Friday, October 9, 2026
During an Oct. 8 meeting at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center, the Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors approved parameters for the college's 2027-28 state budget request, granted emeritus status to longtime board member John Young, welcomed new board members and approved Rachel Smith as interim vice president for People & Culture. The board elected officers and heard updates on shared governance, investments and new faculty.
Board Chair Sen. Gene Yaw welcomed new members Rob Fenza, Ken Healy and Tracie Witter and recognized the service of departing members Abe Harpster, Shannon Massey and John Young.
During the meeting the board approved parameters for Penn College's 2027-28 state appropriation request, which is submitted through Penn State's proposal. The request seeks a $5.5 million increase to the college's appropriation. Penn College has increased enrollment for four consecutive years but was flat funded by the state for 2026-27. The request is in response to rising costs associated with growth, coupled with nearly a 10% increase in healthcare benefits and spikes in commodities and utilities pricing.
“Our goal is to keep tuition affordable for our hardworking Pennsylvanians,” Reed said, “and Penn College is a wise investment. Penn College delivers over $400 million annually in impact on Pennsylvania’s economy. That means for every dollar the commonwealth invests in Penn College, we provide well over 10 times that amount in return to our economy.”
The board approved emeritus status for John Young in recognition of 40 years of exceptional leadership and service to Penn College and its predecessor institutions. Emeritus status recognizes former board members with at least 10 years of service who have demonstrated distinguished service and are recommended for the honor and approved by the board.
Young retired from the board this year after decades of service, including serving as chair of Williamsport Area Community College's Board of Trustees in 1989 when the college affiliated with Penn State and established Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Ken Healy was approved by the board to serve as the Board of Directors representative on the Pennsylvania College of Technology Foundation Board. A member of the college's Board of Directors is required to serve on the Foundation Board. Healy currently serves on both boards and will assume this responsibility.
The board approved Rachel Smith as interim vice president for People & Culture following Hillary Hofstrom's resignation from the college. Before joining Penn College, Smith served as vice president for People & Culture at Evangelical Hospital and as chief human resources officer at Susquehanna University. Smith joined the Penn College team in January.
Smith thanked the board for the opportunity and noted her longstanding connections to Penn College through workforce development, recruitment and clinical opportunities in prior roles. She described People & Culture as a strategic partner in ensuring the college has the talent and support needed to fulfill its mission. A search for the permanent position will occur in early 2027.
Vii Rice, chair of College Council and co-department head of polymer engineering, provided a summary of governance activity for the 2025-26 academic year. Rice highlighted continued collaboration between College Council and college administration, including monthly meetings between College Council leadership and President Reed to enhance communication and transparency. A second shared governance meeting was also held among College Council, President's Cabinet and Dean's Council.
College Council supported the college's new Strategic Plan, continued its online newsletter and transitioned the myVoice feedback mechanism to SharePoint. Fifteen myVoice submissions from students and employees were received and addressed during the year. An ad hoc committee also created professional development on the governance system for implementation during the 2026-27 academic year.
The Curriculum Committee reviewed and approved 229 curriculum proposals during 2025-26 and implemented professional development to help the campus community more effectively develop and update curriculum.
Jon A. Nichols, vice president for finance/chief financial officer, presented an investment update, noting that the College's investment portfolio experienced a positive return during fiscal year 2026 in line with market benchmarks.
Joanna K. Flynn, vice president for academic affairs/provost, provided an overview of new full-time faculty joining Penn College in 2026. Six faculty members began this fall, joining two who started in Spring 2026. Five of the eight new faculty members teach in engineering technologies, including architecture, welding/non-destructive testing and diesel, while three are teaching in nursing.
Half of the new faculty are Penn College alumni, and two previously served as adjunct nursing faculty. Collectively, the group brings more than 60 years of related industry experience to the classroom, with backgrounds including work as technicians, inspectors, designers, nurses and manufacturing engineers.
Flynn also highlighted the college’s approach to new faculty orientation, including a new faculty course and faculty mentors, helping to support the transition from industry to academia.
The board elected its officers as follows: Sen. Gene Yaw, chair; Michael Stefan, vice chair; President Michael J. Reed, secretary; Lee Wagner, treasurer; Jon A. Nichols, assistant treasurer; and Lisa Mendler, assistant secretary.
During his comments, Reed welcomed the new board members and thanked John Pecchia, assistant dean of diesel technology and natural resources, for hosting the meeting at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center. Reed highlighted Penn College’s focus on preparing students and incumbent workers for industry needs, noting the largest incoming class in eight years – 1,806, as well as 5,497 incumbent worker enrollments through Workforce Development and 2,519 students served through dual enrollment.
Reed also highlighted the college’s 98% graduate placement rate, alumni earnings 36% higher compared to the national median for college graduates, four top-10 U.S. News & World Report rankings in the Regional Colleges (North) category, including the No. 1 Most Innovative four years in a row, and the college’s recent successful Career Fair.
Among recent philanthropic and industry support, Reed cited a $2 million gift from the Lenfest Foundation, the largest one-time cash gift in college history, supporting work with Mastery Charter Schools and emergency scholarships, as well as a $1.3 million equipment entrustment from Miller Electric.
Reed noted recent campus visits by state Sen. Scott Martin and Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Anna Paulson, and outreach to Chester County leaders aimed at strengthening applied-technology partnerships.
He thanked Flynn and other college volunteers for recent service at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and showcased the college’s Visiting Chef event featuring alumnus Chef Rob Wood.
Reed also noted his invitation to testify before the U.S. House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee on workforce and defense needs, citing the breadth of Penn College educational activity across skilled trade education, workforce development and dual enrollment.
In closing, Yaw reinforced how critical funding is to technical education and the opportunities that resource expansion could provide to growing Penn College’s ability to serve more students and industry needs. He also thanked the board for its commitment to meeting participation.
Penn College’s next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Dec. 3.
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