Chancellor Dr. Lori (Ferry) Bechtel-Wherry Retiring

Lori J. (Ferry) Bechtel-Wherry, a native of Morrisons Cove, has brought growth, luster and prestige to the campus of Penn State-Altoona, where she has been chancellor and dean, the top executive, for the past 18 years.

In addition to performing all the normal duties of a college chief executive officer (supervising the administration, leading the faculty, guiding the students, fund-raising), she has reached out to the surrounding communities and taken the lead in improving town-gown relationships. PSU-A loaned its swimming pool to the Central High swim teams when its regular pool in Roaring Spring became unusable. She made its baseball field available for local competitions. She brought political candidates to the campus and skillfully moderated their debates. And at the end of many days she returned to Martinsburg, where she shared tea with her mother.

Dr. Bechtel-Wherry, 64, graduated from Central High School in 1975. Among the teachers along the way she credits with her development were Grace Nicodemus, Sam Dean, Randy Manning and Rob Halbritter. “Michael DeStefano taught me how to write,” she remembers.

Describing herself as a tomboy, Lori’s opportunities to participate in sports at Central were limited. “In the 1970s girls’ teams were just being organized. I participated on the track team, running the mile, and threw the discus and javelin. I was also on the first girls’ basketball team. There was no tennis team at Central but my brother taught me how to play, and I continued that sport later in college.”

Her bachelor’s degree was from Lock Haven University, her master’s from the University of Illinois (where she also taught) and her PhD from Penn State. Her doctoral dissertation investigated prevention of alcohol and drug addiction. For a time Lori coached the women’s tennis team at PSU-Altoona and was involved in the athletic department. “But the need to further my career by research and publishing required that I relinquish those duties.”

She served at PSU-Altoona for 37 of her 43 years in higher education. At age 39 she became the first female full professor there. “I’m rather proud of that achievement,” she says.

Lori maintains her Martinsburg roots by living near where she grew up on East Christiana Street. Her mother, Zana, 94, is a resident at Homewood, where Lori serves on the Board of Directors. Homewood is where they share tea breaks.

Lori’s three children – Andrea, Adam and Zachery – all followed her path to Central High. “The education I received in the Spring Cove School District was first rate and got me started in my career, for which I am immensely grateful. I’m happy my children also went to school there.”

As for her own career situation, she has achieved the epitome of job satisfaction. “I get paid to do the things I love to do most: to read, to learn, to speak to others about things I am passionate about and to learn from others.”

As for the future, Tim Wherry, Lori’s husband, is already retired as head librarian at Penn State-Altoona. Together they are making plans to stay active and engaged in worthwhile projects and activities in the coming years.