VP Robert Thorn to lead Cal U as interim president

A longtime administrator at California University of Pennsylvania will serve as interim president upon the retirement of current President Geraldine Jones.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors appointed Robert Thorn, vice president for administration and finance, to serve as head of the school effective Jan. 29, 2021.

The appointment, which will run through at least July 2021, comes as PASSHE officials move forward with a study that could culminate in a merger of operations of Cal U with Clarion and Edinboro universities.

If approved, the merger would restructure the financially struggling universities into what officials are calling an “academic powerhouse” by the fall 2022 semester.

Thorn, who has been with Cal U since 1993, has been in his current post since 2010. He holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Alderson Broaddus College and a master of education degree from Ohio University, specializing in higher education administration.

Jones, a Cal U alum who has been with the university for more than four decades and served as president since 2012, said Thorn is well qualified to lead the university of 6,900 students.

“ He is a creative and competent administrator who has ably guided our university through many challenges,” Jones said. “Most importantly, he shares the ‘students first’ philosophy that makes Cal U such a special place to work and learn.”

PASSHE Chancellor Dan Greenstein echoed Jones’ sentiments.

“(Thorn’s) experience at California and his deep ties to the community will serve him well, and I look forward to working with him and watching California succeed under his leadership,” Greenstein said.