252 Blackington HallUniversity of Pittsburgh at JohnstownJohnstown, PA 15904Phone: 814-269-2090Fax: 814-269-2096
Our aspiration to build on a legacy of excellence is intended to position us as a compelling choice for potential students who have many options for a quality education. In the dynamic and highly fluid environment of contemporary higher education, to stay ahead, we must press ahead. Yet, we seek this New Dimension of Excellence not simply because we aim to leapfrog ahead of the competition, but because, at the very core of it all, there is a solemn and restless obligation to be excellent – in the ultimate sense. -- Jem Spectar, President
Jem Spectar, PhDPresident
With an outstanding leadership record, President Jem Spectar has been Provost at Western Oregon University; Associate Provost for Academic Affairs at the University of Scranton; Director of Studies and Lecturer at Princeton University; and Assistant Dean of Students and law professor at the University of La Verne School of Law.
Jem Spectar left his birthplace of Cameroon, Africa, to realize the dream of a higher education and greater opportunity in the United States. A widely educated scholar, he received a BA in international studies from the University of La Verne; the MBA from Frostburg State University; an MA from the George Washington University; a JD from the University of Maryland School of Law; and an MA in politics and a PhD from the Claremont Graduate University. During his distinguished career, Dr. Spectar has published numerous articles on international law and made presentations on the pressing global issues of our time.
Dr. Spectar became the fifth president of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown on July 1, 2007. At his inaugural ceremony, which featured messages from Nobel Prize winner Desmond Tutu, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, and President Bill Clinton, Dr. Spectar articulated a bold vision of a New Dimension of Excellence. Informing this vision is a fundamental obligation to prepare students for success in the real world– the rapidly changing and hyper-competitive 21st century world where local and global are increasingly, and sometimes vexingly, interconnected.
During his inaugural address, Dr. Spectar offered, “We are at the cusp and crossroads of great possibility and promise, riding the crest of a Tsunami-like wave of global change with local spill-over. Recognizing that we must prepare for change and adapt, we are embarking on a more purposeful and intentional approach to ensure that our young men and women can step up to the plate, Ready for the Real World.”
