Community Impact and External Affairs

Meet The Vice President for Community Impact & External Affairs

Message from the Vice President

Welcome to Community Impact & External Affairs.

Community Impact & External Affairs builds connections between West Chester University and the communities we serve locally and regionally. Through community-engaged learning, events, services, and ongoing partnerships, the division creates opportunities for the university to engage with organizations, businesses, municipalities, chambers of commerce, elected officials, and other community partners.

The division brings together the Center for Community Engagement & Social Impact (CCESI), Commencement and Conference Services, The Office of Venue Management, and the Office of External Relations. Together, these areas provide meaningful ways for the university to connect with and contribute to the community—from creating opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage through service and volunteerism, to welcoming community members and organizations to campus through events and conferences, to building community partnerships.

These connections also provide valuable opportunities for students to learn beyond the classroom, build relationships, gain experience, and develop a deeper understanding of the communities in which they live, learn, and work.

Through ongoing relationships with local and regional organizations, chambers of commerce, municipalities, elected officials, and community leaders, Community Impact & External Affairs helps create a university that is engaged, connected, and responsive to the communities it serves.

We invite you to connect with us, participate in our events and programs, partner with the university, and discover the many ways West Chester University and our communities can make an impact together.

Sincerely,
Dr. Zebulun Davenport

Learn more about the Vice President

Community Impact & External Affairs
Events and Highlights

WCU Receives a $60k Hunger-Free Campus Grant

UAEA is excited to announce that West Chester University has been awarded a $60,000 Hunger-Free Campus Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This funding will enhance our efforts to combat food insecurity on campus, ensuring that every student has access to the nutritious food and resources they need to succeed.

This grant will help us expand critical programs that support student well-being and foster a more inclusive, supportive community. We’re grateful to the PA Department of Education for recognizing and supporting our commitment to a hunger-free campus.

Thank you to the CCESI Team who made this grant possible.
WCU Receives the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement (CE) Classification

WCU is among 230 US colleges and universities that received the 2026 Community Engagement Classification. Awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, which highlights an institution's commitment to community engagement and partnership. Read more from the press release here.
Congratulations, Dr. Davenport

Congratulations to Zeb Davenport, VP for Community Impact & External Affairs, on your appointment as the new Chester County Community Foundation Chair. Zeb has been a CCCF Board member since 2022. He stepped into the new role as chair in June 2024.
WCU Attends the PA Chamber HR Conference

Executive Director, Jen Long, and Associate Director, Phyllis Schoen (center and right) from the Twardowski Career Development Center attended the PA Chamber HR Conference on March 13th with Associate Director, Rob Marco, of Graduate Admissions (left).
Chester County Food Bank and UAEA

As part of UAEA's August Retreat, the staff spent the morning learning about the Chester County Food Bank (CCFB), their mission, and operation while also helping with an on-site service project. CCFB is a campus partner with WCU and the campus Resource Pantry.