October 07, 2003
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania president announces retirement
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania President W. Clinton Pettus announced today he will step down from the presidency, effective December 31. Dr. Pettus informed Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Chancellor Judy G. Hample and Cheyney University Council of Trustees’ Chairman Robert Bogle last month of his intentions to retire to pursue other interests.
Dr. Pettus began work at Cheyney University as provost and vice president for academic affairs, and was appointed president in July 1996. During his term as the eighth president of Cheyney, he has made significant and important changes at the university, including increasing student enrollment; developing and securing funding for a major capital improvement plan; implementing an integrated administrative management information system; increasing fund raising, especially for scholarships; and creating the Keystone Honors Academy for academically talented students.
Before his work at Cheyney University, Dr. Pettus served more than 20 years at Virginia State University as a full-time faculty member, chairperson of the Department of Psychology, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and vice president for administration. The development of an information management plan and the installation and implementation of an integrated management information system were two of his many contributions to Virginia State.
Dr. Pettus received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1981. He earned both his baccalaureate (1966) and master’s (1970) degrees in psychology from Virginia State University. He also completed the Harvard University Management Development Program in 1987 and a number of professional development seminars and workshops. He has numerous publications to his credit exploring various issues of importance to historically black colleges and universities.
Dr. Pettus has been recognized throughout his career as a leader in the academic, political and cultural community by various organizations such as the National Congress for Negro Women, Inc.; the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund; the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolence Association of Philadelphia; and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO). His local service includes membership on the boards of the Chester County Hospital, Girard College, the Rodale Institute and the Performing Arts Society of the Media Theatre.
“Dr. Pettus’ dedication and hard work are very much appreciated. I know that Cheyney University will face some critical challenges in the coming months and years,” Hample said. “I look forward to working with the Cheyney University Council of Trustees and all members of the university community to continue to move the university forward.”
“On behalf of the Council of Trustees, I thank Dr. Pettus for his many contributions to Cheyney University,” said Bogle. “Dr. Pettus’ leadership and scholarship have served this institution and its students well.”
Chancellor Hample indicated that, according to Board of Governors’ policy, an interim president will be appointed at Cheyney University, and, in the near future, she will work with the Council of Trustees to mount a national search for a continuing replacement.
With more than 101,000 students, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. More than 375,000 System alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.
The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg. The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.