{"id":1258,"date":"2025-06-11T14:50:03","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T14:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/?page_id=1258"},"modified":"2025-12-12T12:57:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T12:57:10","slug":"president-bernals-biography","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/president-bernals-biography\/","title":{"rendered":"President Bernal&#8217;s Biography"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1258\" class=\"elementor elementor-1258\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6dfdd2d e-flex e-con-boxed elementor-invisible e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6dfdd2d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70f7349 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"70f7349\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33959e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"33959e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">President Bernal's Biography<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-708377a9 elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con-boxed elementor-invisible e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"708377a9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6588a04b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6588a04b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f5f1157 elementor-position-inline-start elementor-tablet-position-block-start elementor-view-default elementor-mobile-position-block-start elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"f5f1157\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/wcsu.edu\/president\" class=\"elementor-icon\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Office of the President\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" id=\"Layer_1\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 85.64 98.8\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 85.64 98.8;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><style type=\"text\/css\">\t.st0{fill:#F05023;}<\/style><path class=\"st0\" d=\"M85.35,0h-3.79h-25.9H0v0.01v4.06v52.93c0,18.03,27.49,37.11,42.22,41.69c0.01,0,0.03,0.01,0.04,0.01 c0.06,0.02,0.12,0.03,0.19,0.04c0.02,0,0.05,0.01,0.07,0.02c0.1,0.01,0.2,0.02,0.3,0.02c0,0,0,0,0,0s0,0,0,0c0,0,0,0,0,0 c0.1,0,0.2-0.01,0.3-0.02c0.02,0,0.05-0.01,0.07-0.02c0.06-0.01,0.12-0.02,0.19-0.04c0.01,0,0.03,0,0.04-0.01 c14.72-4.58,42.22-23.66,42.22-41.69v-5.52V51.1V0H85.35z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/wcsu.edu\/president\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOffice of the President\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64e8dd67 e-con-full elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"64e8dd67\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5475a704 e-fit_to_content e-n-menu-layout-horizontal e-n-menu-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-n-menu\" data-id=\"5475a704\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;menu_items&quot;:[{&quot;item_title&quot;:&quot;ABOUT JESSE M. 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BERNAL\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"e-n-menu-item\">\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"e-n-menu-title-1412\" class=\"e-n-menu-title elementor-animation-skew\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-menu-title-container\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-menu-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLEADERSHIP &amp; TEAM\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-menu-dropdown-icon-1412\" class=\"e-n-menu-dropdown-icon e-focus\" data-tab-index=\"2\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-menu-content-1412\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-menu-dropdown-icon-opened\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Close LEADERSHIP &amp; TEAM<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-menu-dropdown-icon-closed\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-caret-down\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Open LEADERSHIP &amp; TEAM<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-menu-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"e-n-menu-content-1412\" data-tab-index=\"2\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-menu-dropdown-icon-1412\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7348a779 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7348a779\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42ecfb84 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"42ecfb84\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-342c0498 premium-tablet-type-column elementor-widget-tablet__width-inherit elementor-widget__width-inherit premium-type-column elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-icon-list\" data-id=\"342c0498\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_icon_list_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;rbadges_repeater&quot;:[],&quot;premium_icon_list_animation_delay&quot;:0}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"premium-bullet-list-box\" data-list-animation=\"fadeIn animated-\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-ee87890\" data-delay=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"OFFICE &amp; SENIOR TEAM\"> OFFICE &amp; SENIOR TEAM <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"OFFICE &amp; SENIOR TEAM\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/office-and-senior-team\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>OFFICE &amp; SENIOR TEAM<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-divider\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-fea2b73\" data-delay=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"PAST PRESIDENTS\"> PAST PRESIDENTS <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"PAST