Office of the President

Message to Campus, Fall 2024

Dr. Jem Spectar is the President of the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown, a position he has held since 2007. Since then, the campus has launched new nursing, business, and engineering schools, expanded competitive degree programs, built several major facilities, ramped up community engagement, and quadrupled the endowment. These transformative developments have elevated the institution's stature, profile, and impact. 

Spectar has emerged as a leading voice and thought leader on the issue of preserving American democracy. Under President Spectar's leadership, UPJ developed a unique American Democracy Scholar Certificate and is also partnering with K-12 schools through the American Civic Education (ACE) Initiative. Spectar frequently writes op-ed pieces and speaks about the urgency of working together to sustain democracy and to bridge the growing rural-urban divide and its polarizing effects. Articles include "Could an American Democracy Corps help save the Republic?" and "Democracy Needs Civic Engagement" (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), The Washington Post: Want to close America's rural-urban divide?and  Pitt & Johnstown: Building our future, together | News | tribdem.com.. The theme of active citizenship to sustain democracy was also the centerpiece of a keynote address Spectar delivered at the National Constitution Center to newly sworn-in American citizens. (Constitution Day 2022 | Naturalization Ceremony - YouTube). 

Previously, Dr. Spectar was Provost and vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor at Western Oregon University, Associate Provost and Professor at the University of Scranton, Director of Studies and Lecturer at Princeton University, Assistant Dean and Associate Professor at the University of La Verne. 

Jem Spectar's academic background includes Ph.D. and M.A., Claremont Graduate University; J.D., University of Maryland; M.A., George Washington University; M.B.A., Frostburg State; and B.A., University of La Verne, CA. In addition to penning scholarly articles in international law journals, Spectar recently published two books Movement + Music = Medicine: Fight Alzheimer's, Dementia, and Parkinson's and Open Secret Rx – Tune into Lifestyle MEDicine & Fight Heart Disease, Diabetes & Cancer.

A naturalized citizen from Africa, Spectar has received notable recognitions, including being frequently listed among the most “influential Americans of recent African immigrant heritage…" and one of the "50 reasons" "Why Immigration Matters." Considered one of the first African immigrants to become a university president in the U.S., Spectar has garnered commendations from luminaries such as Liberian President Ellen-Johnson Sirleaf and Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. 
 

Media

Dr. Spectar’s article published in the Washington Post has led to several discussions with policymakers and media regarding rural access to broadband. He is the author of two books Movement + Music = Medicine: Fight Alzheimer's, Dementia & Parkinson's, and  Open Secret Rx – Tune into Lifestyle MEDicine & Fight Heart Disease, Diabetes & Cancer. 

• Economic summit highlights ongoing projects aimed at transforming Johnstown | News | tribdem.com

• $1.5M grant to back renovation of 'Pitt-Johnstown Future Works' site in city's downtown | News | tribdem.com

• Jem Spectar | Pitt & Johnstown: Building our future, together

• Jem Spectar: Democracy needs civic engagement

• UPJ President Delivers Keynote Address to New American Citizens on Constitution Day

• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Could an American Democracy Corps help save the Republic?

• Times Higher Education: Biden’s next big deal must include expanded broadband access

• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Other Voices: Alzheimer's Emergency

• Yahoo! Finance: We’ve taken diligent efforts to protect our students’: University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown President

• NPR: Could Investment In Digital Infrastructure Help Close The Rural-Urban Divide?

• KDKA Sunday Business Page: Digital Infrastructure Closing the Rural-Urban Divide

• The Washington Post: Want to close America’s rural-urban divide? Digital infrastructure is the key

• Tribune-Democrat: Higher-ed sector matches job trends and serves as 'catalyst'

• Tribune-Democrat: In defense of Johnstown and a rebuttal of the Politico article

Download the 2023 Strategic Plan

Preparing for a New UPJ Century by Investing in Our People, Our Programs, and Our Place to Better Serve Our Publics and Achieve Our Purposes

2024 Photo Gallery

Hannah Benjamin and Oluwafikunayomi  Ogunranti

Nate Thomas and Dr. Spectar

Pitt Johnstown Rugby Team

Homecoming 2024

Pitt Johnstown Baseball Team

Homecoming 2024

President Spectar met with Pitt international students visiting campus on Sept. 5th to talk about study abroad opportunities. 

Lynnea Lombardi, Program Manager for Global Programs for Pitt Nursing, Lucinda Morgan, Director for Global Affairs, Pitt, Dr. Mallory Ferguson, Dr. Shuqin Xiao, Associate Professor, Capital Medical University School of Nursing (China), Lijie Xu, Associate Professor, Capital Medical University School of Nursing (China), Zhifang Ren, PhD student, Capital Medical University School of Nursing (China), President Jem Spectar, Yeojin Yi, Professor, Hanyang University College of Nursing (South Korea), Gyuli Baek, PhD student, Keimyung University College of Nursing (South Korea), Genevieve Porciuncula, student, Birmingham City University School of Nursing and Midwifery (UK), Sarah Bond, Lecturer, Birmingham City University School of Nursing and Midwifery (UK), Saratu Muhtari, student, Birmingham City University School of Nursing and Midwifery (UK), Daiva Didvayte, student, Birmingham City University School of Nursing and Midwifery (UK)