November 02, 2022
Kenneth Long Named President of East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg, PA – The Board of Governors for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education today unanimously selected Kenneth Long, M.B.A. to serve as the next president of East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) following an extensive national search. Long has been interim president since July 2020. The appointment is effective immediately.
“As interim president,President Long has demonstrated that he is the right person
to lead the university forward,” said Cindy Shapira, Board Chair. “He helped to guide
ESU through the uncertainty of the pandemic and is committed to working with students,
faculty and staff toward an exciting future that continues to open doors of opportunity
for students of all ages and strengthens the workforce of Pennsylvania.”
As interim president, Long helped to safely returned students, faculty, and staff
to campus amid the pandemic, broke ground on the long-awaited new university center
and this fall helped the university increase enrollment for the first time in three
years. Long is committed to a just and welcoming campus community, and last year outlined
10 structural and operational actions that are enhancing campus culture. “As the ESU leader for the past two years, Ken brings both innovation and stability
to the university,” said Chancellor Daniel Greenstein. “He is committed to listening
to all voices and to the success of all students. His tremendous experience at ESU
and the State System, combined with his engagement with the community, will benefit
the university and the region. I look forward to continuing to work with him.”
President Long is active in the community. The Pocono Chamber of Commerce awarded
him a BIZZY Award for Best Business Leader of the Year in 2021 and Lehigh Valley Business
(LVB) named him among their “Power 30” in 2021 and 2022. LVB reporters and editors
select Power 30 honorees for their ability to shape communities and influence the
quality of life in the Greater Lehigh Valley.
“We are confident that President Long will continue to move ESU in a positive trajectory
as is already evident from the positive results with our post pandemic enrollment
and great community relations” said L. Patrick Ross ‘67, chair of the Council of Trustees.
“Along with his strong financial acumen, he has made ESU fiscally sound despite enormous
pressures facing higher education in general and the PASSHE universities specifically.”
Before serving as interim president, Long was ESU’s vice president of administration
and finance since 2013, after serving five years as assistant vice president of administration
and finance at Kutztown University.
In 2012, Long also was interim vice president for finance and administration at Cheyney
University, in a loaned executive capacity. President Long also serves on various
boards in the northeast Pennsylvania region and is on the executive board, as treasure,
for Eastern Association of College and University Business Officers (EACUBO).
“President Long brings a vision and understanding of diversity and inclusive excellence
to our campus which is very important in higher education, in the past two years as
interim president, he clearly has demonstrated his commitment to all of our students
that make up the warrior family.” said chair Ross.
Before joining the State System, Long held positions at the University of Toledo and
Devry University, where he started his higher education career in 1987. He earned
a bachelor of arts degree in math and political science from Drew University, and
an M.B.A. from Monmouth University.
“It is a tremendous honor to be chosen to lead East Stroudsburg University as president,”
said Long. “Having been part of the Warrior Community for the past nine years, I am
humbled by the opportunity to build on the university’s 129-year history of providing
affordable post-secondary education in the region.
“I look forward to continue working with faculty, students, staff, administrators,
alumni and the local community in advancing the mission of ESU, and for the university
to continue contributing to the growth and prosperity of the region and commonwealth.”
About East Stroudsburg University
East Stroudsburg University opened in 1893 as East Stroudsburg Normal School. Today,
ESU is a comprehensive university in northeastern Pennsylvania offering 58 undergraduate
programs, 21 master's programs and two doctoral programs. Over 5,000 students are
enrolled for the high quality, affordable, and accessible education ESU provides.
Nearly 31,000 ESU alumni live in Pennsylvania.
About PASSHE
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) is the public university
system of the commonwealth with a mission to provide a high-quality education at the
lowest possible cost to students. With 90% of its students from Pennsylvania, PASSHE
educates approximately 85,000 degree-seeking students, with thousands more in certificate
and career programs. The universities collectively offer more than 2,300 degree and
certificate programs in more than 530 academic areas. Across the System, there are
more than 800,000 living alumni, most of whom live in Pennsylvania.