August 01, 2018
Board of Governors selects Peter C. Fackler as Mansfield University鈥檚 interim president
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg 鈥� The Board of Governors of Pennsylvania鈥檚 State System of Higher Education today selected Peter C. Fackler to serve as interim president of Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Fackler recently completed a nearly nine-month term as interim president at Clarion University.
鈥淢r. Fackler provided outstanding leadership while serving as Clarion University鈥檚
interim president. We are indeed fortunate that he will be returning to the State
System so soon to fill that same role at Mansfield University,鈥� said Board of Governors
Chairwoman Cynthia D. Shapira. 鈥淪trong, stable leadership is especially important
to a university during a period of transition in order to keep the institution on
track and moving forward.鈥�
鈥淧eter obviously has the leadership skills and experience necessary to fill the position
of interim president,鈥� said State System Interim Chancellor Karen M. Whitney. 鈥淗e
served both Clarion University and the State System well in his prior role, and I
am confident he will do the same at Mansfield.鈥�
Mr. Fackler, a native of Unionville in Chester County, holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in
economics from Duke University and a Master of Business Administration from the University
of Michigan. He also studied at both Harvard University鈥檚 Institute for Educational
Management and Columbia University鈥檚 Teachers College.
He has more than 30 years鈥� experience in higher education. After beginning his career
as an accountant with Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), he held posts
at Alfred University, Bates College, West Chester University and the School of Visual
Arts in New York. In addition to serving as Clarion鈥檚 interim president during most
of the last academic year, he previously was the university鈥檚 interim vice president
for administration and finance.
鈥淚 am looking forward to beginning the work at Mansfield, to working with a great
group of committed faculty and staff there,鈥� Mr. Fackler said. 鈥淢ansfield University
has a proud and distinguished history of service to the northern tier of Pennsylvania,
a history that we will work to extend and grow over time. In particular, we will commit
to growing Mansfield鈥檚 student enrollment as we continue to focus the university鈥檚
efforts on assuring student success at all levels.鈥�
Mr. Fackler will serve as interim president at Mansfield until the successful conclusion
of a national search for a permanent president.
The Board of Governors is responsible for hiring university presidents within the
State System. When the need for temporary leadership at a university occurs, the chancellor鈥攊n
consultation with the chair of the Council of Trustees鈥攎akes a recommendation to the
Board of Governors, which then meets to ratify the selection. An interim president
serves as the university鈥檚 chief executive officer, with the same responsibilities
and authority as a permanent president.
鈥淢r. Fackler鈥檚 background and experience are a great fit for Mansfield,鈥� said Bobbi
Kilmer, chair of the university鈥檚 Council of Trustees. 鈥淲e are excited to have him
on board and are confident he will keep our university moving forward.鈥