Founding President of Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC), Dr. Joseph T. Nairn was appointed by the College’s Board of Trustees to serve on the Center for Rural Pennsylvania’s 13-member Board of Directors. The request for a representative’s appointment came from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania’s Director, Barry L. Denk, early in July following the passage of Act 15 of 2019, which increased the membership of the Center’s board from eleven to thirteen. These two membership seats were specifically added for representatives from Northern Pennsylvania Regional College and the Pennsylvania College of Technology.
The Center for Rural Pennsylvania serves as a resource for rural policy within the Pennsylvania General Assembly and works to maximize resources and strategies to better serve Pennsylvania’s rural residents. Center Director Barry Denk said, “I welcome and am very pleased to have Dr. Nairn join the Center’s Board of Directors. His considerable and practical experience will help expand the breadth and depth of our research and data analysis work in service to the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Commonwealth’s nearly 3.4 million rural residents.” Senator Gene Yaw, Chairman of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania Board of Directors agrees. “Dr. Nairn has an extensive background in education, which includes decades of experience in private and public institutions,” said Senator Yaw, “I am confident that the Board will be well-served by his leadership when addressing the many issues impacting our state’s rural residents. I look forward to working with him in his role as a new Board Member.”
President Nairn expresses that, “Northern Pennsylvania Regional College prioritizes the needs of the students and the needs of the community. We are committed to serving the rural residents of Pennsylvania.” He joins current members who represent the Pennsylvania Senate, House of Representatives, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania College of Technology, the State System of Higher Education, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Governor’s Office.