Retiring West Chester University President Christopher M. Fiorentino Was Honored Today During a Campus-wide Celebration
Chester County Commissioners Proclaim April 26 as “Dr. Christopher M. Fiorentino Day” & Mayor of West Chester Borough Presents Him With a Key to the Borough of West Chester
Beloved West Chester University President Christopher Fiorentino was treated to a
campus-wide “This is Your WCU” Legacy Celebration today in honor of his 41 years of
dedicated service to the University. As the leader of the largest university within
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education prepares to retire in June, hundreds
of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends came out in full-force to honor and
thank the transformative president.
Filled with many purple and gold moments, the afternoon included lots of surprises for President Fiorentino:
- Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell & Eric Roe proclaimed April 26 as Dr. Christopher M. Fiorentino Day in Chester County.
- Mayor of West Chester Borough Lillian DeBaptiste presented a Key to the Borough of West Chester to him.
- Commonwealth of PA citations were presented to him by Representative Chris Pielli (156th Legislative District), as well as State Senators Carolyn Comitta, John Kane, and Katie Muth.
- Heartwarming videos were featured about his impact on WCU.
- Katie Lickfield, a Dub-C Autism Program graduate, shared how President Fiorentino and WCU transformed her life.
- A gift of student artwork was presented.
- Members of the award-winning Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band played the WCU Fight Song as a final farewell to President Fiorentino and his family.
A picnic on the Academic Quad immediately followed where all those in attendance had the opportunity to share their personal well-wishes with the University’s president and his family.
Members of the greater Chester County community will soon express their gratitude to the visionary CEO who has left an indelible mark on the region. On May 15, President Fiorentino will be inducted into the Chester County Hall of Fame by the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC). President Fiorentino will be honored before an anticipated audience of more than 400 business leaders at the Phoenixville Foundry.
Recently, during a tribute held at the University’s College of Business & Public Management that drew many members of the Chester County region as well as faculty and staff, President Fiorentino was awarded a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. The award, which was a surprise to West Chester University’s 15th president, was presented by Downtown West Chester, the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry, and the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce.
In an interview following the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award, President Fiorentino said, “I am deeply moved and humbled by this award. It has truly been the greatest honor and privilege of my professional life to have served the Chester County community, our partners, our neighbors, as well as all the students, faculty, staff, and alumni who make West Chester University what it is today. Working together, we have shared in a vision of student success, and we have made a difference in so very many lives.”