journey west campus

West County

Tower grove.

Journey Church West Campus

Michelle varnadore.

SERVICE DIRECTOR

email: [email protected] (904) 775-4554

550974 US Highway 1 Hilliard, FL 32046

Membership Information Form

(application form for new students)

Our newest location in Hilliard serves 30 of our members from Hilliard Elementary School. This pilot program began March 1, 2022. We just celebrated our first year anniversary! Although we are not going to be serving members at this facility over the summer, our Summer Academy is available at Miller and Roberts Clubs beginning June 5th and runs through August 2nd.

Boys & Girls Clubs Code

I believe in God and the right to worship according to my own faith and religion.

I believe in America and the American way of life, in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

I believe in fair play, honesty and sportsmanship. I believe in my Boys & Girls Club which stands for these things.

Goals of Boys & Girls Clubs Members

• Not to be suspended, expelled or receive corporal punishment from school.
• To be promoted on time to the next grade.
• To graduate from school on time.
• To avoid involvement in crime or delinquent activity
• Not to become teen parents.

Journey Church West Campus Youth of the Month

Emma Jo Allen - March 2023

School: Hilliard Elementary School Grade: 1st Age: 7

Emma Jo Allen is a seven-year-old in the 1st grade at Hilliard Elementary School and recently became a member at BGCN’s Journey Church West Campus in Hilliard. Emma has two siblings. Emma’s favorite program at the club is Sports, Fitness & Recreation and her favorite sports are gymnastics and cheerleading. In school Emma enjoys studying math. When she’s not studying, she likes to cheer on her older brother whenever he plays baseball for his school.

Emma was selected as Youth of the Month for March because she leads by example and surpasses all standards. Emma is always respectful of her peers and the staff at BGCN. Congratulations, Emma!

Colt Raymond - November 2022

School: Hilliard Elementary School Grade: 4th Age: 9

Colt Raymond is a nine-year-old in the 4th grade at Hilliard Elementary School.  He really enjoys the club’s Sports and Recreation program, because he gets to practice playing a variety of sports. He loves football, and his brother teaches him how to play well at home. Colt’s favorite subject in school is Reading and Language Arts, where he reads about historical events and is also learning to write essays. His hobby is metal detecting and he is also quite adept at balancing on one foot! He is courteous and kind, assisting other club members with homework, and often offers to help keep the club tidy. Way to go, Colt!

Christy Wright - September 2022

School: Hilliard Elementary School Grade: 2nd Age: 8

Christy Wright is an eight-year-old in the 2nd grade at Hilliard Elementary School.  Coming to the Boys & Girls Club in Hilliard is her first after-school experience and she loves being a member. Her favorite program is Health & Life Skills, because she enjoys learning about safety and character development. Her favorite sport is baseball, especially the local Hilliard team, “Black Flashes,” and Coach Chris. In school, her favorite subject is math, and she says it is both cool and fun!  She loves the color blue and playing with her dolls. At the club, she encourages the younger club members to read aloud to her, and she helps them with their pronunciation. She is always thoughtful and willing to help with any task. Congratulations, Christy

Knox Rea - May 2022

School: Hilliard Elementary School Grade: 1st Age: 6

Knox Rea is a six-year-old in the 1st grade at Hilliard Elementary School. Knox became a member at Journey Church West Campus in March. Knox loves to be active and his favorite program at the club is Sports, Fitness & Recreation because he has fun doing his favorite physical activities. Basketball is his favorite sport, and he admires basketball great Michael Jordan. Knox enjoys listening to the music of his favorite band Back Street Boys. In school, Knox likes math the best because he’s good at it. While at the club, Knox likes to play and have fun!

Ella May - April 2022

Ella May is a seven-year-old in the 1st grade at Hilliard Elementary School and she became a member at Journey Church West Campus since it opened. When Ella was asked what her favorite program at the club is, she told us she likes the art program the best because she really enjoys painting and coloring. Her favorite color is blue. As for hobbies, Ella loves to sing, and she enjoys listening to country music and the music of singer/songwriter Morgan Wallen. In school, Ella looks forward to going to the library to discover new books to read. Her favorite book is The Little Red Hen and Eric Carle is her favorite author. As for a favorite sport, Ella prefers cheerleading, and she tells us she has a hidden talent – it’s a ballet trick! While at the club, Ella enjoys all the fun activities but also appreciates the learning how to treat others with respect.

