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Meet President Kathleen Getz

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Kathleen A. Getz, Ph.D., became the 13th president of �山�ּ� University in 2021. She selected the theme “Enriching the Circle of Mercy: Good Today, Better Tomorrow” to guide her presidency, complementing the university’s motto, Carpe Diem, and reinforcing her vision of a campus where students, faculty, and staff seize each day to improve themselves, their communities, and the wider world.

Supported by a strong team of eight vice presidents, Dr. Getz is steering �山�ּ� through a period of transformation in higher education. Under her leadership, the university is launching six new Centers for Engagement—focused on Arts and Society, Contemporary Humanities, Global Security, Health Promotion, Neurodiversity, and Sustainability—that connect scholarly research with real-world challenges and hands-on student experiences. In April 2024, she announced �山�ּ�’s bold move from NCAA Division II to Division I athletics, a historic transition designed to elevate the student-athlete experience, raise the university’s national profile, and enhance regional impact.

Dr. Getz is also a respected scholar whose research has explored the intersection of corporate responsibility and global economic development. Her work has examined how businesses respond to violent conflict and contribute to peacebuilding, as well as issues related to bribery, corruption, and global voluntary codes of conduct.

She earned a B.S. in Human Development from The Pennsylvania State University, an MBA from Gannon University, and a Ph.D. in Business Environment and Public Policy from the University of Pittsburgh. Before entering academia, Dr. Getz worked in retail banking as an assistant manager and lending officer at Mellon Bank in Erie from 1981 to 1986. During that time, she and her husband, Gary, lived in Erie, where she sang with Glad Tidings, a choir affiliated with St. Mark the Evangelist Church in Lawrence Park, volunteered at St. Patrick’s Haven, and engaged in other service activities.

Today, Dr. Getz continues her community involvement, serving on the board of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, singing in the Sacred Heart Church choir, and volunteering in support of local causes.

The Getzes are the proud parents of one son, Dietrich, who lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife, Dr. Christen Laughorn.

Presidential Commendations & Communications