PRESIDENTS\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/past\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>PAST PRESIDENTS<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-divider premium-bullet-list-divider\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"e-n-menu-item\">\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"e-n-menu-title-1413\" class=\"e-n-menu-title elementor-animation-skew\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-menu-title-container\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-menu-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUniversity Initiatives\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"e-n-menu-dropdown-icon-1413\" class=\"e-n-menu-dropdown-icon e-focus\" data-tab-index=\"3\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-menu-content-1413\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-menu-dropdown-icon-opened\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Close University Initiatives<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-menu-dropdown-icon-closed\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-caret-down\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Open University Initiatives<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-menu-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"e-n-menu-content-1413\" data-tab-index=\"3\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-menu-dropdown-icon-1413\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5464d9d4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5464d9d4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a4ba299 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2a4ba299\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3307f26d premium-tablet-type-column elementor-widget-tablet__width-inherit elementor-widget__width-inherit premium-type-column elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-icon-list\" data-id=\"3307f26d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_icon_list_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;rbadges_repeater&quot;:[],&quot;premium_icon_list_animation_delay&quot;:0}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"premium-bullet-list-box\" data-list-animation=\"fadeIn animated-\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-ee87890\" data-delay=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"Mission &amp; Values\"> Mission &amp; Values <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"Mission &amp; Values\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/vision-principles\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Mission &amp; Values<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-divider\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"premium-bullet-list-content elementor-repeater-item-fea2b73\" data-delay=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-bullet-text\" data-text=\"Strategic Plan\"> Strategic Plan <\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"premium-bullet-list-link\" aria-label=\"Strategic Plan\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/western-rising\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Strategic Plan<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-bullet-list-divider premium-bullet-list-divider\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"e-n-menu-item\">\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"e-n-menu-title-1414\" class=\"e-n-menu-title elementor-animation-skew\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-n-menu-title-container e-focus e-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/community-messages\/\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-menu-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCommunity Messages\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"e-n-menu-item\">\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"e-n-menu-title-1415\" class=\"e-n-menu-title elementor-animation-skew\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-n-menu-title-container e-focus e-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/contact\/\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-n-menu-title-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCONTACT\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39a2b221 elementor-hidden-desktop e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"39a2b221\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation_tablet&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70ab7c50 premium-nav-ver premium-nav-slide-down premium-vertical-right premium-ham-dropdown elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-nav-menu\" data-id=\"70ab7c50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;fas fa-chevron-down&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;}}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-settings=\"{&quot;breakpoint&quot;:1024,&quot;mobileLayout&quot;:&quot;dropdown&quot;,&quot;mainLayout&quot;:&quot;ver&quot;,&quot;stretchDropdown&quot;:false,&quot;hoverEffect&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;submenuEvent&quot;:&quot;hover&quot;,&quot;submenuTrigger&quot;:&quot;item&quot;,&quot;closeAfterClick&quot;:false,&quot;renderMobileMenu&quot;:true}\" class=\"premium-nav-widget-container premium-nav-pointer-underline premium-nav-animation-slide\" style=\"visibility:hidden; opacity:0;\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-ver-inner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-hamburger-toggle premium-mobile-menu-icon\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Toggle Menu\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-toggle-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-bars\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"premium-toggle-close\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-times\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-nav-menu-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"premium-nav-menu