Kaleilehua O Kalani Church - March 2022

School: Hilliard Elementary School Grade: 4th Age: 10

Kaleilhua O Kalani Church is a ten-year-old in the 4th grade at Hilliard Elementary School and has been a member at our new location at Journey Church West Campus in Hilliard since its opening in March. Kalani really likes the art program at the club because of the variety of awesome projects and the opportunity to draw cool things. Her favorite sport is playing soccer. Kalani’s musical interests include country music although she doesn’t have a favorite band or performer. The Dog Man series of books are her first choice for reading material. Kalani’s favorite color is blue and in school she loves writing because she gets to be creative. Kalani tells us coming to the club is helpful for her when it comes to homework and it’s fun because she gets to spend time with her friends.

Journey Bible Church West Campus

Worship song lyrics, click the date below for song lyrics.

• December 20th, 2020

Journey Church is one church in multiple locations. Join us online or in-person, whichever works best for your family.

Avon Campus

Thursdays 7:00pm

Sundays 8:30am, 10:00am & 11:30am

Fairview Park Campus

Sundays 10:00am & 11:30am

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Online Campus

Sundays 08:30, 10:00, 11:30 am, 7:00pm & 9:00 pm

Huron Campus

8:30am & 10:00am

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Egg hunt after every service! ‍ ‍

Lake Worth 04.08 | 5:00PM 04.09 | 9:00AM 11:00AM 1:00PM

Boynton 04.08 | 5:00PM 04.09 | 9:00AM 11:00AM

Online 04.09 | 9:00AM (On-Demand)

Transform Your Life

TO LIVE AND LOVE LIKE JESUS

Welcome to Journey Church!

We're here to help you transform your life by Experiencing God, Finding Freedom, Discovering Your Purpose, and Making a Difference.

Watch our most recent message

Pastor Junior shares an inspiring message on having the heart of a servant. He emphasizes the importance of knowing about love and service and actively living it out in our lives. He challenges us to move from a place of selfishness to selflessness by spending time with God, creating margins to serve, and going the extra mile in our acts of love and service.

Visit Journey

Join us every Sunday at one of our locations!

9:00am 11:00am 12:45pm

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9:00am 11:00am

9:00am (Live)

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A story is a building block here to encourage you and help you engage in your faith.

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No matter what season of life you're in, we have a place for you!

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18 - 29 Years Old

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Encounter Night

Join us for a night of worship and prayer April 6th.

Easter at Journey Church

Learn more about Easter services at at both locations

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We have services every Sunday in-person and online!

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Join a small group today.

We know it's important to be connected, but it's hard to build lasting friendships. What if taking one simple step changed everything?

Sunday @ 9am, 10:45am, 12:30pm.

Boynton / Delray

Sunday @ 9:15am and 11:00am.

Pastor Scott Baugh

Pastor Scott Baugh is the founding and lead pastor here at Journey Church. He is deeply passionate about creating warm environments where people can experience God.

Watch a Service

See what a Sunday at Journey Church is really like. Check out a past message from one of our pastors.

Journey Campus

Ideally positioned within walking distance of the historic city centre and the West Cambridge science district, Journey Campus provides an innovation cluster across nine different buildings.

A world-class innovation environment

Journey Campus is undergoing a phased refurbishment to drive innovation in a key Cambridge location.

Already host to several multinational tech companies and professional service providers for the knowledge economy, the Campus offers a range of fitted and traditional workspaces across nine buildings, with a lab incubator to be delivered in 2024.

The refurbished suites provide bright, modern interiors and high-speed fibre connectivity with conveniently available amenities such as showers, secure bike spaces, on-site car parking and a campus café.

Customers also gain access to Barclays Eagle Labs, a community resource providing support for inventors and innovators.

Considered Fitted & Furnished or Bespoke workspaces

Whether you work in tech, AI, clean energy, biotech, healthcare or education, our spaces are designed to help drive innovation.

