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A short biography

Dr. Joseph P. Grunenwald

Dr. Joseph P. Grunenwald became the 15th President of Clarion University in July, 2003.  He has brought to the presidency a long and respected record of professional service to Clarion University as a professor of marketing and department chair, interim executive dean of the Venango Campus, director of continuing education, dean of the college of business administration, and provost and academic vice president. 

In each of his roles, Grunenwald has worked to promote academic excellence and the highest quality in university programs and services.  As the university embarks this year on a comprehensive strategic planning process, Grunenwald has identified several guiding principles for the Clarion’s future. These include enhancing the university’s position as a leading, high quality institution, developing high quality academic programs and student services focused on learning that are attractive to students and meet regional needs, achieving moderately-growing enrollment, enhancing diversity as a major contributor to overall high quality, and contributing to the advancement of the region and community.

Within the State System of Higher Education, Grunenwald is a member of the Executive Council of the Chancellor, Commission for the Universities, Executive Committee of the Academy for the Profession of Teaching, and the Executive Board for the State System’s System Technology Consortium (SyTEC). 

At the state level, he serves as a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU), the PACU Committee on Teacher Preparation, the PSAC Board of Directors, Northwest Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board, and the Northwest Pennsylvania Technology Council Board of Directors.

Grunenwald is a member of the American Marketing Association and has served in editorial positions for the Journal of Services Marketing, W. C. Brown Publishers, and Merrill Publishing Company.  He has also served as a consultant for numerous regional businesses and non-profit organizations. 

Locally, Grunenwald has served on the boards of numerous economic development and community organizations.  He is a member and past president of the Clarion County Economic Development Corporation and has served on the board of directors of the Clarion County Chamber of Business and Industry, the Clarion Hospital, the Clarion County Industrial Authority, and the Clarion County Sawmill Center for the Arts.  He also has served on the Clarion County Industrial Development Council and the development committee of the Venango County Industrial Development Corporation.

Grunenwald holds a bachelor of engineering degree (1970) from Youngstown State University and master of business administration (1975) and doctor of business administration degrees (1981) from Kent State University.

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