Greg Weisenstein

Greg R. Weisenstein began his tenure as West Chester University’s 14th president, March 2, 2009. Since 2005, he had served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of North Dakota, where he collaborated with faculty and staff to enhance his institution’s curricular strengths, promote shared governance, expand collaboration with the community, diversify and develop the university’s resource base, increase undergraduate and graduate enrollments, and elevate the visibility of the University of North Dakota in the region, country, and world.

He also led a diversity strategic plan for the university, revised and strengthened the general education programs, and worked with student government to implement such initiatives as a leadership minor and the expanded community involvement that helped place UND among the first universities to receive the Carnegie Foundation’s new Community Engagement Classification.

From 1999 until he joined the University of North Dakota administration, Dr. Weisenstein served Montana State University as dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Development. Earlier, he was dean of the School of Education at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. During his tenure as an academic dean, he established strong regional partnerships, developed significant revenue sources for his college, strengthened participatory governance, expanded enrollment, and developed new degree and licensure programs to serve his state.

Among his other extensive experience, Dr. Weisenstein has been an associate dean for research at Clemson University; the coordinator of secondary special education, rehabilitation, and vocational education for the University of Washington; and an assistant professor of education at the University of Oregon.

On a regional level, Dr. Weisenstein has chaired and held positions on a variety of committees focusing on educational improvement, quality of life, and economic development, including a three-year term as a director of the Greater Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation. Nationally, in addition to serving on presidential advisory committees under presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush, he was among a small number of education deans selected to discuss national education policy with President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush in the White House in 2002.

Dr. Weisenstein is also an experienced international negotiator and facilitator. Working for the U.S. Department of State, he was responsible for leading restructuring of higher education in the Republic of Moldova. He serves as chairperson of the World Bank Education Task Force for the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges and was the chief negotiator for international agreements in Brazil and in Western, Central, and Eastern Europe, including direct talks with former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.

Weisenstein received his bachelor's degree in history and geology and his master's degree in special education from the University of Washington and earned his doctorate in administration and special education from the University of Kansas. He is the author of more than 65 publications, including four books, and has given more than 100 keynote presentations at national and international conferences. His numerous honors include State Educator of the Year, Best Program of the Year, and the Teaching and Advising Excellence Award.

Sandra L. Weisenstein, the former Sandra DeBlasio, has headed philanthropic organizations and served on various boards promoting the arts and humanities in the communities where she and Dr. Weisenstein have lived. A business owner for several years in the Seattle area, she served as the Chamber’s vice president and chair of business promotions in South Seattle.

A native of Des Moines, Washington, Mrs. Weisenstein attended Highline College where she studied interior design.

The Weisensteins raised three children together and have four grandchildren.