We are investing heavily in the Campus to offer journey fitted labs with shared equipment facilities and meeting rooms; journey Fitted & Furnished suites; and journey Bespoke suites – all freeing up capital for customers to focus on their core business and growth.

These workspaces are being delivered around a central campus café, forming a hub for customers to share ideas and collaborate.

Walking distance to Cambridge city centre

Situated at the edge of Cambridge’s historic centre, with easy access to the A14, M11 and A428 and frequent bus services across the city, Journey Campus is very well-connected.

For lunchtimes and post-work activities, there’s a wide range of shops, cafés, bars, restaurants and leisure amenities within walking distance.

Try The Architect’s famous fish and chips or go for rooftop drinks at Six. Nearby cultural and leisure options include 20th century art at Kettle’s Yard, the green space of Castle Mound and tennis courts and lido of Jesus Green, just ten minutes away on foot.

Connectivity

Cambridge station.

Cycle 7 mins

E-Scooter 10 mins

Bus 19 mins

Cambridge North Station

Car 10 mins

Cycle 10 mins

E-Scooter 13 mins

Bus 24 mins

M11/A14 Junction by Car

Cambridge Road 11 mins

Milton Road 11 mins

Huntington Road 13 mins

Explore the Journey Campus spaces

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Cover Story

COVER STORY

(L) LEED Gold event for the SECC, February 2024. (center) The president with students and therapy dogs. (R) Chris Fiorentino accepts his portrait from artist Katie Lickfield ’23.

PRESIDENT CHRIS FIORENTINO: STUDENT-CENTERED LISTENER, PROBLEM SOLVER, COMMUNICATOR, CONNECTOR

I’LL MISS EVERYTHING ABOUT WCU.

Our alumni often say that, but this time, it’s President Christopher Fiorentino, who will retire June 30, 2024.

Pictured on our cover outside the University’s newest building, the Sciences and Engineering Center & The Commons (SECC), Fiorentino has overseen a plethora of physical plant, student-support, and curricular improvements that define the student success mission of the University. The SECC’s completion and its certification as LEED Gold (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for achieving a high level of sustainability in its construction, operations, and maintenance are accomplishments that Fiorentino considers among the highlights of his 41-year career.

That the 175,000-square-foot building was completed during the pandemic was an outstanding effort by a team who he says “dreams big. The pandemic made dealing with unforeseen problems of unexpected findings underground and soil issues more difficult, but with a combination of careful management of resources and bond funds, we persevered to complete an absolutely incredible building.”

A hallmark of Fiorentino’s leadership is not only his ability to gather the right team at the right time but to motivate those people. Professor Jana Nestlerode saw that from the early days of Fiorentino’s tenure since they joined the University at roughly the same time, she in criminal justice and he in economics. He became her “dean, vice-president, president, and friend. He has also been an inspirational role model for me, and for so many others.

“Chris is able to inspire others to greater achievements,” she says. “He responds to adversities with patience and forbearance. When pursuing a new advancement, he will gather a team to brainstorm and plan. The tendency of so many of us is to see only the obstacles; Chris teaches his teams to see the possibilities and the many ways to succeed. That success is readily apparent in all he has done for West Chester University.”

His leadership has been recognized many times, most recently, earning him induction into the Chester County Hall of Fame by the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC), which will honor him May 15. He has also been named to Philadelphia Business Journal’s Power 100 list in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

“The pandemic was a leadership challenge that put me in a position to lead through it,” says Fiorentino. “We made good decisions based on the information we had and, at heart, I’m a problem solver. I’ll actually miss those opportunities to solve problems.”

Fiorentino sometimes discussed pandemic challenges with his wife, Sue Fiorentino ’86 (see related article), who is not only a WCU professor of human resource management, but an attorney with extensive expertise in human resources as well. “She has great instincts and often contributed valuable insights,” he notes. “Sue is an incredible partner who’s been engaged with the University from the beginning.”

Completing the SECC was only one of the multiple challenges Fiorentino faced as a University president leading through the pandemic. Safeguarding the University’s community of educators was his primary concern.

