Letter from the President

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Christopher M. Fiorentino

Mark Twain once said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.” The American novelist’s words remain particularly relevant today. Widening our angles of vision on the world and expanding our understanding of cultures can only enhance our appreciation for humanity. This is one of the many reasons why preparing our students to be global citizens of the world continues to be a key component of our University’s mission and goals — all of us can learn from one another no matter which corner of the globe we hail.

As a life-changing experience, study abroad is known to yield cross-cultural competence. It also functions as a companion to the tools that we are working to equip our students with during their time with us. You may remember that the toolkit of essential skills and competencies includes critical thinking, effective communication, thoughtfully considering the importance of diversity, ethical decision making, and community engagement. Our community of educators is not alone in realizing the value of being able to use these essential tools in a dynamic global workforce. The Institute of International Education (IIE) notes in its Gaining an Employment Edge study that more than “…70% of students reported that their study abroad experiences significantly helped develop their intercultural skills, flexibility and adaptability, self-awareness, curiosity, and confidence.”

Today, a new opportunity exists for enriched global engagement at a time when we have emerged from the isolation of a far-reaching pandemic. The Division of Academic Affairs has seized this moment with the renaming of the Center for International Programs and, in so doing, has renewed its commitment to advance and promote the University’s globalization efforts. Now known as the Global Engagement Office (GEO), the name better reflects the area’s focus to advance initiatives that support West Chester University’s vision for faculty/staff-directed study abroad programs, foster international partnerships and research collaborations, as well as create global learning opportunities.

As you read the pages of West Chester University Magazine, I hope that you, too, will be inspired by the breadth of understanding that our Golden Rams are encouraging through international exchange initiatives, as well as through the promotion of cross-cultural learning.

Sincerely,

Christopher M. Fiorentino
President

Welcome Back Address

“I intend to give all that I can to ensure that my final year here is my best year,” said President Christopher Fiorentino in his final fall Welcome Back Address in September. He reminded campus constituents that he continues to press forward with strategic initiatives prior to his retirement at the end of this academic year in June.

He highlighted some of the University’s many recent successes that have been noticed on campus and beyond, saying, “When people approach me, they say nice things about me, but they say really nice things about our University. Their praise is not so much about anything I am doing as it is about everything you are doing. That praise is coming because of all of those little success stories surfacing everywhere on our campus, showing up everywhere on social media, and turning up everywhere in the news. All those little stories have created one big story that has changed how people perceive our University and how people recognize the University President. I will miss those little recognition moments after I retire. But, I plan to keep wearing purple and gold in the hopes that occasionally people will share WCU stories with me.”

Fiorentino concluded, “I look forward to working with all of you to create more success stories.” I intend to give all that I can to ensure that my final year here is my best year.

WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY
COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES

Robert M. Tomlinson ’70 (chair)
Barry C. Dozor ’71 (vice chair)
Marian D. Moskowitz (secretary)
Tara D. Chupka ’05
Thomas A. Fillippo ’69
Christopher Franklin ’87
Jonathan Ireland ’95, M’03
Stephen Kinsey ’81
Susan Yoder Schick ’88
Betty Silfa
Julia Ward (student)

WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY
FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Officers
Joan M. Kaminski ’69 (president)
Robert H. Plucienik (vice president)
Keith E. Beale ’77 (treasurer)
Sandra F. Mather ’64, M’68 (secretary)
Debra G. Cornelius ’91 (executive director)
Christina Gerenza (assistant treasurer)

Trustees
Tabetha J. Adkins, ex officio
Dawn Swope Apgar
Eric K. Bossard ’85
Deborah J. Chase ’76
Zebulun R. Davenport, ex officio
Christopher M. Fiorentino, ex officio
David L. Flamer M’86
Maury Hoberman
Matthew M. Holliday ’09
Jessica E. Kienle ’05
Michael A. Mele ’89
Thomas E. Mills, IV ’81
Todd E. Murphy, ex officio
Jacqui North ’81
Jeffery L. Osgood, ex officio
Douglas A. Pacitti ’97
William E. Scottoline

WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

President
Patrick O’Connor M’93

Vice President
Gregory Saunders ’87

Treasurer
Tony Fragale ’77

Secretary
Deidre Gray ’92

Immediate Past President
Matthew Holliday ’09

Directors
Douglas Ambler ’71, M’72
Nancy Baulis ’73
Lance Bogash ’74
Katherine (DiCicco) Canazzi ’16, M’22
Joseph Cassel ’79
Rick Daniels ’75, M’81
Anjelica Finore ’16
Tony Fragale ’77
Marisa Gothie ’05
Deidre Gray ’92
Devynn T. Gray ’19, M’20
Matthew Holliday ’09
Carol Kashow ’77
Laine Mann ’91
Louis W. Mason ’76
Patrick O’Connor M’93
Gregory Saunders ’87
Joyce Woodson ’75, M’79

President Emeriti
Carmen Evans Culp ’52, M’64 (deceased)
Janice Weir Etshied ’50 (deceased)
Karl Helicher ’72, M’82, M’87
Joseph Kienle ’72, M’74
Richard D. Merion ’59, M’69
Edward J. Monroe ’89
John F. Murphy ’43 (deceased)
Dr. Luther B. Sowers ’49 (deceased)

Director Emeritus
Nick Polcini ’00, M’05

Pictured (L-R) are FDI board members Assistant Professor of Communication and Media Jeremy McCool; Professor and Director of WCU’s Learning Assistance and Resource Center (LARC) Jocelyn Manigo; Professor of Kinesiology Margaret Ottley; Professor of History Martha Donkor; Associate Professor, Academic Success Program Tiffany Jones; President Chris Fiorentino; FDI Director and Professor of English Chris Awuyah; Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion & Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Tracey Robinson; Professor of History tonya thamestaylor; Veterans Center Administrative Assistant June Thompson; Professor of English William Lalicker; and Emeritus Professor of English James Trotman.

Fourth Annual Dr. Clifford E. DeBaptiste Frederick Douglass Institute Lecture

President of Lincoln University Brenda A. Allen was the speaker for the Fourth Annual Dr. Clifford E. DeBaptiste Frederick Douglass Institute Lecture in October. Allen spoke about the power of culture in producing educational equity.

Named the 14th president of her alma mater, Lincoln University, on May 11, 2017, Allen began her tenure on July 1, 2017. She was previously provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Winston Salem State University from July 2009 through June 2017 as well as a tenured professor of psychological sciences.

Hosted by the Frederick Douglass Institute (FDI), the lecture is made possible through the generous gift of Dr. Clifford DeBaptiste, the first African American mayor of West Chester Borough and a recognized champion of education. His daughter, Lillian L. DeBaptiste ’74, current mayor of the borough, also spoke at the event.

FDI recognized President Christopher Fiorentino at this event, his last as president prior to his retirement next June. Pictured (L-R) are FDI board members Assistant Professor of Communication and Media Jeremy McCool; Professor and Director of WCU’s Learning Assistance and Resource Center (LARC) Jocelyn Manigo; Professor of Kinesiology Margaret Ottley; Professor of History Martha Donkor; Associate Professor, Academic Success Program Tiffany Jones; President Chris Fiorentino; FDI Director and Professor of English Chris Awuyah; Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion & Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Tracey Robinson; Professor of History tonya thamestaylor; Veterans Center Administrative Assistant June Thompson; Professor of English William Lalicker; and Emeritus Professor of English James Trotman.

In a fitting tribute to the great abolitionist, orator, and statesman, the DeBaptiste Douglass Lecture is held annually in Philips Autograph Library next to the University’s Academic Quad and overlooking the Frederick Douglass statue in DeBaptiste Plaza, commemorating the abolitionist’s last public lecture on WCU’s campus.