Interim chancellor chosen following a national search

Harrisburg, PA – Dr. Christopher Fiorentino, current interim chancellor and former president of West Chester University, was selected as the chancellor of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) today by the Board of Governors. Fiorentino will be PASSHE’s sixth chancellor.

An educator, economist and highly respected higher education leader, Fiorentino’s career in Christopher M. Fiorentino, Ph.D. PASSHE spans 42 years. He began as an assistant professor of economics at West Chester University in 1983, the year the State System was established. Fiorentino held many positions at the university, including department chair, dean, vice president and president. He retired from West Chester University in June and returned to serve as interim chancellor in October.

“I am honored and excited to serve the tremendous students, faculty, staff and university leaders across our PASSHE universities,” said Fiorentino. “For generations, these public universities have provided the education and critical thinking skills that open doors of opportunity and change lives. We remain as committed as ever to our mission of providing a high-quality, high-value education.

“Thank you to the Board of Governors for this incredible opportunity to serve our dynamic universities as we build toward an exciting future.”

Fiorentino was appointed following a comprehensive national search that drew impressive candidates, more than half of whom were current or recent chancellors and presidents. Throughout the nine-month process, the Chancellor Search Committee gathered input from hundreds of students, faculty, staff, trustees, presidents, government officials, union leaders, donors, and other stakeholders. The Board of Governors interviewed three finalists this week, including Fiorentino.

“Dr. Fiorentino is the right person at the right time to lead PASSHE into the future, ensuring our forward momentum and upward trajectory,” said Dr. Cynthia Shapira, Board Chair. “His passion for our students and PASSHE’s mission is palpable. He understands PASSHE’s critical role in the commonwealth’s economic and workforce strategic plan. He is a proven leader who can execute our strategies for excellent student outcomes and the success of our universities. We look forward to his expertise and thoughtfulness as he leads our system.

“And to hundreds of you who participated in the search process, I thank you for your dedication and commitment to our future. PASSHE is on the rise, and we are excited about what is ahead,” said Shapira.

Fiorentino will serve as the State System’s chief executive officer, providing leadership and strategic vision for the state-owned public universities. He will succeed Dr. Daniel Greenstein, who concluded his service to the system on Oct. 11, 2024.

About Chancellor Fiorentino
Fiorentino was president of West Chester University, the largest university in the State System, from 2017 until retiring on June 30, 2024, after more than 40 years of dedicated service to the institution. Known as a transformational leader who embraces challenges, Fiorentino led the university through the pandemic and inspired a culture of innovation and ownership that empowers students, faculty and staff.

During Fiorentino’s presidency, the university developed new programming for first-generation college students, placed student success coordinators in each of the university’s six colleges and two schools, engaged in a national student-success mission to help underserved students to graduate, founded a program to support degree-seeking students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and oversaw the construction of the largest building on campus.

Prior to serving as president, Fiorentino was the university’s interim president for a year and vice president for external operations for three years. He also spent nearly 20 years as dean of the university’s College of Business and Public Affairs (now the College of Business and Public Management) and was chair of the Department of Economics for four years.

Fiorentino has received numerous awards for his leadership in higher education. In July 2024, the PASSHE Board of Governors conferred on him the status of President Emeritus. West Chester University's Council of Trustees last week conferred on him Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus status.

The Philadelphia Business Journal named Fiorentino to its Power 100 list in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and the Chester County Economic Development Council inducted him into the Chester County Hall of Fame in May.

Fiorentino earned his baccalaureate, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in economics from Temple University. He and his wife, Sue, reside in Chester County.

PASSHE’s upward trajectory
Fiorentino will become chancellor of Pennsylvania's state-owned, public university system, which has undergone transformative changes in recent years and is on an upward trajectory with improved financial stability, enrollment trends and an improved partnership with state leaders.

A 30% increase in state funding in recent years has enabled the Board to freeze tuition since 2018, which benefits students and families and supports stable enrollment despite headwinds confronting all of higher education and acute in Pennsylvania.

With over 80,000 students, 90% from Pennsylvania, PASSHE universities collectively enroll the most in-state students of any four-year college or university in the commonwealth. The universities are vital to Pennsylvania’s workforce and economy, awarding nearly 20,000 degrees annually and providing the talented and innovative graduates that employers need.

Each university partners with major employers to ensure that students acquire the skills necessary to meet current job market demands and provide tremendous educational value to students. Two-thirds of graduates earn degrees in STEM, healthcare, education, business and other areas with in-demand jobs.

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