2025

April 8, 2025

West Chester University Inaugurates its 16^th President

Dr. Laurie Bernotsky Is the Second Woman President in the History of WCU

 

Dr. Laurie Bernotsky, DPhil, was inaugurated as West Chester University’s 16^th president and, historically, its second woman president during a formal investiture ceremony on Friday, March 28. A first-generation college graduate from rural Pennsylvania, Dr. Bernotsky currently leads the largest R2 institution (high research activity) within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).

Representatives from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and universities from throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, elected officials, and community partners attended as well as more than 1,000 students, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, friends, and dignitaries.

Dr. Bernotsky’s one prerequisite for an inauguration was that it celebrate not one, but all — all students, all faculty, all staff, all alumni, all supporters, all community partners and neighbors. In her inauguration speech, she noted, “Today is not about me, it’s not about titles, it’s not about ceremonies. It’s not about one person, one name, or one office. Today is about West Chester University. About the students who walk this campus. About the faculty who expand minds. About the staff who make it possible. About the alumni who carry our name into the world. About our donors who allow us to do more than we could imagine, and about our community partners who multiply our impact.”

WCU’s inauguration week was marked by a celebration of the women student leaders and women of West Chester; a Sweet Sixteen Spirit Day; a campus-wide and public invitation to donate new and gently-used professional clothing to benefit WCU students who use the free Career Closet in the Career Development Center, as well as personal care donations to the University’s Resource Pantry; and a spotlight on the research currently underway at WCU by students and faculty.

Inspired by a fall/winter “mutual listening tour” that encouraged all voices to be heard, Dr. Bernotsky’s inaugural address outlined a vision for the future of WCU, building on its strength as a regional flagship of the Commonwealth.

“So, let’s rise. Let’s lead. Let’s move forward — together, to write our next chapter, to create our future.

Acknowledging the uncertain times in which she takes her role as president, Dr. Bernotsky said, “Our present moment demands courage, and courage can come in many forms.” She quoted Maya Angelou: “Courage is something you develop over time. You don’t just wake up one day and have it. She compares it to lifting weights. You start with smaller, lighter weights before lifting larger heavier ones. … Eventually build up the courage to be consistently fair, and kind, and just, and generous, and humane. …

“To me,” Dr. Bernotsky continued, “this is so important because having the courage to consistently practice these other virtues is how we unleash the potential in those around us, and unleashing that potential is how we move our University forward.”

Dr. Bernotsky shared that, on her listening tour, she found themes to keep West Chester University moving forward “from almost awesome to truly awesome.” She spoke about “moving from a regionally recognized University to a nationally recognized University”; “moving from a University with great alumni to a University with a great and powerful alumni network”; supporting faculty researchers “who create meaningful research opportunities for students and who see discovery and teaching as fundamentally connected. That’s how we become not just a place where research happens — but a place where research transforms.”

She also heard that “we need to expand experiential learning opportunities. … We will be truly awesome when every single undergraduate student at our University can have excellent experiential learning opportunities before they graduate, regardless of their major or their financial resources.”

Moving from almost awesome to truly awesome means every individual in the University community must play their part, she said, to make West Chester University more accessible, more innovative.

“Let us have the courage to stay true to who we are,” Dr. Bernotsky concluded. “Let us face the uncertainty of the present moment not with fear — but with hope. Not with hesitation — but with determination. Not with boundaries but with a boundless belief in possibilities. If we do that, and if we do that together, then I am certain that our best work is yet to come.

“So, let’s rise. Let’s lead. Let’s move forward — together, to write our next chapter, to create our future.  And from my view here today, our future looks awesome.”

 

About Dr. Laurie Bernotsky

Known for being a transformative leader in higher education with nearly three decades of progressive experience, Dr. R. Lorraine (Laurie) Bernotsky was unanimously named the 16^th president of West Chester University by PASSHE’s Board of Governors and began her presidency at WCU on July 1, 2024. She succeeded Dr. Christopher M. Fiorentino, who retired as president on June 30, 2024. Prior to being named president of WCU, Dr. Bernotsky served as interim president of Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) as a loaned executive from PASSHE’s Office of the Chancellor. A longstanding champion for public education and state system students, Dr. Bernotsky is a social scientist and mixed methodologist who earned a master’s and doctorate in politics from the University of Oxford. She also earned a master’s in sociology from Temple University.

 

Learn more about the Inauguration

Watch the full Inauguration ceremony

TV News Coverage of the Inauguration of President Bernotsky