Pete Skoner, the founding Dean of the School of STEAM since 2018, has stepped down from this role and assumed the position of Special Assistant to the University’s Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Skoner has served in multiple positions during his 41-year career at Saint Francis, including Professor of Physics, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Associate Provost, Acting Academic Dean, President of the Faculty Senate and Chair of the Chemistry, Mathematics and Physical Science Department.
Skoner earned his bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering from Penn State in 1979. He holds an M.Ed from Saint Francis and an MBA and Ed.D from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
“I am excited and a little bit anxious,” said Skoner. “I have always been involved in recruiting new students, meeting families, and greeting them at open houses and I am going to keep doing that.”
Skoner received the University’s Swatsworth Outstanding Faculty Award in 1993 and 2003. In 2002, he was the recipient of the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Faculty Award.
Before assuming the role of Dean of the School of STEAM in 2018, he served as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs.
“This new position is easier because of all of those positions (I have held),” said Skoner. “I know the challenges and the processes.”
Skoner will continue assisting with many of SFU’s external partnerships, such as the PJAS (Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Sciences). The PJAS visited Saint Francis for the first time last year.
Skoner will also be working on curriculum development within the doctoral program in SFU’s Division of Professional Studies. He helped write the original curriculum for the program.
Prior to his academic career, Skoner worked as a mining engineer, a research fellow at NASA, and a research observer with the Pittsburgh Public School Board.
“My engineering background tells me – as individuals, groups or organizations – always be improving,” said Skoner. “If I have one goal, it is that the School of STEAM and our doctoral program grow and improve.”
