Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees of Northern Pennsylvania Regional College are professionals and business people from across Northwestern Pennsylvania dedicated to seeing that education and opportunity are available to all citizens of the region, regardless of location. The Trustees serve to advise and guide the college in meeting its mission of accessibility and affordability. They also provide a critical voice for businesses, industries, government, and community organizations to the college.
Board Members
Kate Brock – Chairperson – St. Marys, PA
Professional Experience
- Executive Director, Community Education Center of Elk & Cameron Counties, St. Marys, PA
Education
- Master of Public Administration, Pennsylvania State University
- Concurrent Certificates in Policy Analysis/Evaluation and Human Resources
- Bachelor of Arts, History/ Art History, Bloomsburg University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Board Member, PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, June 2014-Present (current Chair)
- Board Member, North Central PA Workforce Development Board, July 2017-Present (Committee Chair)
- Board Member, Penn Highlands Healthcare Elk Hospital, July 2017-Present
- Board Member, Elk County Council on the Arts, June 2011-December 2018 (Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary)
- Board Member, PA Association of Nonprofit Organizations, January 2016-December 2019
Robert C. Esch, Vice-Chairperson – Bradford, PA
Professional Experience
- Retired, Vice President, American Refining Group, Inc.
Education
- Bachelor of Science, Saint Bonaventure University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Chairman of the Board for Futures Rehabilitation Center, the former ARG Federal Credit Union
- Vice-Chair and Past Chair of the North Central Workforce Investment Board
- Vice-Chair of the Bradford Landmark Society Board
- Member and Vice-Chair of Bradford Sanitary Authority
- Past Chair of the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board Association
- Past President of the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce
- Member of the Executive Board for the North Regional Planning and Development
- Collaborated with multiple levels of government to communicate and support issues representing our most vulnerable citizens
- Founding Member of the Steering Team for Leadership McKean
- President, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Program
- President, McKean County Community Foundation
- Educational Consortium of the Upper Allegheny
- Bradford Economic Development Commission
- Dresser-Rand Challenger Learning Center
- Pennsylvania Early Learning Commission
- McKean County Collaborative Board
- Essential Emergency Support Training Program Advisory Board
Henri (Hank) LeMeur, Jr. – Secretary – Warren, PA
Professional Experience
- President and CEO of Superior Tire & Rubber Corp.
Education
- Master's in Industrial Administration, Carnegie Mellon University
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Cornell University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry, Executive Committee
- Warren County YMCA, Board Member and past President
Adrienne M. Dixon – Erie, PA
Professional Experience
- Sarah A. Reed Children's Center
- Edinboro University, Associate Professor (Tenure)
Education
- Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Gannon University
- Post Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy, St. Vincent Health Center/Gannon University
- Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, Gannon University
- Bachelor of Arts, Thiel College
Volunteer and Community Service
- Erie Migrant Head Start Advisory Board
- Erie County Community Development Board
- Greater Calvary Human Service Board
- Children’s Advocacy Center Board
- Cambridge Springs Prison
- Erie County Prison
Jamie Evens – Port Allegany, PA
Professional Experience
- Regional Director, Hospitality and Operations, UPMC North Central Region
Education
- Master of Business Administration, Marist College
- Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Marketing, Indiana University of PA
- Society for Human Resource Management - Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
Volunteer and Community Service
- Lector and Eucharistic Minister, St. Mary Roman Catholic Church
- Former Board Member and Treasurer, NW Pennsylvania AHEC
- Former Board Member and Treasurer, Potter County Education Council
- Former Board Member, NC Pennsylvania Workforce Investment/Workforce Solutions
- Board Member and President, Port Allegany Youth Basketball Association
- High School Girls' Varsity Basketball Coach
Mario Fontanazza – Oil City, PA
Professional Experience
- Director, Venango Technology Center
Education
- Vocational Director Certification, Indiana University of PA
- K-12 Principal Certification, Edinboro University of PA
- Master's Degree in Educational Administration, Edinboro University of PA
- Bachelor's Degree in Technology Education, California University of PA
Volunteer and Community Service
- Member of the National Association of Secondary Schools
- Member of the Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Administrators
- Member of the City of Oil City, Civil Service Commission
- Member of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce
- Advisory board member of Clarion University, Venango Campus
- High School Assistant Football Coach
Jennifer Gesing – Bear Lake, PA
Professional Experience
- Executive Director of Beacon Light Behavioral Health System
Education
- Master of Education, St. Bonaventure University
- Bachelor of Arts in Communications Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA
Volunteer and Community Service
- Warren County CJAB
- Warren County Probation Association
- Previous Member Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry - Chamber Operations Committee
- Previous Member United Fund of Warren County
- Previous Member Chautauqua Tapestry
- Graduate Leadership Warren County
Amanda Hetrick – Tionesta, PA
Professional Experience
- Superintendent, Forest Area School District
Education
- Letter of Eligibility Westminster College, New Wilmington
- Secondary Principal Certification Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA
- Master's Degree in Educational Administration Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA
- Secondary English Education Certification Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA
- Bachelor's Degree in English Allegheny College, Meadville, PA
Volunteer and Community Service
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Pennsylvania Association for Rural and Small Schools
- Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators National Association for Elementary and Secondary Principals
- Pennsylvania Schools to Watch State Team
- Member and Past-president Titusville United Way Board of Directors, Forest
- Warren Children's Roundtable Member and Secretary
- Forest Warren Human Services Board of Directors
- Immediate Past President Warren Forest Hi-Ed Board of Directors
- Allegheny Forest Alliance Board of Directors
- Forest County CYS Advisory Board Educational Consortium of the Upper Allegheny Board of Directors
- Secretary Forest County Business Alliance Board of Directors
Greg Mahon – Harrisburg, PA
Professional Experience
- Deputy Chief of Staff to Sen. Kim Ward, Majority Leader, Senate of Pennsylvania
