Gannon Alumnus Retires as President of the University of Phoenix
Posted: September 12, 2013Gannon University alumnus William J. Pepicello, Ph.D., is
retiring as president of the University of Phoenix, one of the
largest higher-education providers in North America. Pepicello, a
1973 Gannon graduate with a degree in classics, notified the
University of Phoenix board of trustees Sept. 4 that he will step
down once his successor is hired.
Pepicello spent seven of his 20 years at Phoenix as the
institution's sixth president. Phoenix has more than 100 locations
and is a pioneer in online classes.
Pepicello, who also owns a master's and a doctorate degree from
Brown University, worked at four other institutions prior to
beginning his tenure at the University of Phoenix in 1995. He
served in a variety of leadership roles at Phoenix, including
provost, vice provost for academic affairs and dean of the School
of Advanced Studies. Pepicello was the president of the University
of Sarasota, and assisted in the institution's transition to what
is today known as Argosy University.
Three of the eight Gannon graduates who are college presidents
stepped down this year and two others signed with schools. The
eight include Anthony DiGiorgio, Ph.D., (Class of 1963), who
retired after 24 years as the president of Winthrop University;
Timothy Flanagan, Ph.D. (Class of 1973), who was hired as the
president at Illinois State University after serving as the
president of Framingham State University since 2006; Bradley Davis,
J.D. (Class of 1997), who had his yearlong interim tag removed and
signed a three-year contract as the president of West Valley
College; David Szczerbacki, Ph.D., (Class of 1973), who stepped
down as president at the College of Saint Rose; Thomas J. Gamble,
Ph.D. (Class of 1972), the president at Mercyhurst University;
Ronald J. Volpe, Ph.D. (Class of 1967), the president at Hood
College; and Lou Agnese (Class of 1974), president at the
University of the Incarnate Word.