West Chester University: WCU President Chris Fiorentino Named To Philadelphia Business Journal’s Power 100 List For 2021

Press release from West Chester University:

February 26, 2021

The publication recognizes President Fiorentino for the bold decision made in early
March of 2020 to halt the return of students from spring break in an effort to protect
the greater community from the initial spread of COVID-19 and to give faculty time
to prepare to move all in-person classes to virtual modes. At the time, West Chester
University was the first university in the region to make such a decision. Two weeks
following the announcement, WCU faculty transformed their entire curriculum-delivery
to help more than 17,700 students excel remotely through a range of virtual course
instruction.

“I am most proud of the collaborative way that our faculty, staff, and students have
rallied together to tackle our nation’s pandemic and to help those in our surrounding
communities,” said President Fiorentino, who was also recognized for sticking to the
decision for the fall and spring semesters when virus outbreaks were forecast to spike
nationwide. “I am humbled by this recognition, which truly represents the unyielding
work of our entire educational community and salutes efforts to continue to come together
in creative ways that benefit all of our students.”

Known as a transformational leader who embraces challenges, President Fiorentino oversees
the largest of the 14 universities within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher
Education. The University has seen tremendous and consistent undergraduate and graduate
enrollment growth under his leadership.

Committed to cultivating a culture that is dedicated to student success at every level
of the institution, President Fiorentino has instilled a spirit of innovation and
ownership that is empowering faculty, staff, and students. His support has led to
new programming for first-generation college students; the placement of student success
coordinators in each of the University’s six colleges and two schools; a mandatory,
four-credit First-Year Experience course for all first-year students to make self-discoveries
and expand perspectives; the development of co-curricular transcripts to go hand-in-hand
with students’ academic transcripts; the strengthening of diversity core course requirements
for all students to graduate; the creation of a pilot program to support Black male
students in an effort to address our nation’s equity gap in colleges; the founding
of a Resource Pantry to assist students who have significant need; the founding of
a first-of-its-kind on-campus convenience store to provide workplace training for
students on the autism spectrum to practice/master social and professional skills;
and more.

The University continues to be recognized for its quality academic programs, accessibility,
and affordability. WCU’s distinctions are many, including in U.S. News & World Report rankings where the University broke into the Top 10 on U.S. News’ 2021 list of Top
Public Regional Universities North, rising to #10. In the report, the University also
advanced among Regional Universities North (both public and private institutions),
up to #50 from #55 in 2020, and the University remains a Best Value Regional North,
as well as a top 25 Best College for Veterans (Regional Universities North). For 2021,
WCU is listed as Best Undergraduate Teaching Regional Universities North #11. In addition, Money magazine’s “Best Colleges for Your Money” ranks West Chester #174 out of 739 universities
eligible for inclusion. Most recently, the University earned gold status as a 2021-2022 Military Friendly® School, and received the 2020 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

As WCU prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2021, President Fiorentino is building the institution’s infrastructure
for the next generation of students. Currently, he is overseeing the construction
of the largest building within the 14-institution Pennsylvania State System of Higher
Education — the 175,000 square-foot Sciences & Engineering Center and the Commons
(SECC). Prior to the SECC, he oversaw the construction of the 96,090 square-foot College
of Business & Public Management. Over the past decade, WCU has invested more than
$250 million in new facilities, including academic buildings, residence halls, recreational
facilities, and a nationally-recognized geothermal heating and cooling system.

Christopher Fiorentino was selected as president of West Chester University on January
5, 2017 by the State System’s Board of Governors. Prior to being named president,
he held the position of interim president at the University since April of 2016, following
the retirement of former president Greg R. Weisenstein. Before assuming the role of
interim president, he served as vice president for external operations since 2013.
He previously spent nearly 20 years as dean of WCU’s College of Business and Public
Affairs, having arrived at the University in 1983 as an assistant professor of economics.
His tenure within the Department of Economics included four years as chair. President
Fiorentino earned his baccalaureate, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in economics from
Temple University.

This press release was produced by West Chester University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.