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A tropical courtyard with palm trees.

Edward Tessier

Man smiling in a black and white photo, seated in a wheelchair, wearing a dark shirt.Edward Tessier
Member, Board of Trustees

Ed Tessier is Vice President of Arteco Partners, an urban redevelopment firm that has revitalized multiple downtowns in the Inland Empire. His projects include the Claremont Packing House, the Riverside Food Lab, Vail HQ, and the Pomona Arts Colony. As a quadriplegic and disability rights advocate, Tessier has led successful campaigns to expand access to the built-in environment and quality healthcare. He has served in leadership at several schools (primary, secondary, and university) and co-founded the School of Arts and Enterprise, a nationally ranked school for the arts (top 20) and the only such school that prepares creatives to run businesses. Tessier has served on more than two dozen public commissions and nonprofit boards and is a frequent lecturer on urban planning and community development. He previously served on the WesternU board from March 2004-April 2008, when he was granted emeritus status. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Pomona College with a bachelor’s degree in Urban Sociology.