Education
- Associate of Science in Business Administration, The Pennsylvania State University
- Bachelor of Science in Public Policy, The Pennsylvania State University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Chairman, Lower Allen Township Recreation and Parks Board
- Past President and Coach, Cedar Cliff Youth Softball Association
- Past Coach, Fusion F.C. Soccer Club
- Past Instructor, Junior Achievement
Kimberly Rees – Austin, PA
Professional Experience
- Superintendent, Austin Area School District
Education
- Ed.D. in Education Leadership, California University of PA
- Letter of Eligibility, Edinboro University
- K-12 Principal Certification, Edinboro University
- Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, Gannon University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Former Board Member, Educational Consortium of the Upper Allegheny (ECUA)
Amy Shields – Kane, PA
Professional Experience
- Executive Director, Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group, Kane, PA
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Accounting, Indiana University of PA
Volunteer and Community Service
- Member of the Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council
- Member of the State Implementation Committee for the PA Sustainable Forestry Initiative
- Board member and past treasurer for the Lumber Heritage Region
- Member of the Allegheny Forest Alliance
- Member of the PA Project Learning Tree advisory committee
- Past president, secretary, and treasurer of the St. Marys Public Library
- Former board member of the Pennsylvania Forest Products Association
- Past president, secretary, and treasurer of the Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group
- Former board member of the Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties
- Former board member of the St. Marys Chamber of Commerce
- Election poll worker
- Project Learning Tree program presenter
- Junior Achievement program presenter
Duane Vicini – Warren, PA
Professional Experience
- Retired, Chief of Staff, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College
- Retired, Superintendent of Schools, Forest Area School District
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Mansfield State College
- Master's of Science in Education, University of Pittsburgh
- Master's of Science, Education Administration, Saint Bonaventure University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Served on the Middle States Association of College and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools Pennsylvania State Advisory Committee
- Served as President of the Northwest Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
- Served two terms as the Chairperson of the Warren/Forest Higher Education Council
- Was a member of the founding Board of the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Executive Board as the Chief Financial Officer
- Served on the State Board of the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools
- Served on the Allegheny Forest Alliance Board of Directors
- Recognized by Mansfield University’s Society of Honors receiving the 2007 Distinguished Educator Award for outstanding achievements in the field of education
- Served as the Founding President of the Education Consortium of the Upper Allegheny and as the Project Executive for the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College
- Received a Pennsylvania State Senate Recognition Citation for service to the Commonwealth and education upon retirement from NPRC
Holli Wolfe – Titusville, PA
Professional Experience
- Associate Vice President of Operations, Titusville Area Hospital
Education
- Master of Science in Health Administration, University of St. Francis
- Board certified in Healthcare Administration as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives
- Bachelor of Science in Radiology, Clarion University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Board Member, Bridge Builders Forest County Community Foundation
- Board Member, VNA Alliance
- Board Member, Greater Titusville Development Foundation
- Forest County Children and Youth Services Advisory Committee
Board Emeritus Members
Dr. Richard “Dick” McDowell – Bradford, PA
Professional Experience
- President Emeritus, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, Bradford, PA
- Former Associate Professor of Biology, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, Bradford PA
Education
- B.S. Biology - High Point University (NC)
- M.S. Biology - St. Louis University
- Ph.D. Biology - St. Louis University
- Honorary Doctorate, High Point University (NC)
Volunteer and Community Service
- Former Board Member, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC)
- Founding Trustees of the Educational Consortium of the Upper Allegheny
- Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association Teaching Excellence Award
- Athletic Hall of Fame, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
- Formerly the Youngest Acting College President in the Country, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
- Trustee of Pitt-Bradford Education Foundation
- Rochester Institute of Technology President’s Roundtable
- PA 529 College Saving Program Advisory Board
- Founding Trustee of the Upper Allegheny Health System, Inc
- Trustee of the Bradford Regional Medical Center
- Past Trustee of The Hospital & Health System Association of Pennsylvania
- Executive Board of the University of Pittsburgh Center for Rural Health Practice
- Board of Directors of Northwest Bank
- Board of Directors of the Bradford Area Alliance
- Blaisdell Foundation Board of Directors
- Bradford Area United Way, YMCA, PA Humanities Council, American Cancer Society, and served on the Board of Headwaters Charitable Trust (2001-2006)
- American Association of State Colleges and Universities; Committee on State Relations (1985-1986)
- Committee on Agriculture, Renewable Resources and Rural Development (1987-1990)
- Chairman, Steering Committee/Council of Rural Colleges and Universities (1991-1993)
- Committee on Information Technologies and Learning (1993-1994)
Ed Pitchford – Boalsburg, PA
Professional Experience
- Former President and Chief Executive Officer, UPMC Cole
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Pennsylvania State University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Former Board Member, Educational Consortium of the Upper Allegheny (ECUA)
- Former Board Member, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC)
- Community Volunteer, Pennsylvania State University
Hon. Mary Jo White – Oil City, PA
Professional Experience
- Member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 21st District from 1997 to 2013
- Former Corporate Secretary and Vice-President for Environmental/Government Affairs for Quaker State Oil Corp
- Former Public Defender for Venango County, Pennsylvania
Education
- Bachelor of Arts, Quincy University
- Juris Doctor, University of Pittsburgh School of Law
Volunteer and Community Service
- Former Board Member, Educational Consortium of the Upper Allegheny (ECUA)
- Former Board Member, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC)
- Former Trustee Emerita for the Board of Trustees for the University of Pittsburgh
- Former University of Pittsburgh Public Health Board of Visitors
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