“This became most clear with the pandemic beginning in February 2020,” recalls William Helzlsouer, senior associate vice president and chief human resources officer. “Chris established as a guiding principle from the beginning that all policies, work, decisions, etc., were made to protect our most precious resource: the University’s people — our colleagues, friends, students. Because of that clarity, our decisions may be hard ones but they’re made for the right reasons: Protect our people and their jobs.”

Helzlsouer says one of the major draws for him to join WCU five years ago was Fiorentino and “his thoughtful, pragmatic approach to labor issues.” Seven unions cover the majority of employees in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) while some employees, including managers, are non-represented. Fiorentino’s in a unique position since he came up through the faculty and has been able to maintain those solid relationships so that faculty trust him.

“Chris sees unions as partners in the workplace so our approach to labor relations comes from the top,” Helzlsouer says. “As a president and a negotiator, he can work on behalf of the University and PASSHE while acknowledging the needs of union members as labor partners. The result: We have a better workplace with colleagues who have better careers.”

RELATIONSHIPS: RESPECTING, LISTENING, COMMUNICATING

That respect carries over into all Fiorentino’s professional relationships, including “town/gown” interactions between the University and surrounding municipalities.

“I worked hard to rebuild relationships with local municipalities because they had become strained,” Fiorentino explains. “There’s value to having a university in the community. But we have to be forthright and open about our plans, foster good relationships through trust. I invited the chair of the West Goshen board of supervisors to meet me in my office and was told that that person had been there for 35 years and it was the first time he’d been invited to the president’s office.”

He’s built those connections from years of outreach and community involvement. When Fiorentino was dean of the College of Business and Public Management (CBPM, 1993-2013), he worked with West Chester Borough on business district revitalization and was appointed a founding member of the West Chester Business Improvement District Authority. He forged relationships while serving on numerous Chester County business and community boards including the Chester County Economic Development Council and the Chester County Keystone Innovation Zone.

Being so in touch with the municipalities early on, Fiorentino saw gaps that the University could fill and, as dean, spearheaded the development of the Center for Community Solutions, which links business and civic leaders who have research needs with University faculty and staff who can address those needs. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Cottrell Entrepreneurial Leadership Center, the Center for Social and Economic Policy Research, and the Center for Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis.

WCU GROWS BEYOND MAIN CAMPUS

Fiorentino says his predecessors contributed to his success.

Former President Madeleine Wing Adler (president from 1992 to 2008) saw the need for fundraising and a broader awareness of the University’s value in the region. “She charged me with getting us known for the CBPM,” he explains. “Good relationships with regional business, government, non-profits establish connections that create opportunities for our students. We can connect our faculty experts with other government agencies, and non-profits, which loops students in.” He cites examples including providing GIS support for organizations, social work and health field placements, clinicals, and internships. “It goes along with being a valued University engaged in the community.

“My focus as dean was to acquire resources. Madeleine’s distributed leadership model gave deans freedom to explore options. I had the freedom to think big — and think bigger.”

Fiorentino set his sights on expanding CBPM’s reputation and achieving Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation. “To do that we need faculty engaged in scholarship and research. We never lost our focus because scholarship informs teaching.”

With some out-of-the-box thinking, he found ways to reconfigure budgets to move summer school revenue directly to each of the deans, who could keep those tuition dollars within their schools to support students and faculty.

Another example is Fiorentino’s creativity in purchasing the Graduate Center, inspired by Penn State’s Great Valley campus. “Could we do that and make our MBA and other programs more accessible and convenient?” he asked of Adler and the administration. “Can I run this as an independent organization in order to keep the funds within the college? We floated a $7M 20-year bond to buy the building and revenues paid faculty, helped pay for the AACSB accreditation, expand travel budgets [for conferences, etc.] — it lifted all boats.” He credits Adler and institutional leaders for seeing the potential.

“We empowered deans to take risks to generate additional income and channel that to support our mission and the individual schools,” he says. “It was actually fun to have the latitude to do these things and support the real educational activities for the deans and departments. Knowing this power, I wanted to support this.”

