Reading, PA, December 6, 2018 – The Practical Nursing Program of Reading Area Community College celebrated its Commencement on Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 4PM in the Miller Center for the Arts on the Reading Area Community College campus.

A total of 22 students received Certificates in Practical Nursing. During the past 25 years, RACC has graduated more than 900 students through the Practical Nurse Program, which then makes them eligible to sit for the PA State Board of Nursing Licensing Exam. Students in the 2018 graduating class are: Angelica Baczyski, Ashley Baker, Shelly Boltz, Carissa Carr-Emmel, Fabienne Coulanges, Lauren DeAcosta, Rebecca Deets, Cindy DeLosSantos, Catteline Edmond, Yamilette Figueroa-Rosario, Shannon Hertzog, Michel Hidalgo, Jacklyn Hightower, Hannah Martin, Monica Martinez, Henry Michel, Jr. , Beena Patel, Wilfri Peña-Rodriguez, Rachel Reightneour , Diana Robinson, Jesus Tavarez-Rodriguez, Margaret Yamah.

Awards were given to students who excelled academically and exhibited outstanding clinical performance throughout the Practical Nursing Program. The Frances Troutman Award for Nursing Excellence was given to Henry Michel Jr. The Award for Outstanding Performance and Nursing Professionalism was given to Wilfri Peña-Rodriquez. The Country Meadows Award for Academics and Leadership was given to Hannah Martin.

Congratulations to the Class of 2018. Good luck in your nursing career.

Reading, PA – Reading Area Community College is pleased to announce that Huascar S. Rivera has recently been appointed to the Board of Trustees for the college by the Berks County Board of Commissioners.

Rivera is presently employed as the vice president of WSK & Associates, a security consulting company based in Wyomissing, PA. He is a retired Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Professional Responsibility for the Pennsylvania State Police with 25 years of service.

As Deputy Commissioner he oversaw operations of the Bureau of Professional Responsibility, Training and Education, Human Resources, and Member Assistance Program. Having held multiple ranks from Trooper to Lieutenant Colonel, he served in the following positions: Area Commander, Director of the Bureau of Communications and Information Services, Troop Commander, Emergency Planning and Preparedness Officer, Section Commander, Station Commander, and Criminal Investigator.  

During his tenure he also established the Commonwealth’s Risk Vulnerability Assessment Team. He also held responsibilities under the Office of Domestic Security for the development of Emergency Response Policies and was the State Police liaison officer to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

Rivera graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey, PA. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, 213th Session, and holds an AAS in Criminal Justice from Reading Area Community College.

Reading Area Community College president Dr. Susan D. Looney, and Northampton Community College president Dr. Mark H. Erickson sign a cooperative agreement which will provide affordable and accessible training for respiratory care therapists and medical laboratory technicians in Berks and Lehigh Counties.

RACC has introduced the first of its kind course in Berks County. The Cyber Defense Certificate Program will prepare graduates for a successful future by earning a certificate in cybersecurity. In fifteen months, you will learn how to protect valuable data assets and develop next-generation cyber skills to anticipate and avoid cyber threats.
 
Whether you are already an industry professional looking to upgrade your skills or change careers, or you are a student looking to specialize in the field of cyber security; this program will help you gain cutting-edge knowledge and skills through coursework designed by industry experts.
 
The Cyber Defense Certificate combines both networking and systems administration fundamentals, with a focus on defensive strategies to securing systems. This accelerated program can be completed in 15 months, and all courses may be taken online.

Learn more.

THIS MESSAGE IS SENT ON BEHALF OF GUIDO PICHINI, CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

I am pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees named Dr. Susan Looney the 6th President of Reading Area Community College during their meeting this evening. She succeeds Dr. Anna Weitz, who will retire on June 30, 2018 after 11 years of service as RACC’s President.

Dr. Looney earned her AA at Brookdale Community College and went on to earn a BS and MBA in business administration from Monmouth University, a JD from Widener University School of Law and an Ed.D. in higher education leadership from Nova Southeastern University. In her 20 years as a full-time community college educator, eight as a faculty member and 12 as a senior administrator, Dr. Looney has worked in a variety of academic and administrative roles at Mohave Community College in Arizona and at Delaware Technical Community College. Throughout her career, she has been significantly involved in team building, budgeting, strategic planning, assessment, community engagement, and fundraising.

Dr. Looney joined the staff of RACC in 2014 as Dean of Instruction before moving to the position of Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs/Provost in 2015. Throughout her tenure she has consistently demonstrated her deep commitment to the success of our students and has focused the staff on excellence, while using outcomes to inform next steps.  I am extremely confident that Dr. Looney provides the best combination of skills, experiences and vision to lead RACC into an exciting and vibrant future.

We will, of course, host a reception to formally welcome Dr. Looney to the presidency later this year. In the meantime, please join me in extending congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Looney.

Guido

Press Release