Board welcomes new members, elects officers, approves emeritus candidates and hears additional updates

The Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors met on Thursday, Oct. 9. Highlights of the meeting included the welcoming of two new members to the Board, and election of officers. They also approved two candidates for emeritus status and heard additional updates from Penn College faculty and staff members.

During the meeting, the Board welcomed Renata Engel, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor at Penn State, and Shannon Massey, senior vice president for Lycoming Engines. The Board also thanked Lynda Livingston, who has transitioned off the Board, for her years of service as a member. Livingston encouraged the college to maintain its momentum with its programs and offerings.

The Board approved emeritus status for two retired faculty members: Kirk M. Cantor, polymer engineering; and Keith A. Vanderlin, graphic design and art. Cantor taught for 35 years, and Vanderlin for 36 years.

To be eligible for emeritus status at Penn College, faculty nominees must be honorably retired in good standing and have served the college for a minimum of 10 years, demonstrating a record of distinguished service to students, their department, their academic school and/or the college. Nominations are reviewed and approved by the Promotion and Sabbatical Review Committee and recommended for Board of Directors consideration by the president.

Craig A. Miller, professor of history/political science, presented on the Lycoming County prison grant initiative. Miller has been teaching in prison systems for over 30 years. In 2021 Miller piloted a workplace communications course at the Lycoming County Pre-Release Center. After that pilot year, Penn College expanded the program through local and federal grant funding. Courses have included a pre-apprenticeship in advanced manufacturing at the Pre-Release Center, a communications course at the Lycoming County Prison, and a Professional Baking Certificate at the State Correctional Institution at Muncy.

The college has received positive response regarding this program. Miller also recognized Rachel L. Thompson, program coordinator, Prison to College Program, and Brian D. Walton, assistant dean of business and hospitality, for their involvement and support for the program.

Miller closed his remarks with sentiments from Todd M. Keeley, assistant professor of baking and pastry/culinary, who has been teaching baking courses for the program. Keeley commented on how rewarding it has been to teach these student groups, as they are engaged, attentive and curious. Keeley expressed his appreciation of the opportunity to teach through the program.

Jon A. Nichols, vice president for finance/CFO, presented an investment update, highlighting information on the college’s long-term and intermediate investments. Long-term investments improved, with a return (net of fees) of approximately $1.5 million or 9%. Intermediate investments experienced a return of approximately $1 million or 5.5%.

Joanna K. Flynn, vice president for academic affairs/provost, recognized the addition of 11 new faculty members to the Penn College community, with three joining the School of Nursing & Health Sciences and eight joining the School of Engineering Technologies. Over half of the new faculty (six) are alumni of Penn College, and five had prior experience at Penn College in part-time instructor roles. Collectively these new faculty members bring into the classroom over 130 years of industry experience related to their positions such as foreman, project manager, registered nurse, certified nurse practitioner, estimator, designer, linear production lead, lead technician and diesel technician.

The Board elected officers as follows: Sen. Gene Yaw, chair; Abraham Harpster, vice chair; President Michael J. Reed, secretary; Randall E. Black, treasurer; Jon Nichols, assistant treasurer; Lisa Mendler, assistant secretary. Board terms are one year and are selected each fall.

President Reed thanked Livingston again for her years of service to the Penn College Board. He highlighted the college’s strong enrollment numbers for degree-seeking students (over 4,700), dual enrollment (over 2,100) and workforce upskilling (over 5,100), as well as the college’s impressive 98% placement rate. Reed expressed his sincere gratitude to the team for growing enrollment nearly 12% over the past three years. He also shared the college’s US News & World Report rankings, all in Regional Colleges (North):  No. 1 Most Innovative for the third consecutive year, No. 1 Best Colleges for Veterans for the second consecutive year, No. 3 Top Public Schools, and No. 4 overall for both public and private colleges.  

Reed commended the Penn College team for a successful Career Fair, hosting over 390 companies that were on campus recruiting for over 1,000 career and internship opportunities; and a great fall Open House that welcomed 1,500 total guests to campus – with an 18% increase in prospective student attendees over the 2024 fall Open House. He also highlighted key campus initiatives that also serve needs in the community:  the opening of the new Physical Therapy Clinic, funded by Penn College President Emeritus Davie Jane Gilmour, which offers services to the local community; the upcoming opening of the Williamsport LaunchBox, supported by Ken and Kristie Healey, which will offer innovation and entrepreneurship support to students and the community; and the Larry A. Ward ’66 Engineering Design Pilot Plant, a dedicated space to provide hands-on access to manufacturing tools and enabling engineering design students to translate concepts into real-world prototypes.

In closing, Yaw thanked the Board for its continued trust in his leadership. He also encouraged the college to continue its work in maintaining relevance to the needs of business and industry.