In 2013 during the presidency of Greg Weisenstein (2009 to 2016), Fiorentino was named WCU’s first vice president for external operations to manage the new Philadelphia location at 7th and Market Streets and to oversee distance education and professional development studies. “Greg set the table for me to be successful especially with graduate education and international education.”

“Chris knows how the numbers work, not only because of his expertise in economics but because he was faculty, too,” says John Villella ’76, M’82, who joined the University on the same day in 1983 as the president, both as adjunct faculty. Villella served as executive deputy to the president beginning with Weisenstein and retired in June 2022 as vice president for university affairs and Fiorentino’s chief of staff. “As a University leader, he has a fiduciary responsibility. We have succeeded with limited state support and continue to offer our high quality education with a modest price.”

Villella recalls that Fiorentino hired the first employees to manage the Philadelphia location after meeting with the Community College of Philadelphia, stakeholders, and politicians. “He had a vision for the Philly site. He knew we were a landmark institute not serving the needs of the Philadelphia community and he recognized the opportunities for this region and the state.”

West Chester’s reputation in Philadelphia and beyond continues to grow. “I don’t deserve all the credit,” says Fiorentino. “Our improved image reflects the work of lots of people on campus.”

Roger Ware ’82, who served on the WCU Foundation Board of Trustees, is a long-time University supporter whose admiration for Fiorentino’s work is palpable.

“Chris has accomplished so much in seven years,” he says, citing record enrollment, national rankings, public image, accreditations, and improvements to campus and programs. “No one who graduated in 1982 ever envisioned that West Chester University would be granting doctoral degrees and be an R2 research institution. We put students first then and we do it even more so now.”

Ware retired in January 2022 as president and CEO of Genesee General after 40 years in commercial underwriting. He recalls Fiorentino seeking his advice during the pandemic and says that’s a tactic he admires. “Chris is a transformational leader. He put together a strong team and allowed his people autonomy. And he’s always sought input, even from those outside the campus.”

But even with Fiorentino’s 24-7 job, Ware noticed that he stops and talks to people across campus or uptown, “and that is rare for a university president.”

“People love to tell their stories,” says Fiorentino. “As dean, I connected with alumni, some for the first time since they graduated, and after listening to their stories, then I could tell them the University’s stories. I told them stories that make them want to support us. Success breeds success, for example, the [Wells brothers’ support for the] Wells School of Music. That message is, ‘We’re worth supporting.’

“I’m excited for the future of philanthropy on campus. In recent years, we’ve been staying more engaged with alumni right out of the gate. Look at the number of young alumni coming back for events!”

That he spent all 41 years of his academic and administrative career at West Chester University is another accomplishment that puts Fiorentino in a league of his own. From faculty to interim dean to dean to vice president of external operations, he has a record few other current university presidents can match.

“Because he’s been here his entire career, he understands what makes WCU special, the culture, what made us successful even before took the role,” says Helzlsouer. “And he’s continued that success in new ways, with new ideas.”

Throughout his presidency, Fiorentino has instilled a spirit of innovation and ownership that has empowered students, faculty, and staff. Helzlsouer says Fiorentino has the “ability to connect everyone with our mission of student success. He understands and expresses to colleagues that their work has immediate impact on student success. He connects people to the mission so that our work is more than just a paycheck.” That’s resulted in such initiatives as:

• New programming for first-generation college students and support with “WCU’s 1st”;
• Placement of student success coordinators in each of the University’s six colleges and two schools to provide students with information and resources so they can make well-informed decisions about their education;
• The implementation of a mandatory, four-credit First-Year Experience course for all first-year students to make self-discoveries and expand perspectives;
• Engagement in the national Moon Shot for Equity student-success mission designed to help underserved populations of students in the Southeastern PA region graduate from college;
• The opening of a Resource Pantry to assist students who have significant need; and
• The founding of the D-CAP program, which provides supports to degree-seeking students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including the first-of-its-kind on-campus convenience store to provide workplace training for students with ASD to practice social and professional skills.

The Fund to Finish

Despite declining numbers of high school students nationwide, WCU admitted its largest incoming class in 2023: 3,030 first-year students up from 2,628 in fall of 2021, with enrollment topping 17,000 students. As of fall 2023, 25.1% of the University’s student body are students of color — the highest in WCU history.

