Dr. Tori Nuccio, WCU Deputy Director of Financial Aid, has been honored with the Keepers of the Flame Award by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).
The award, established in 2022, recognizes an individual from each of the 14 State System university campuses for their contributions to creating and promoting diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments that cultivate a sense of belonging. Recipients are students, staff, faculty, or administrators who inspire others, engage in collaboration, and enact positive change.
Dr. Nuccio has been a dedicated member of the University’s financial aid team for 13 years. In her role, she has made it her mission to ensure that students from all walks of life can access and afford a quality education.
One of the founders of the WCU Resource Pantry, Dr. Nuccio has secured and continues to secure funding for students’ basic needs security, the WCU Promise Program for housing-insecure and foster students, and students facing hardships. As a Moon Shot for Equity Team Member, she is dedicated to eliminating barriers that students face, including holds on their accounts that hinder or prevent registering for classes.
For her work in support of WCU students, Dr. Nuccio has previously been honored with the WCU Civility Award 2018-2019 and the 2017 Alumni Recognition Award.
Dr. Nuccio thanked campus leaders for their support and vision, her current and former supervisors and colleagues “who weave together to create the network of support that benefits our students,” but most of all WCU students themselves. “So many of the good ideas we carry on today came from their bravery and honesty in sharing what they don’t know, what they want to know, and, most importantly, what they need to be successful.”
“The Keepers of the Flame Award honors individuals whose leadership, dedication, and impact have strengthened the PASSHE community,” said Christa Cobb, PASSHE Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer. “These recipients exemplify how a commitment to student success, inclusive excellence, and academic achievement can transform lives, open doors, and inspire others across our campuses.”
This year’s awards were presented on Oct. 29 during the PASSHE Summit, held at PennWest Clarion.
Learn more at WCU. Enrolling more than 17,000 students, West Chester University is the largest institution in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Founded in 1871, the University is a comprehensive public institution, offering a diverse range of more than 200 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 50 fields of study. In addition to the main campus in West Chester, the University offers programs through its graduate center, the Philadelphia site, and online. The University comprises six colleges and two schools: University College, Colleges of Arts and Humanities, Business and Public Management, Education and Social Work, Health Sciences, and the Sciences and Mathematics, the Wells School of Music, and the Graduate School.
