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Pennsylvania Western University formally installed Dr. Jonathan R. Anderson as its second president at on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, during a ceremony held in Steele Hall on the PennWest California campus. 

Dr. Cynthia Shapira, chair of the Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education, administers the Oath of Office to Dr. Jonathan Anderson, who was officially installed as the second president of Pennsylvania Western University on Dec. 6.

Dr. Jonathan Anderson delivers his inauguration address on Dec. 6 during a ceremony that was held on the PennWest California campus.

Dr. Christopher Fiorentino, interim chancellor of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education, and Dr. Cynthia Shapira, chair of the State System Board of Governors, presided over the investiture, which included other distinguished guests. PennWest is one of 10 public universities that make up the State System.

In his remarks, Anderson, who began his tenure as president of PennWest on July 1, 2024, looked forward to the next phase of PennWest’s journey – building a next-generation institution of higher education. 

He said the future of PennWest – with campuses at California, Clarion, Edinboro and online -- will focus on three ideals: 

• Delivering high-quality mission-aligned academic programs in formats that prepare students for the future of work.  
• Being deeply embedded in and responsive to the educational needs of our students, communities, and local economies.   
• Graduating students who stay closely connected to their alma mater, contributing to a lifelong cycle of institutional growth.  

“Let’s commit to each other to strengthen this institution of higher learning and ensure it becomes more complete than it is today,” Anderson said. “Caring for our individual stewardship may be the best way we can respect this institution’s history and build the PennWest legacy. 

“As we seek to achieve these ideals, our students will continue to be the purpose for our work,” he said. “Students are the reason our institution exists.” 

Following the investiture ceremony, a reception was held in the Elmo Natali Student Center. Watch parties were held on the PennWest Clarion and PennWest Edinboro campuses, and the event was livestreamed on YouTube courtesy of CUTV, the California campus student media station.

For more information, visit pennwest.edu/inauguration.

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