Fiorentino has never wavered from the mission of student success and while he successfully leveraged the Graduate Center and the Philadelphia location to increase enrollments, he continued to see obstacles to student success, both from his time as a faculty member and dean, and as president listening to his teams.

“Students have to do the work to put themselves on a different life trajectory,” he says, “but since our mission is student success, the onus is on us. We have to identify the impediments and modify or do better to ensure our students all reach the finish line: graduation. Why did some students do well, then not schedule for their final semester? … We found that, for one thing, fines deterred them from re-enrolling.”

This was the catalyst for establishing the Fund to Finish, which was created in partnership with a lead donor.

“In this seat, I’ve spoken with donors and others who are anxious to support students with direct student support. We’ve been able to fund micro-scholarships and mini-grants. We’ve refocused fundraising so that we can get students those final steps to the finish line,” explains Fiorentino. Proceeds from this year’s Gala support the fund.

Beside him at the Gala and at most fundraising and major campus events, Sue has been a highly visible presidential spouse with a unique position as alumna and faculty member. The president calls her his “thought partner” as well as his life partner.

“They’ve been the best team for the University” during this time, says Roger Ware.

Moving Forward

This spring, the completion of the 150Forward Campaign, which exceeded its $65M goal, came earlier than expected.

And since “Reimagining Student Success: Building on WCU’s Momentum” was recently announced as the University’s next strategic plan, Fiorentino has laid the groundwork for his successor, Lorraine “Laurie” Bernotsky, as the 16th president.

With all these accomplishments in only seven years as president, Ware thinks, “If there was a Mount Rushmore for WCU, Chris would be on it.”

“I didn’t do this for the accolades,” Fiorentino emphasizes. The dean’s suite in the College of Business and Public Management was named for him a few years ago and, although he was surprised, he said it’s an honor to be recognized. “It’s not why I have this job, nor something I expect. West Chester University — we change lives and it’s an honor to have spent my career in this profession. We thrive on challenge.”

WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY — WE CHANGE LIVES AND IT’S AN HONOR TO HAVE SPENT MY CAREER IN THIS PROFESSION. - Christopher Fiorentino President, West Chester University

Fiorentino arrives at WCU as a temporary economics faculty member

PASSHE established with WCU as its 2nd largest school

Spring: Fiorentino becomes dean of the School of Business (as it was then known)

WCU’s 125th anniversary

Fiorentino engineers purchase of Graduate Building on McDermott Drive (originally for master’s-level business programs)

AACSB accreditation achieved for College of Business and Public Management

Spring: Fiorentino named VP of external operations

Philadelphia site opens (with other PASSHE schools participating initially)

April: Fiorentino named interim president

Resource Pantry opens

January: PASSHE Board of Governors officially appoints Chris president

Spring: College of Business and Public Management building opens

April: Fiorentino’s inauguration includes a hunger-relief drive for the Resource Pantry, netting 1.5 tons of food.

May: WCU welcomes first full-time director of the Office of Sustainability

Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion expanded

Fall: “WCU’s 1st” established for first-generation students.

Fall: RAM Initiative helps students on the autism spectrum toward a certificate.

December: Fund to Finish established

September: The Ram Shop opens to give students on the spectrum work experience

March: Fiorentino leads the institution through COVID pandemic

June: Successful Middle States reaccreditation

March: WCU’s Carnegie classification becomes R2 (high research activity doctorate-granting institution)

April: Fiorentino hosts all-campus showcase to close WCU’s Sesquicentennial Year

September: Fiorentino cuts the ribbon on the Sciences and Engineering Center & The Commons (SECC)

July: Fiorentino announces retirement and goals to complete

February: SECC earns LEED Gold certification

February: 150Forward: The Campaign for WCU surpasses its goal of $65M

March: The Presidential Gala benefits the Fund to Finish

A food drive held for his inauguration netted 1.5 tons of food for the WCU Resource Pantry.

