March is Women’s History Month, when we celebrate the contributions of women throughout history and contemporary society. With this series, we intend to highlight some of NPRC’s women for the work they have done throughout their careers and for their contributions to the College and higher education.
NPRC Director of Human Resources Lisa Pecora was one of the institution’s first employees and one of the earliest volunteers to work alongside Dr. Richard E. McDowell to build the former Education Consortium of the Upper Allegheny (ECUA), which eventually became known as Northern Pennsylvania Regional College. She started at the College full-time in December 2017 and grew from her first role as Executive Assistant for the Vice President of Finance and Administration to now serving as the Director of Human Resources.
She’s worked in the industry of higher education for around 20 years. Before her time working to develop the ECUA, she worked on various additional side projects alongside Dr. McDowell, a board member emeritus for the institution. One thing she’s observed from her college experience and her time working in the industry is that time moves quickly. “We all have to accept change and move forward. If we don’t accept change, we will be trapped in the past,” she shared.
Based on this sentiment, service in higher education continues to be meaningful for Pecora because of the impact it can have on her home area’s future. An institution like NPRC has been life-altering for many people she knows, and there is a bright future ahead because of the work that NPRC is doing. “Higher education is very important to our region. Education benefits individuals with their income levels, employment opportunities, skill development, and career advancement. All these factors can have a positive impact on a community and promote positive outcomes like economic growth, healthier lifestyles, and higher equality.”
Her service in a people-oriented role has been meaningful to her and provided important life lessons. Two of which are to treat people with kindness and sincerity and to advocate for individuals who cannot advocate for themselves. “I believe you can affect people in a way that allows them to bring their best self to the table by being honest, respectful, and accepting. Leading by example is my philosophy, and I hope to inspire self-growth within each employee. I also believe that all goals are achievable when broken down into bite-sized pieces.”
Some advice she’s proud to share that’s positively affected her own career is to do the best you can in every task, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time and people are not a product of circumstance but of their thoughts, decisions, and actions made about those circumstances. While life can be very difficult, there is a path forward to a better position in life through hard work and perseverance. So many of NPRC’s students and employees are proof of this.
Lisa is only one of the many inspiring women at NPRC we are celebrating this month. Join us throughout March for more features that celebrate women in the workplace and inspire local young women to explore an entire world of possibilities in their lives and careers!
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