11/09/2021
John Hynes begins new role with Pennsylvania Western University Nov. 8
John Hynes, of Oil City, Pa., has been named senior vice president of Strategic Initiatives and Administration for Pennsylvania Western University,* the new institution being formed through the integration of California, Clarion and Edinboro universities.
Hynes currently is vice president for Finance and Administration at Edinboro University. In his new role, which begins Nov. 8, 2021, he will oversee PennWest’s Contracts and Administrative Services, Facilities Construction and Planning, Facilities Management, Human Resources, and Strategic Enrollment Management departments.
Hynes spent 15 years with Duquesne Light and Duquesne Enterprises, where his experience spanned utility operations, training, marketing, accounting, corporate financial planning and analysis, budget preparation, financial modeling, capital project analysis, asset valuation, acquisitions, strategic planning, and staff selection, development and supervision.
Hynes went on to spend 16 years as a founding partner with Excidian, where he developed and facilitated customized training programs for numerous Fortune 5000 companies, including Exxon Mobil, Michelin Tire and Southern California Edison.
In 2014, Hynes sold his portion of Excidian to join the Beaver Area School District as director of Business Services. At Beaver, Hynes and his team successfully changed the accounting software and procedures, food service contractor, transportation contractor, custodial and maintenance labor agreement, capital structure and capital plan, resulting in immediate improvements to the facilities and increasing the school district’s fund balance by $1.7 million.
Hynes joined the Edinboro administration July 2020. Since then he has improved relations with the Council of Trustees, safely increased the number of students in the residence halls by 228% during the COVID-19 crisis, and instituted changes to align auxiliary operations budgeting and accounting with Board of Governors’ policies.
“Operating strategically and sustainably will be crucial to the success of PennWest University,” said Dr. Dale Elizabeth Pehrsson, president of Clarion University and interim president of Cal U and Edinboro. “John has a broad range of skills and a proven track record of success that makes him ideal for this role. He is committed to making positive changes that will support the success of our new university.”
Hynes holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, where he graduated summa cum laude. He earned an MBA with distinction from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University and a graduate certificate in accounting from the Keller Graduate School of Management.
Fawn Petrosky, a California graduate and CPA, begins her new role Nov. 8
Fawn Petrosky, of Brownsville, Pa., has been named vice president of Finance for Pennsylvania Western University,* the new institution being formed through the integration of California, Clarion and Edinboro universities.
A certified public accountant, Petrosky currently is interim vice president for Finance and Administration at Cal U. In her new role, which begins Nov. 8, 2021, she will oversee all financial areas within PennWest.
Petrosky began her career at Cal U in 1988 as a fiscal assistant in the Payroll Office and was promoted to an accountant in 2003. During that time, she also held the special role of internal auditor, reporting directly to the university president on the fiscal appropriateness and compliance of internal university affairs.
In 2009 she was named assistant vice president for Finance and a member of the President’s Cabinet. She was promoted to associate vice president for Finance shortly thereafter.
In January 2021 Petrosky was named interim vice president for Administration and Finance at Cal U, where she oversees the Accounting, Budget, Student Accounts, Human Resources, Facilities, Information Technology, Public Safety, and Environmental Health and Safety departments, as well as leading the preparation of the university’s budget and financial statements.
Petrosky also has been California’s liaison to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s internal audit director and the point person for the State System’s fraud line investigations. She chairs a strategic committee focused on financial aid scholarship leverage for Cal U students and serves on various other committees and work groups, both at Cal U and as part of the Western Integration planning and implementation teams.
Petrosky holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in accounting and business administration from California University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated summa cum laude.
“I am confident that Fawn has the right skills and experience to lead our new university’s Finance Division,” said Dr. Dale Elizabeth Pehrsson, president of Clarion University and interim president of Cal U and Edinboro.
“Her career trajectory is the result of her own competence and hard work – but it also demonstrates how far a State System education can take you. I look forward to working closely with Fawn as we build a strong, financially sustainable PennWest University.”
* Pending approval by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Learn more about the future of higher education in western Pennsylvania at www.passhe.edu/integrations, or visit our campus websites: calu.edu/integration, clarion.edu/integration, or edinboro.edu/integration.
