Dr. Jesse M. Bernal, Ph.D., was appointed as the 10th president of Western Connecticut State University (WestConn), stepping into the role during the university’s more than 120-year legacy of empowering learners and communities through education.

A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Bernal brings a deep belief in the transformative power of public higher education. For more than two decades, he has led efforts in strategy, innovation, and equity across higher education and public charter systems in Michigan and California — building partnerships that align academics with workforce and community needs, investing in student and employee success, and creating more inclusive, student-centered institutions.

What about WestConn resonated with you the most when you initially explored being its next president?

What drew me most to WestConn was the sense of possibility. It has deep roots in the community, a legacy of access and service, and a bold spirit ready to lead. When I learned we’re now Connecticut’s largest Hispanic-Serving Institution, I saw a reflection of my own journey — and an opportunity to lift up others through education. WestConn’s commitment to transformation, inclusion, and impact mirrors my own values. That alignment made the opportunity deeply personal.

What is your vision for WestConn during your period of leadership?

My vision is for WestConn to become the region’s most impactful, community-engaged university — a place that welcomes every learner, weaves together systems to ensure they thrive, and widens pathways to opportunity. We’ll do this while strengthening our academic distinction and all that is central to our mission. Our future will be co-created — built on shared leadership, mutual trust, and a culture of care. We won’t just continue to recover; we will renew. I see us not just reclaiming momentum but reimagining what it means to be a regional public institution: innovative, inclusive, and relentless in our focus on student success and community vitality.

How do you plan to support students, faculty, and staff during your tenure?

My role is to listen deeply, act with integrity, and create the conditions where everyone at WestConn can do their best work. This is a time to strengthen relationships, restore trust, and elevate voices — especially of those who have felt unheard. That means honoring academic freedom, supporting faculty-led innovation, and building the conditions where teaching, creative activity, and student learning and engagement thrive. It also means aligning resources with what matters most — student and employee success, high-impact education, wellness, and belonging. I will work shoulder-to-shoulder with faculty, staff, and students, uphold shared governance, and ensure transparency and trust in how we move forward together.

Can you tell us a little about your family and how they’ve supported you on your journey in higher education?

I come from a close-knit Mexican American family in South Texas. My mom and grandparents were migrant farm workers, people of deep faith, hard work, and sacrifice. I’m the first in my family to graduate from college. We didn’t have much, but we believed in the power of education to change lives. Their support has been a constant compass for me. I carry them with me in every decision I make.

As a first-generation college graduate and the son of migrant farm workers, what does a college degree mean to you?

It means everything. A college degree opened the door to every opportunity I’ve had as it has done for so many who have received a WestConn education. But more than a credential, it gives each of us a voice, a purpose, and the ability to give back. That’s why I believe so strongly in our work — because I’ve lived the power of education to transform not just individuals, but families and communities.

How do you think your background as a first-gen student will influence your role as college president?

I’ll always lead with empathy. I know what it’s like to feel unsure if you belong, and I know the resilience it takes to keep going anyway. That lived experience drives my deep commitment to equity and inclusion. It shapes how I listen, how I work to build systems of support, and how I advocate for students — especially those who haven’t yet seen themselves reflected in higher education. I know my path hasn’t followed a traditional mold, and I have deep respect for the scholarly excellence and disciplinary rigor that define our faculty leaders. I see my role as complementary — to clear barriers, align resources, and tell our story. It’s precisely this nontraditional journey — across diverse systems, communities, and institutions — that informs my leadership and sharpens my purpose. I’ve come to understand that while credentials matter, so do the courage to challenge expectations and the conviction to expand who gets to lead.

Throughout your career in higher education, you have championed equity and inclusivity. Why is this mission important to you?

Equity isn’t just a value — it’s a shared responsibility. At its core, it’s about making sure every learner — with all their diverse backgrounds and beliefs — has a fair shot at success. Our institutions must reflect and serve the full diversity of our communities. I believe deeply that excellence and equity go hand-in-hand. Inclusive environments foster the kind of dialogue, innovation, and critical thinking that prepare students for real-world leadership.

My commitment to this work is both personal and professional. It’s about honoring all students’ identities, removing unnecessary barriers, and building systems that enable everyone to thrive — not through ideology, but through compassion, evidence, and a belief in human potential. This doesn’t mean we will always agree. But it does mean we create space for respectful debate, mutual learning, and principled disagreement. That’s the mark of a healthy academic community — and the kind of university I want us to be: bold, welcoming, and united in purpose.

What do you hope for the future and legacy of WestConn?

I hope people say we are brave. That we didn’t just weather challenges but turned them into opportunities. That WestConn is a place of purpose and possibility, where students are challenged, supported, and prepared to live meaningful lives.

I want us to be known not just for what we offer, but for how we show up — for leading with courage, collaboration, and care. For building trust, not just programs. And for standing together — faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners — as one WestConn Wolves community, rising as a pack.

If our graduates leave here ready to lead, serve, and build a more hopeful world — in whatever ways are most meaningful to them — then we’ll know we’ve done our job. That’s the legacy I’m working toward.