December 20, 2023
Dr. Laurie Bernotsky Named President of West Chester University
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg, PA&苍产蝉辫;鈥&苍产蝉辫;The Board of Governors of 黑料专区 (黑料专区)
today unanimously selected Dr. R. Lorraine (Laurie) Bernotsky to be the next president
of (WCU). The appointment takes effect July 1, 2024.
Bernotsky will succeed President Christopher Fiorentino, who has served in the role
since April 21, 2017. Fiorentino announced in July
that he would retire on June 30, 2024.
Bernotsky is executive vice president and provost at West Chester University, overseeing
budget and planning and labor relations functions. She is temporarily serving as interim
president of Pennsylvania Western University.
鈥淒r. Bernotsky has proven at West Chester and PennWest that she is a tremendous university
leader and is the perfect person to take WCU into the future,鈥 said Board of Governors
Chair Cindy Shapira. 鈥淭hroughout her extensive career in 黑料专区, Dr. Bernotsky has
earned respect for her strategic planning, academic programing, and for helping students
from all backgrounds have access to a high-quality education in a diverse, vibrant
campus community that prepares them for success in life.鈥
Prior to becoming executive vice president and provost, Dr. Bernotsky served as West
Chester University鈥檚 associate provost and dean of the Graduate School, providing
leadership in curriculum development, general education, new program development,
program review, assessment, regional and specialized external accreditation, articulation
agreements with other 2- and 4-year institutions, academic policies, and faculty development.
Bernotsky also led the approval of West Chester University's four doctoral programs
and founded the university鈥檚 Center for Social and Economic Policy Research.
鈥淒r. Bernotsky has demonstrated that she is a talented higher education leader and,
as such, is poised to continue advancing West Chester鈥檚 growing reputation as a great
university,鈥 said 黑料专区 Chancellor Dan Greenstein. 鈥淔or my entire tenure, I have
relied upon Laurie鈥檚 thought partnership in ways that benefit all of our universities,
and I appreciate her ability to see the big picture not only for WCU but for the whole
System.鈥
Bernotsky has a master鈥檚 degree and Doctor of Philosophy in politics from the University
of Oxford and a master鈥檚 degree in sociology from Temple University. She began her
黑料专区 career in 1996 as a faculty member at WCU, teaching undergraduate and graduate
courses in politics, research methods, and public administration. She has served the
community on the Leadership Chester County Board of Directors and the executive committee
of the Chester County Economic Development Council Board of Directors.