AS A PRESIDENT AND A NEGOTIATOR, HE CAN WORK ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY AND PASSHE WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THE NEEDS OF UNION MEMBERS AS LABOR PARTNERS. THE RESULT: WE HAVE A BETTER WORKPLACE WITH COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BETTER CAREERS. - William Helzlsouer Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

AS A UNIVERSITY LEADER, HE HAS A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAVE SUCCEEDED WITH LIMITED STATE SUPPORT AND CONTINUE TO OFFER OUR HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION WITH A MODEST PRICE. - John Villella ’76, M’82 Former Vice President for University Affairs and Chief of Staff

The president signs the final beam to be placed during the SECC construction amid pandemic protocols.

NO ONE WHO GRADUATED IN 1982 EVER ENVISIONED THAT WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY WOULD BE GRANTING DOCTORAL DEGREES AND BE AN R2 RESEARCH INSTITUTION. WE PUT STUDENTS FIRST THEN AND WE DO IT EVEN MORE SO NOW. - Roger Ware ’82 Former Member WCU Foundation Board of Trustees

SUSAN FIORENTINO ’86 CONTINUES HER WCU JOURNEY

When her husband, President Chris Fiorentino, retires on June 30, Susan Fiorentino ’86 will continue her life-long association with the University in what she calls her “dream job,” as professor in the Master of Science in Human Resource Management program, which she helped to found. She also is co-investigator on a research grant to develop a sexual harassment training program for young workers.

Fiorentino worked full-time during her husband’s presidency, carrying a full course load while juggling the demanding schedule of events and travel required of a university president and spouse. “No special treatment, which is just the way I like it,” she says.

Fiorentino notes that it’s not surprising that her husband chose to move from the classroom to leadership roles. “He’s just a natural leader,” she says. “I’m so proud of my husband. … This is a hard job and it’s a complex job. He just has a good temperament for it. … He’s shepherded the University through some tough times and it’s thriving. I think it’s because he genuinely loves the people and the mission. He loves everything about it.”

It’s clear that she also loves West Chester. As a child, she and her six siblings visited campus frequently, where her father, the late Alfred Roberts, was the first chair of the Foreign Language Department. She attended the campus Demonstration School, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from West Chester. A master’s degree in political science and law degree from Villanova University came later.

When her husband became president, Fiorentino’s mother, Mary, told her that when she and her twin sister were born, the wife of then-university President Earl Francis Sykes brought their family pies she had baked to welcome the babies. “The job of the first lady is a little different now,” Fiorentino says with a chuckle.

During the last seven years, that role included being an ambassador representing the University at events around the country. Fiorentino says it gave her a new appreciation for West Chester alumni and their success stories.

“When you’re a student or when you’re a daughter of a faculty member, you don’t really interact much with alumni. But in this seat, you really get to see the lasting impact that West Chester makes on people’s lives,” she says. “It was so cool for us to travel all over the country and see a room full of Golden Rams who are so passionate and so proud of their roots at West Chester.”

Fiorentino says it’s been a privilege to live in Tanglewood, the president’s historic campus residence. “We rode out the pandemic there,” she says. Other highlights included interacting with students, meeting luminaries like Erin Brockovich at the President’s Speakers Series, and the marching band’s New Year’s Day 2024 performance in the 135th Rose Parade.

Fiorentino’s future focus also will be on the research grant awarded to her and co-investigator Vipanchi Mishra, professor of psychology, by the State System of Higher Education. Under the grant, they will develop a sexual harassment training program for young workers. Because such training is left up to employers, it’s often neglected. “Generally, this hits minimum-wage service-job workers the hardest and typically that’s younger workers,” she explains. The researchers plan to pilot it at West Chester before rolling it out in school districts that have partnerships with the University.

After her commitments as presidential spouse end, Fiorentino plans to spend more time with her three adult children and four grandchildren, who range in age from 10 to 4. “It’s just going to be nice to be able to go to see more of their games and their activities, concerts and events.”

More from the Spring 2024 Issue

President Chris Fiorentino

Reflects Before Retirement

WCU Awarded $60,000

Through the 2023-2024 PA Hunger-Free Campus Grant

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Sanatorium Valuyevo

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SANATORIUM VALUYEVO