Julie Dietrich, Ed.D. ’18 was named a 2024 trailblazer in higher education by City & State Pennsylvania. Dietrich, who serves as the executive director for external relations at West Chester University, acts as the institution’s primary government relations officer, cultivating and sustaining relationships with local, state, and federal elected officials and their offices, and a liaison within the community. Through this position, Dietrich focuses on executing strategic community and economic development, as well as, facilitating communication and negotiating partnerships among key leaders to help leverage and optimize the use of institutional assets and address community needs.

Dietrich holds an Ed.D. in higher education leadership from Widener University, where she previously led government relations, and has taught philosophy and business at West Chester University. Dietrich also holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in philosophy from West Chester University.