Jeffery Osgood Named President of Commonwealth University 

The Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) today unanimously selected Jeffery L. Osgood, Jr., Ph.D., to serve as president of Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. The appointment takes effect April 17, 2026.

The decision by the Board of Governors follows a comprehensive single-candidate search and a unanimous recommendation by CU’s Council of Trustees. Led by a Presidential Search Committee comprised of faculty, staff, students and system leadership, the process evaluated Osgood’s candidacy across 25 separate interview sessions with university and community constituencies at all campuses. More than 200 individual pieces of feedback were shared with the search committee following these sessions.

Osgood has served as interim president since Aug. 1, 2025.

“As interim president, Dr. Osgood has already shown the right balance of collaboration, passion and leadership to guide Commonwealth University into the future,” said Cynthia Shapira, chair of the PASSHE Board of Governors. “Jeff has demonstrated a remarkable ability to bring people together, listen to their ideas and develop strategies that foster a strong academic program and a healthy campus community. We are proud to appoint him as the university’s next president.”

Shapira thanked the Commonwealth University Council of Trustees, the Presidential Search Committee and the university community for their participation in the comprehensive national search.

Osgood brings extensive experience in higher education and within PASSHE.

Prior to his appointment as interim president, he served as executive vice president and provost at West Chester University, providing academic and operational leadership at PASSHE’s largest university. He also chaired the university’s Curriculum and Academic Policies Council for three years, served as a faculty associate to the provost and vice president for academic affairs for two years, and taught in the Doctor of Public Administration program. Additionally, he served a term as vice president of the West Chester University chapter of the Association of Pennsylvania College and University Faculty.

“Dr. Osgood is passionate about ensuring students have access to a high-quality education and about partnering with students, faculty and staff to create a vibrant campus where everyone can thrive,” said Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino. “I look forward to continuing to work with him as the university’s permanent president.”

The author of numerous journal articles and two books, Osgood earlier worked at Western Kentucky University’s Center for Local Governments. His early work at Commonwealth University has focused on improving morale, defining a path for the university’s financial sustainability, and enhancing student opportunities, including bringing back Winter Commencement at all campuses and increasing in-person learning options across CU.

“In March, the Commonwealth University Council of Trustees unanimously voted to recommend Dr. Osgood as the next full-time president of CU,” said John Wetzel, chair of the Commonwealth University Council of Trustees. “Right from the start of his interim role, Dr. Osgood has infused the university with fresh energy and purpose. Through his courageous and vulnerable leadership, marked by extreme transparency and a willingness to confront realities head-on - he has restored strong confidence in the future we are building together for our students.”

“I am honored to be officially selected as president of Commonwealth University,” said Osgood. “When I joined this community in August, I expected to serve for one year during an important moment in the university’s journey. What I found was a community defined by resilience, heart, and an unwavering commitment to students. I have been inspired by the intelligence, talent, and determination of our students, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the loyalty of our alumni. Just as meaningful has been the warm embrace and pride shown by the communities of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield, each of which understands the vital role this University plays in the future of its region. It became clear very quickly that this was a place where I wanted to help shape what comes next. Together, grounded in trust, respect, and a shared sense of purpose, I know we can build a stronger and more vibrant future for Commonwealth University.”

About Commonwealth University
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) was formed on July 1, 2022 through the statutory integration of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield Universities as part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s “System Redesign” Initiative. A key driver of this historic merger was a mission to expand high-quality, affordable academic opportunities to support the needs of all learners regardless of campus or locality in our region. Each of Commonwealth University’s locations continue to deliver robust residential experiences that let students choose their home campus while gaining the option to take hybrid or online learning courses offered via one of our other sites. CU students additionally have access to the full complement of their home campus NCAA athletic programs.

Commonwealth University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Following a comprehensive self-study evaluation process and on-site evaluation visit by Commission team members, Commonwealth University's accreditation was reaffirmed in 2025, with our next self-study evaluation anticipated in 2032-33.

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. The State System annually confers more than 20,000 degrees and has more than 800,000 living alumni, most of whom live in Pennsylvania. The State System universities are Cheyney, Commonwealth (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield), East Stroudsburg, Indiana, Kutztown, Millersville, PennWest (California, Clarion and Edinboro), Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester universities of Pennsylvania.