Dr William John Pepicello

Bill has spent his professional life in higher education. He began his career as an assistant professor at University of Delaware and served as department chair for the classics at Temple University, as well as a regional dean for National University. He also served as president of the University of Sarasota and assisted in transforming the institution into what is today known as Argosy University. His career at University of Phoenix has been distinguished by his establishment of the College of General and Professional Studies — which has grown into four individual colleges: Criminal Justice and Security, Humanities and Sciences, Health Sciences and Nursing and Social Sciences — as well as creating and serving as the first dean of the School of Advanced Studies, the University’s doctoral programs. These colleges greatly expanded the University’s offerings, making it a comprehensive institution. In addition to these pivotal positions, he also served as vice provost, provost and, in September 2006, after a national search, was named president by the University of Phoenix board of directors. But if you have the impression that Bill is a one-dimensional academic, you don’t know him. He is a “Star Trek” fan, sports enthusiast, community volunteer, philanthropist and a well-renowned expert on humor. His writings on humor, particularly focusing on children’s wit and riddles, have been widely cited and recognized as serious research into the psychometrics of humor. And he is a frequent guest on the Doug & Wolf Arizona Sports 620 radio show in Phoenix, with “Pep Talk” segments. Bill has always followed his passions, and he has even been able to combine two of them: sports and community building. As he says, “I want to use my position to improve conditions in the place I plan to spend the rest of my life.” When Bill met Diamondbacks’ President and CEO Derrick Hall, he realized they shared the same values and vision of how they could make a difference. Their friendship and the resulting partnership between the D-backs and University of Phoenix have worked to champion education. In 2012, Bill and his wife Kris were co-chairs of “Evening on the Diamond,” a fundraiser that benefits Arizona charities and nonprofit organizations. That night, they raised the most money ever at one of these events — a whopping $1.7 million. Bill’s passions also include health care and encouraging youth success. He was named Boys & Girls Clubs Champion in 2009. This award goes to “an individual who positively impacts the quality of life in our community.” Bill serves on the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education under the Office of the Governor for the State of Arizona, sits on the advisory board of the Greater Phoenix Boys and Girls Clubs and is the chair of the Banner Health Foundation Board. He is the past chair of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council Board of Directors and serves on the board of directors of Valley of the Sun United Way. Bill serves as a peer reviewer and team leader for the Peer Review Corps of the Higher Learning Commission, a commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools that accredits degree-granting institutions of higher education. Bill was appointed to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) under the U.S. Department of Education. The committee is tasked with advising the Secretary of Education on matters related to accreditation and to the eligibility and certification process for institutions of higher education.