West Chester University President Announces Retirement

WEST CHESTER, PA — West Chester University President Christopher M. Fiorentino, who leads the largest university within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, announced today that he will retire in the summer of 2024.

Fiorentino, the university’s 15th president, has led the state university for more than six years and worked at the university for 40 years.

“It has truly been the greatest honor and privilege of my professional life to have served you — our students, faculty, staff, alumni, neighbors and partners, a council of trustees, and all those citizens within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Fiorentino said.

The university has 14,417 undergraduate students and 3,143 graduate students.

Fiorentino said he announced his decision a year in advance to enable the university to continue its upward momentum while meeting its fundraising goals for the campaign, 150Forward, which benefits deserving students.

“Over the next 12 months, I will remain focused on our core mission to provide affordable access to a quality higher education to all deserving students and to stimulate these students’ thirst for knowledge in rigorous ways,” he said.

Under Fiorentino’s leadership, a 175,000-square-foot Sciences & Engineering Center and The Commons opened.

Fiorentino reinforced and outlined the critical work that will fuel the 2023-2024 academic year ahead.

Projects include:

• Finalizing a comprehensive strategic plan; completing a facilities master plan, which will include plans to identify and build additional university-owned housing;
• Advancing a national student-success mission to help underserved student populations in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region graduate from college;
• Identifying increased academic pathways for transfer students and adult learners in the workforce;
• Raising the remaining $6 million needed to complete a $65-million 150Forward fundraising campaign for student scholarships, student research, student technological needs, and student travel abroad.

“President Fiorentino is an outstanding leader who is admired at West Chester University and across the state system,” said Dan Greenstein, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Chancellor.

“As a relentless champion of student success, he has energized West Chester’s campus and has dedicated his entire career to promoting the value of a high-quality and affordable public higher education."

Greenstein said he plans to work with the university's Council of Trustees to regarding the next steps to secure the 16th president.