premium-main-nav-menu\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-f6b1c0e has-pa-badge\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/\" class=\"premium-menu-link premium-menu-link-parent premium-lq__none\">OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT<span class=\"premium-item-badge\">\u2794<\/span><\/a><li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-b3a0aa5 has-pa-badge\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/president-bernals-biography\/\" class=\"premium-menu-link premium-menu-link-parent premium-lq__none\">ABOUT JESSE M. BERNAL<span class=\"premium-item-badge\">\u2794<\/span><\/a><li class=\"premium-item-anchor menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-8cee89c menu-item-has-children has-pa-badge\" data-full-width=\"true\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"premium-menu-link premium-menu-link-parent premium-lq__none\">LEADERSHIP &amp; TEAM<i class=\"premium-dropdown-icon fas fa-chevron-down\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><span class=\"premium-item-badge\">\u2794<\/span><\/a><ul class=\"premium-sub-menu premium-lq__none\"><li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-375425e premium-sub-menu-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/office-and-senior-team\/\" class='premium-menu-link premium-sub-menu-link'>Office &amp; Senior Team<\/a><\/li><li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-990c5d9 premium-sub-menu-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/past\/\" class='premium-menu-link premium-sub-menu-link'>Past Presidents<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"premium-item-anchor menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-37a91e8 menu-item-has-children has-pa-badge\" data-full-width=\"true\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"premium-menu-link premium-menu-link-parent premium-lq__none\">UNIVERSITY INITIATIVES<i class=\"premium-dropdown-icon fas fa-chevron-down\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><span class=\"premium-item-badge\">\u2794<\/span><\/a><ul class=\"premium-sub-menu premium-lq__none\"><li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-5adeeab premium-sub-menu-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/vision-principles\/\" class='premium-menu-link premium-sub-menu-link'>Mission &amp; Values<\/a><\/li><li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-1ae0841 premium-sub-menu-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/western-rising\/\" class='premium-menu-link premium-sub-menu-link'>Strategic Plan<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-f9cb1c5 has-pa-badge\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/community-messages\/\" class=\"premium-menu-link premium-menu-link-parent premium-lq__none\">Community Messages<span class=\"premium-item-badge\">\u2794<\/span><\/a><li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-8fe62a8 has-pa-badge\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/contact\/\" class=\"premium-menu-link premium-menu-link-parent premium-lq__none\">CONTACT<span class=\"premium-item-badge\">\u2794<\/span><\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-mobile-menu-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"premium-mobile-menu premium-main-mobile-menu premium-main-nav-menu\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-f6b1c0e has-pa-badge\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/\" class=\"premium-menu-link premium-menu-link-parent premium-lq__none\">OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT<span class=\"premium-item-badge\">\u2794<\/span><\/a><li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-b3a0aa5 has-pa-badge\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/president-bernals-biography\/\" class=\"premium-menu-link premium-menu-link-parent premium-lq__none\">ABOUT JESSE M. BERNAL<span class=\"premium-item-badge\">\u2794<\/span><\/a><li class=\"premium-item-anchor menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-8cee89c menu-item-has-children has-pa-badge\" data-full-width=\"true\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"premium-menu-link premium-menu-link-parent premium-lq__none\">LEADERSHIP &amp; TEAM<i class=\"premium-dropdown-icon fas fa-chevron-down\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><span class=\"premium-item-badge\">\u2794<\/span><\/a><ul class=\"premium-sub-menu premium-lq__none\"><li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-375425e premium-sub-menu-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/office-and-senior-team\/\" class='premium-menu-link premium-sub-menu-link'>Office &amp; Senior Team<\/a><\/li><li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-990c5d9 premium-sub-menu-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/past\/\" class='premium-menu-link premium-sub-menu-link'>Past Presidents<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"premium-item-anchor menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-37a91e8 menu-item-has-children has-pa-badge\" data-full-width=\"true\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"premium-menu-link premium-menu-link-parent premium-lq__none\">UNIVERSITY INITIATIVES<i class=\"premium-dropdown-icon fas fa-chevron-down\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><span class=\"premium-item-badge\">\u2794<\/span><\/a><ul class=\"premium-sub-menu premium-lq__none\"><li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-5adeeab premium-sub-menu-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/vision-principles\/\" class='premium-menu-link premium-sub-menu-link'>Mission &amp; Values<\/a><\/li><li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-1ae0841 premium-sub-menu-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/western-rising\/\" class='premium-menu-link premium-sub-menu-link'>Strategic