Dr. Charles J. Fey petitions Clarion to accept him as president. (Justin Gmoser / The Clarion Call)

CLARION, Pa., April 15- Dr. Charles J. Fey came to Clarion University April 14 to tell the campus and community why he feels he would be qualified to fill the void that will be left by President Joseph Grunenwald this coming year.

Fey comes from University of Akron, where he currently serves as the vice president of student affairs.

Fey said that Clarion University’s legacy as a normal school and teacher’s college makes this an institution with student success at its core.

This is a concept that is very important to him as a Clarion University presidential candidate.

“The faculty-student relationship is central to the learning environment,” Fey said.

“Its role is not only critical, it is extremely challenging.” Fey said he looks forward to  a challenge.

“Frankly, if I didn’t careso much about student population, I probably wouldn’t be looking for it.”

He added, “I believe for the most of us, the purpose of higher education is to help fulfill dreams.”

Fey said he sees a robust opportunity to expand the community in Clarion and views the university as a “primary vehicle” to achieve goals and dreams.

He said Clarion appears to have dedicated faculty and staff that seeks to have positive impact on students and the community as a whole.

He says that combination makes Clarion’s institution more effective, progressive and dynamic than others.

“That dynamism is attractive to me, and there will be many others who see opportunity in both the university and the region,” he said.

Fey was born in McKeesport, Pa., and is a first-generation college graduate.

He studied at both Penn State University and Texas A&M, where he earned his doctorate in higher education administration.

Fey said he sees his doctorate as being able “to provide the broadest base of knowledge related to the responsibility of a president.”

The presidential candidate has held many positions within the university system, including three vice presidencies at universities of different student and
staff sizes.

He has served as dean, associate dean, graduate faculty member and instructor at various universities where he has been employed.

Fey has also served on many search committees for other presidents and strategic planning committees.

He had been chairman of several task forces and committees appointed by university presidents at other institutions.

He is also the creator of Inclusive Excellence Scholarship for high-achieving students, a program that reaches out to first-generation students, veterans,
women and ethnically diverse populations.

Each year, it provides 10 qualifying students a full ride for the first year.

Fey also created the Access Akron program for at-risk students to increase retention and graduate rates.

As part of the process, students are placed in groups of 25-30 and put into study programs.

Students earn an associate’s of arts degree to provide the motivation to continue with their schooling.

The goal of the program is to increase the retention rate of students from 48 percent to 58 percent.

Fey possesses a variety of skills, but he said, “Collaboration is where I think I hang my hat.”

He has worked with chief finance officers, provosts and presidents and chief development officers on a variety of projects.

He has also been involved directly in the construction of 18 new residence halls on seven campuses, the design of three campus center buildings and fundraising.

If selected for president, Fey said he hopes to establish a working relationship with many groups on campus.

“I get more done based on relationships than anything else,” said Fey.

These groups include faculty and staff, student leaders, and the general student body.

Fey said, “It’s important to get out of the office and talk to students about their experiences.”

He added he hopes to establish a strong working relationship with university trustees, community leaders, the chancellor, other PASSHE presidents, legislators and state officials.

“He seems like he will be extremely involved, not so much in student affairs, but more faculty relations,” said Alexia Pursley.

She is a senior industry relations and management major who attended the session

She cites his interest in the university as an “ability to think outside the box.”

“He won’t be another figurehead. He seems like he’ll get actually involved,” said Pursley.

“He’s relayed an interest in making connections in meeting face to face, but he did not provide solid ground,” said Pursley.

She also is interested to see his student retention policies in action and to see if he will make Clarion students more active.

Pursley said, “He has much more relative experience than any other candidate, and he seems concerned for student success.”