Dr. James “JD” Fisher today began his tenure as interim president of PennWest University, returning to an institution and region that have shaped much of his life and career. 

A western Pennsylvania native and Edinboro graduate, Fisher spent 26 years teaching and serving in leadership roles at Edinboro and PennWest. In a message to the university community on his first day, he said he is grateful for the opportunity to return and optimistic about PennWest’s future. 

“PennWest and its people reflect and reinforce the best values of western Pennsylvania,” Fisher said. “I never feel more at home, privileged or energized than when I am collaborating with our students, faculty, staff, alums and stakeholders on and across our four campuses and in the communities we serve throughout the region.” 

As interim president, Fisher said his immediate priority is providing continuity in leadership while maintaining and extending the progress underway across the university. 

“Your extraordinary talent, hard work, dedication and persistence have a concrete impact on the lives of others, and it matters deeply,” he said. “I will do everything I can to honor your collective commitment and efforts — most immediately by providing seamless continuity in leadership and maintaining and extending the momentum we’ve built across all areas of the university.” 

Fisher begins his tenure two weeks before PennWest welcomes new and returning students for the start of the academic year. He said the approaching semester represents a new period of “welcome, discovery, growth and opportunity” for students and the broader university community. 

“When student success is the north star for every decision we make, and when we deliberate and act together in true community — diverse, thoughtful, open, generous of spirit, sometimes contentious and wonderfully complicated community — it isn’t just students experiencing welcome, discovery, growth and opportunity,” Fisher said. “We experience it, too.” 

That combination of student focus and community, Fisher said, gives him confidence in what comes next for PennWest. 

“That demonstrated focus on student success and spirit of community makes me as optimistic as ever about the future of PennWest,” he said.

Photo: Dr. James Fisher (right) greets graduate Tyrique Whitson at PennWest's commencement ceremony.