Laurie Bernotsky, Pennsylvania Western University’s interim president, will step out of that role to serve as the president of another state system university, West Chester, this summer.
PennWest is now searching for its third leader in less than two years. The university, formed last year by merging three struggling universities, continues to face mounting enrollment and financial concerns.
The state system’s board of governors unanimously appointed Ms. Bernotsky to her new role during a meeting Wednesday morning. She will succeed President Christopher Fiorentino, who will retire after leading West Chester since 2017.
Ms. Bernotsky, who began serving as PennWest’s interim president in July, has deep connections to West Chester. She was hired as a faculty member at the Chester County school in 1996. She later served as dean, provost and executive vice president at the state school. Ms. Bernotsky earned her master’s degrees from Temple University and the University of Oxford, and her doctorate degree from the University of Oxford.
After Wednesday's vote, Ms. Bernotsky told the board she was “deeply humbled and honored.”
“As a first-generation college student who grew up in rural eastern Pa., I understand firsthand the transformative power of education as the great equalizer, especially public higher education,” she said. “That's why I've devoted my entire career to public higher ed and why this opportunity means so much to me.”
Ms. Bernotsky will continue to lead PennWest until summer 2024, PennWest spokeswoman Wendy Mackall said. PennWest plans to fully form a presidential search committee for a permanent president by the end of January.
Ms. Bernotsky led PennWest at a tumultuous time for the university, which was created in 2022 through a merger between California University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro University and Clarion University. Brought on by years of declining enrollment and financial challenges, the consolidation aimed to salvage the three state system campuses by putting them under the same umbrella.
But troubles have remained. Between fall 2022 and 2023, PennWest’s overall enrollment plunged from 12,778 students to 11,305, an 11.5% drop. The school’s freshman drop was more pronounced — during the same time frame, its first-time student headcount dipped 20.5%, from 2,035 new students to 1,617.
These numbers could signal that, despite the system’s attempt to revive PennWest’s three campuses, more students continue to choose different educational or post-high school options.
Ms. Bernotsky was the second leader of the fledgling university. In February, Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, PennWest’s founding president, announced she would transition to a new role with the state system. Ms. Pehrsson had served as Clarion’s president since 2018, and as interim president of both Edinboro and CalU since 2020 and 2021, respectively.
The state system has also battled enrollment declines over the past decade, though not as pronounced as PennWest’s drop. In fall 2014, there were nearly 110,000 students enrolled in the system. This fall, that number now stands at 82,688 — a 25% dip.
West Chester is the only university within the 10-university system to report an enrollment increase between 2014 and 2023. The university enrolled over 17,100 students this fall compared to 16,000 a decade ago.
Cynthia Shapira, chair of the system’s board, expressed hope that Ms. Bernotsky is the “best person” to take West Chester’s helm.
“Laurie has proven at West Chester and at PennWest that she is a tremendous university leader and the perfect person to take West Chester University into the future,” Ms. Shapira said. “Throughout her extensive career [in the system], she has earned respect for her strategic planning, academic programming and for helping students from all backgrounds have access to high quality education in a diverse, vibrant campus community that prepares them for success in life.”
First Published: December 20, 2023, 4:43 p.m.
Updated: December 21, 2023, 10:55 a.m.
