ahead, both at the university and at the State System level.
鈥淲est Chester is widely respected for both the excellence and breadth of its programs
and services and for its access and affordability. I am excited to work with the Council
of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, the WCU Foundation and the greater
West Chester community to steer our university toward a bright future.鈥�
Dr. Fiorentino鈥檚 selection comes at the conclusion of a nationwide search, which began
last spring. Barry C. Dozor, a member of the university鈥檚 Council of Trustees who
chaired the presidential search committee, referred to the new president鈥檚 long and
distinguished tenure at West Chester in praising his selection.
鈥淒r. Fiorentino has provided 33 years of magnificent service to West Chester University,鈥�
Dozor said. 鈥淚 am certain he will continue to provide the same passion, commitment,
leadership and vision to the presidency.鈥�
鈥淥n behalf of the WCU Council of Trustees, I am delighted to share our enthusiasm
for the Board of Governors鈥� selection of Chris Fiorentino as our new president,鈥� added
Council Chair Thomas A. Fillippo. 鈥淐hris is an accomplished leader who has been a
key figure in the university鈥檚 development and success. The Council is unanimous in
its support of Chris and looks forward to working with him to move West Chester forward.鈥�
Dr. Fiorentino became interim president at West Chester University following the retirement
last March of Dr. Greg R. Weisenstein, who led the university for eight years. He
holds three degrees in economics鈥攁 baccalaureate, master鈥檚 and Ph.D.鈥攁ll from Temple
University.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania is the largest university in Pennsylvania鈥檚
State System of Higher Education, with a total enrollment of more than 17,000 students.
The university was founded in 1871 as the privately owned West Chester Normal School.
It was the first of the normal schools to become state owned in 1913. The university
currently offers nearly 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Pennsylvania鈥檚 State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, with more than 100,000 degree-seeking students and thousands more who are enrolled in certificate and other career-development programs. Collectively, the 14 universities that comprise the State System offer more than 2,300 degree and certificate programs in more than 530 academic areas. Nearly 520,000 State System university alumni live in Pennsylvania.
The State System universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The universities also operate branch campuses in Oil City (Clarion), Freeport and Punxsutawney (IUP), and Clearfield (Lock Haven), and offer classes and programs at several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and in Center City in Philadelphia.