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Richard Esch

Richard Esch
Richard Esch
President, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and Titusville

Office of the President

Contact Information:
Email: upbpresident@pitt.edu
Phone: 814-362-7551
Location: 244 Hanley Library

Degrees and Credentials

MBA, University of Pittsburgh Katz School of Business Executive MBA Program - 1998
BS, Environmental Science, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford 1983
 

Short Bio

President Rick Esch is a proud Pitt-Bradford and Pitt graduate who has deep roots both in the university community as well as the surrounding community.

He began his career at his alma mater in 1995 as the director of auxiliary services. In 1999, he was named chief business and administrative affairs officer and was promoted to vice president for business affairs in 2003. In 2012, he was named vice president for business affairs at Pitt-Titusville.  

He was appointed president of both Pitt-Bradford and Pitt-Titusville effective on July 1, 2022, after serving as interim president for a year.

His priorities include collaborating closely with faculty and staff to create a campus environment where everyone feels welcome, valued and heard, and all students flourish.

A longtime Bradford resident, President Esch is very active in the Bradford community. He is a board member of Upper Allegheny Health System and the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, board member and immediate past chairman of Journey Health System, is president and a charter member of the Tuna Valley Trail Association, a board member and managing director of the Bradford Educational Foundation, and a board member and vice chairman of the Bradford Economic Development Corp.

He also is a member of the McKean County Advisory Board at Northwest Bank, a founding board member and treasurer of the McKean County Community Foundation, and a board member of the Community Foundation of the Upper Alleghenies.

President Esch previously served as board chairman of Journey Health System from 2009-16; was active in the Rotary Club, serving as past president, past Youth Exchange Office and as a Paul Harris Fellow; was a member of the Steering Committee for Impact Bradford I and II; and was a member of the Steering Committee for Building a Better Bradford Economic Development Master Plan.