WCUAA Honors Distinguished Alumni
During West Chester University’s Alumni Weekend festivities on April 20, the WCU Alumni
Association (WCUAA) honored three individuals by naming them this year’s Distinguished
Alumni: Frederick E. Hubler ’96; Joseph F. Kienle, III ’72, M’74; and Jennifer Litchman-Green
’07.
In addition, the WCUAA presented art professor emeritus John Baker ’74 with the Service Award.
The awards, which the WCU Alumni Association has presented annually for 61 years, recognize exceptional alumni for their dedication to the institution and the legacy they have supported.
Frederick E. Hubler ’96 is an accomplished entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in financial services. In 2003, he founded Creative Capital Wealth Management Group (CCWMG), a nationally recognized wealth management firm. CCWMG has been providing clients with access to vetted, accredited investments for more than 20 years and in more than 30 states and features a trademarked retainer-based wealth management program. CCWMG’s long relationships with some of the most recognized alternative investment sponsors allows clients to access small and less promoted alternative investments typically not found in most advisory firms.
Hubler has shared his expertise on the economy and stock market both locally and nationally. He has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, TD Ameritrade, and on podcasts, traditional, and digital media. He is also a contributor to Forbes.com.
An innovative leader with a keen eye for unique solutions and vast knowledge in alternative wealth creation strategies, Hubler believes in giving back. He has served as president of the Phoenixville Regional Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Phoenixville, Kiwanis Club of Phoenixville, and most recently as board chair for Phoenixville Area Community Services (PACS). He recognized the need for PACS to fine tune its mission so it could better help the people of his community. Since leading the charge to encourage PACS to focus on food insecurity and under his guidance, the agency has hired a new president, created new jobs, expanded the physical footprint (from 3,600 square feet to 23,700 square feet), and helped feed more than 300,000 people since the beginning of the pandemic.
Hubler is married to Elizabeth, a 2002 WCU graduate, and has 12-year-old twins, Abby and James. His hobbies include technology, cigars, Eagles football, and cars.
Joseph F. Kienle, III ’72, M’74 stepped onto WCU’s campus in 1968 and over the next 50 years he, Denise, and their daughters Jessica and Stephanie would create a family legacy. After completing his B.S. in Kinesiology and master’s in education, he and Denise followed their passion for higher education. This took them to various universities including Iowa State University, Arizona State University, and the University of Maryland before returning to West Chester in 1988. Denise began her 25-year career at West Chester University and Joe followed his next passion, finance, working for two large investment banks, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo, helping clients plan successful financial futures until his retirement in 2010.
Kienle’s mantra throughout his life has been “when asked, I serve.”
Kienle was elected to the board of directors of the Alumni Association in 1990 to serve two terms. During his board tenure, he served as treasurer for four years, vice president for two years, president for two years, and continues to serve as a past president. In 2016, he was awarded the designation of president emeritus of the WCU Alumni Association and received the WCU Alumni Association Service Award. In 2023, West Chester University honored him with the President’s Medallion for Service.
The Kienle family has established the Denise Howe Kienle Memorial Scholarship and the Kienle Family Scholarship to continue the tradition of supporting student success.
Jennifer Litchman-Green ’07 holds a B.A. in English and a minor in journalism. During her time at West Chester University, she played singles and doubles for the women’s tennis team and was co-captain in her senior year. After graduation, she coached tennis at the Merion Cricket Club in Haverford, PA, and served as assistant coach for the Haverford College women’s tennis team. In 2011, she played a leadership role in launching a nonprofit focused on bringing tennis to children living in disadvantaged communities across our region.
In 2013, she joined the American Heart Association (AHA) as an administrative professional. In January 2023, she became senior executive director for the greater Philadelphia region, overseeing a multi-million-dollar fundraising campaign and the organization’s mission impact work across the region, including removing barriers to CPR and AED education, improving blood pressure control rates, and increasing nutrition security with a focus on communities most adversely impacted by heart disease and stroke.
Litchman-Green’s proudest achievements with the AHA are fueled by outstanding volunteers, corporate and community leaders, physicians, individual donors, and colleagues whom she has inspired and empowered to advance the mission. These include legislation in Pennsylvania requiring all high school students to be trained in hands-only CPR prior to graduation; the sweetened beverage tax in Philadelphia aimed at reducing sugary drinks consumption and funding critical community programs; and the placement of four CPR training kiosks in Philadelphia, training more than 25,000 people in hands-only CPR to date.
Litchman-Green dedicates her free time to family: husband Frank and two children, Zoey and Miles. She will be forever grateful to the University for the role it played as a bridge from her high school years to adulthood and the lifelong friendships and lessons learned along that journey.
John H. Baker ’74, professor emeritus of art, has delivered more than 40 years of dedication to teaching, service in the arts and community, and fundraising for West Chester University. A distinguished artist recognized internationally, he taught art at WCU from 1974 to 2015 and was department chair from 1996 until retirement. As both professor and chair, he had a profound impact on the personal and professional lives of students and colleagues. His impact on the University endures.
Baker challenged students while exposing them to the art of ceramics, papermaking, and museum curating. For 20 years, he served as primary advisor for all majors in studio art; was tireless in fundraising to secure scholarships for art students; played major roles in organizing and installing gallery exhibitions; and helped establish regular study abroad opportunities.
Baker’s contributions to WCU have been recognized with the Faculty Merit Award (2007), the Civility Award (2008-09), the President’s Award for Outstanding Leadership (2008), the Ram Pride Award (2018), an honorary doctoral degree (2019), and the President’s Medallion for Service (2023).
He currently serves on the boards of the Chester County Art Association, West Chester Borough Public Arts Commission, Historic Kennett Square Arts & Culture Committee, the Art Trust at Meridian Bank, West Chester, and the advisory board of WCU’s College of Arts & Humanities.
A member of the WCU Foundation Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2023, he served as president during the last five years of his tenure and established both the John H. Baker Art Gallery Endowment and the John H. Baker Endowment for Fine Arts.
Baker earned a B.A. from WCU in 1974 and an MFA from the University of Delaware in 1991. Visit his website at https://www.johnbakerstudio.com/.