The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has tapped Christopher Fiorentino, the system’s interim chancellor who initially did not seek the permanent position, to serve as its sixth chancellor.
The system’s Board of Governors selected Mr. Fiorentino after a nine-month national search Thursday morning. He succeeds Dan Greenstein, who departed from the system in October after a six-year tenure.
Mr. Fiorentino envisions that shepherding the system’s 10 universities — which include Slippery Rock University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Western University — could offer him the “greatest potential to have an impact” on the state system, which he has worked in for more than four decades.
He previously served as president, vice president, dean, department chair and professor at West Chester University.
“I’m very excited for this opportunity,” Mr. Fiorentino told the board. “I thought my career in the State System of Higher Education had run its course, and now here I am back again with what I believe may be the greatest potential to have an impact of anything I’ve done in my 41-plus years.”
Officials are currently ironing out Mr. Fiorentino’s contract, a spokesman said. He will officially step into the permanent role on Friday.
The system received numerous “truly incredible candidates,” board Chair Cynthia Shapira said. But Mr. Fiorentino was ultimately the “right person at the right time.”
“Neither he nor we imagined that he would be interested in the permanent role, but Chris — after several months of becoming really engaged around the critical and important issues and opportunities for [the state system] — became totally energized and leaned into the new role,” Ms. Shapira said.
“This really ensures our forward momentum and the continuation of an upward trajectory.”
Nearly 40 people applied to head the public university system, which enrolled more than 82,000 students in fall 2024. Three finalists were interviewed this week.
Mr. Fiorentino is tasked with steering the system through a period of change and challenges for both Pennsylvania’s state-owned universities and higher education at large. The state system schools — like many regional institutions across the Northeast — have battled steady enrollment declines over the past decade. The system’s student population dropped 16% under Mr. Greenstein’s tenure, though the universities did report flat enrollment this fall for the first time in more than a decade.
The system also continues to adapt to the 2022 consolidation of six universities into two after years of financial and enrollment struggles at these campuses. In Western Pennsylvania, three universities — California, Edinboro and Clarion — merged to form PennWest.
And system leaders are again vying for more state funding, which would allow the public universities to freeze tuition for the eighth consecutive year. Since 2018, tuition has remained steady at $7,716.
Mr. Fiorentino acknowledged in his Thursday remarks that the system faces “many challenges.”
“We have a lot of work to do, there’s no question about it — not only in terms of the work that we’re doing to adjust to the challenges we’re facing, but also making sure that we’re moving forward, evolving, adapting and anticipating the needs of the future,” he said.
System leaders touted Mr. Fiorentino’s record at West Chester as evidence he is ready to face these challenges. During his presidency, the university saw the construction of its largest building on campus, developed new programming for first-generation college students, and founded a program to support students with autism.
West Chester’s enrollment also remained stable under Mr. Fiorentino’s leadership. The school — which is the largest in the state system — enrolls 17,200 students this fall.
An economist by trade, Mr. Fiorentino earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Temple University. He lives in Chester County with his wife, Sue.
First Published: April 10, 2025, 3:50 p.m.
Updated: April 10, 2025, 7:29 p.m.