Plan<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-f9cb1c5 has-pa-badge\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/community-messages\/\" class=\"premium-menu-link premium-menu-link-parent premium-lq__none\">Community Messages<span class=\"premium-item-badge\">\u2794<\/span><\/a><li class=\"menu-item premium-nav-menu-item elementor-repeater elementor-repeater-item-8fe62a8 has-pa-badge\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/contact\/\" class=\"premium-menu-link premium-menu-link-parent premium-lq__none\">CONTACT<span class=\"premium-item-badge\">\u2794<\/span><\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3551480 e-flex e-con-boxed elementor-invisible e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3551480\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93f4eb6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"93f4eb6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-769c6a7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"769c6a7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33795be elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"33795be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">WCSU's President: Dr. Jesse M. Bernal<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-797a733 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"797a733\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b89386 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2b89386\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"546\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2025\/07\/Dr.-Jesse-M.-Bernal-1024x546.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2188\" alt=\"Dr. Jesse M. Bernal\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2025\/07\/Dr.-Jesse-M.-Bernal-1024x546.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2025\/07\/Dr.-Jesse-M.-Bernal-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2025\/07\/Dr.-Jesse-M.-Bernal-768x410.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2025\/07\/Dr.-Jesse-M.-Bernal.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14bb56e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"14bb56e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4cbe71 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a4cbe71\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Biography<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e5070c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1e5070c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"408\" data-end=\"682\">Jesse M. Bernal, Ph.D., is the 10th president of Western Connecticut State University, bringing more than 25 years of experience leading institutional transformation, advancing student success, and building innovative partnerships across education, government, and industry.<\/p><p data-start=\"684\" data-end=\"1438\">Before joining WestConn, Dr. Bernal held multiple executive leadership roles at Grand Valley State University, including Vice President for Strategy &amp; Chief of Staff to the President and Chief Executive of GVSU Public Charter Schools. Earlier in his career, he served in state and system-level roles in California, supporting TRIO programs, K\u201312 partnerships, and statewide initiatives focused on access and student achievement.<\/p><p data-start=\"1440\" data-end=\"1850\">A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Bernal\u2019s leadership is grounded in a deep belief in the transformative power of public higher education. His approach emphasizes welcoming all learners into student-ready environments, weaving together academic, social, and community supports to promote belonging and persistence, and widening pathways to social mobility, workforce readiness, and economic opportunity.<\/p><p data-start=\"1852\" data-end=\"2291\">Dr. Bernal serves on the boards of the Center for the Advancement of Professional Students (CAPS) and the President\u2019s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration and currently chairs the board of EQPD Learning. He is also a member of the REP4 President\u2019s Council and a peer reviewer and former advisory committee chair with the Higher Learning Commission, contributing nationally to institutional quality, accreditation, and continuous improvement.<\/p><p data-start=\"2293\" data-end=\"2640\">He earned his Ph.D. in Education from the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His professional development includes executive education from Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley, along with certifications in accreditation, foresight thinking, crisis response, and Title IX compliance.<\/p><p data-start=\"2642\" data-end=\"2967\">Deeply engaged in civic and public service, Dr. Bernal has served as Chair of the Michigan Hispanic\/Latino Commission (appointed by governors of both parties), a mayoral appointee to the Grand Rapids Community Relations Commission, and an advisor to philanthropic, educational, and workforce organizations across the country.<\/p><p data-start=\"2969\" data-end=\"3209\">Now leading WestConn into an era of renewal, growth, and impact, Dr. Bernal remains committed to ensuring the university serves as a powerful engine of opportunity\u2014locally, regionally, and nationally\u2014for students, families, and communities.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT President Bernal&#8217;s Biography .st0{fill:#F05023;} Office of the President ABOUT JESSE M. BERNAL LEADERSHIP &amp; TEAM Close LEADERSHIP &amp; TEAM Open LEADERSHIP &amp; TEAM OFFICE &amp; SENIOR TEAM OFFICE &amp; SENIOR TEAM PAST PRESIDENTS PAST PRESIDENTS University &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"full-width-wcsu.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1258","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1258"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1258\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}