Among the many lessons Peter Urscheler ’06 learned in his years at Stetson was the importance of emphasizing the “unity” in community, one of his primary objectives as the youngest-ever mayor of Phoenixville, Pa.

Being the only child of Norma Bonuel, a Filipina medical pioneer, and Emil Urscheler, a Swiss professional soccer player and world traveler, gave Urscheler a unique perspective on the world. His time at Stetson under the mentorship of the late President H. Douglas Lee undergirded the importance of building bridges.

That skill comes in handy in Urscheler’s role as mayor, a huge component of which is to “help to set the cultural tone of what our community is like and how we’re going to live together” while remembering “that we all come from different backgrounds and experiences and thoughts and ideas.”

Urscheler believes that those differences shouldn’t divide us.

“We should come together in a respectful and a dignified way where we can share ideas,” he said. “We may differ on our approach to different things, but oftentimes when we come together, we can find we have a lot of things in common.”

Nature and Nurture

Respect despite differences is part of Urscheler’s DNA — from the neutrality and stability of the Swiss people to the strong sense of community of the Filipinos.

People may have divergent approaches, experience has taught him, but all of us want similar things.

“We want to be valued,” he said. “We want to be valuable to the world we live in. We want to be safe.”

Urscheler has applied those principles to his role as Phoenixville’s mayor since being elected as a Democrat in 2018. His unifying force came into full play during the 2022 election as the sole nominee for both parties. Now he’s preparing for a third run to remain in office till 2030.

His is the face that greets constituents — numbering nearly 20,000 — at the grocery store, at birthday parties, at weddings and at funerals. He attends about 350 official events a year while also serving the disadvantaged through a nonprofit called Ann’s Heart.

His commitment and level of involvement represent his mantra.

“In Phoenixville, every single person is loved, safe and celebrated,” he said.

Lessons Learned and Lived

It was during his time at Stetson that Urscheler began to come into his own. As student government vice president, the young leader sought Lee’s counsel.

“A lot of the skills and knowledge I have today, I can link back to Dr. Lee in some way — teaching me about a variety of constituents and giving me the confidence to go out into the community,” he said.

Lee took Urscheler under his wing. Though he didn’t see it at the time, Urscheler’s path to politics was being paved. Lee worked alongside his protege to help him launch an advocacy campaign that raised more than $17 million in grants that would benefit 30,000-plus Florida students.

“Before I came to Stetson, I don’t know that I necessarily thought I would amount to much or do much in my life,” Urscheler said. “I never knew I would somehow get to be a symbol or a representative of so many incredible people.”

Urscheler’s journey to becoming mayor began after graduation when Stetson trustee emeritus Jay Landers, then chairman of the Board of Trustees, helped Urscheler land a job in finance based in Phoenixville. His role required frequent international travel, making it difficult to forge connections in his new community.

Then as his elderly parents’ health declined, he began a consulting business that allowed him to stay in town and become their caretaker. Before long, he was involved in the Chamber Of Commerce. Before long, a fellow resident suggested Urscheler run for mayor to replace the retiring incumbent.

“I said, ‘Well, you know, I’ve run for student president before. I’ve had experience,'” he laughed.

By the time he got elected, making history as the borough’s youngest mayor, Urscheler’s mother had died. His father held the Bible at his son’s swearing-in ceremony, only to pass peacefully in his sleep later that very night.

He works to honor their legacy. In politics and day-to-day life, Urscheler seeks to make a difference in just one person’s life and “love the world into wholeness.”

“I think of my life as a reflection of the extraordinary communities I’ve lived in,” he said. “It’s a reflection of Stetson. It’s a reflection of Dr. Lee and his profound impact and love that he shared with our community. … It also is a reflection of my parents and their extraordinary love of the world.”

– Cheri Henderson