The League for Innovation in the Community College is an international organization with a mission to cultivate innovation in the community college environment.

The League’s Innovation of the Year Awards were devised as a way to recognize significant innovations at board and alliance member colleges. These innovations reflect significant achievements and the continuing renewal of the spirit of innovation and experimentation upon which the League was founded.

The award honors faculty, staff, and administrators who have created and implemented innovative programs, practices, partnerships, policies, and activities that improve the institution’s ability to serve students and the community. This year, the winners from Reading Area Community College are:

• Alayne Fessler - Program Director/Professor, Medical Laboratory Technology Program
• Cathy Weinheimer - Assistant Professor, Health Professions
• Crystal Schilthuis - Assistant Professor, Foundational Studies
• David Brant - Professor, Psychology
• Eleisha Moreno - Coordinator, Foundational Studies
• Kathleen Evans - Assistant Director, Financial Aid/Records
• Kathy Cunningham - Director, Admissions & Enrollment Services
• Kenneth E. Dearstyne, Jr. - Senior Vice President, Finance & Administrative Services
• Kevin Coots - Dean, Academic Affairs
• Linda Bell - Associate Dean, Business
• Michelle Wallace - Director, Nursing Programs
• Patricia Mejabi - Associate Dean, STEM Division
• Patricia Mellor - Coordinator, Financial Aid/Records
• Rhonda Hudak - Director, Community and Academic Engagement
• Stacia Visgarda - Associate Dean, Health Professions

Reading, PA-August 14 2020 – Reading Area Community College (RACC) is proud to announce the promotion of Ms. Dolores Peterson to vice president of fiscal and human resources. Peterson previously held the position of associate vice president for finance and administrative services/controller since joining RACC in 2001.

Prior to joining RACC, Dory served in a wide variety of professional capacities in the market research, retail, and entertainment industries before pursuing her love of education and joining RACC.

“This promotion is a recognition of Dory’s outstanding contributions and her ability to lead important initiatives at RACC during the past 19 years. She has dedicated almost two decades to envisioning and implementing innovative financial and human resources services and systems that not only meet the RACC strategic goals, but most importantly enhance the lives of employees and students,” says RACC Senior Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, Ken Dearstyne. “We look forward to the continued leadership that Dory will bring to this critical role.”

A Philadelphia native, Dolores earned her bachelor's degree from Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (now Thomas Jefferson University), and her Master of Business Administration from Villanova University. She is an active member and certified professional of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-CP).

“Dory’s promotion is well deserved. Her experience in financial management and leadership, as well as her passion for making RACC a better institution for everyone, will continue to be an outstanding asset to our organization,” says RACC President Dr. Susan Looney.

An avid hiker, Dory volunteers as a trail maintainer on the Appalachian Trail under the auspices of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club.

Reading, PA-August 7, 2020 – Reading Area Community College has been awarded a $252,000 grant from the Early Childhood Professional Development Organization at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education for this academic year. The funds will cover tuition costs for Early Childhood Education students who are employed in Department of Human Services-licensed childcare centers and meet the eligibility requirements.

RACC’s Early Childhood Education pathway allows traditional students, high school career technology students, and incumbent workforce students the opportunity to begin to work incrementally along the PA ECE Career Pathway. This pathway, a model for the state, has been designed to support the educational needs of all students who desire to work with young children, starting as early as high school through the Career Technology Center’s Teacher Academy and earn nested credentials, such as the Child Development Associate Certificate (CDA). RACC’s AAS then transfers seamlessly to a BSED (Pre-k-Grade 4 teaching certification) at Kutztown University (KU).

For more information about enrolling in Early Childhood Education Pathway, contact the Early Childhood office 610-372-4721 x5263 for the ECE Scholar application.

Fall in person classes start August 24. More information...

READING, PA – Reading Area Community College Board of Trustees Chair, Mr. Guido M. Pichini recently completed his first year as a President of the United States-appointed member of the Commission on Presidential Scholars, an eminent group of distinguished citizens charged with selecting and honoring the nation’s top graduating high school seniors. 

Established in 1964, the Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. A panel selects scholars who demonstrate exceptional accomplishments in academics, the arts and an outstanding commitment to public service. Pichini will join more than a dozen other commissioners who work in education, medicine, law, social services, business and other professions. 

“It is a privilege to honor these students who have shown excellence in their academics as well as their artistic and technical endeavors,” says Mr. Pichini. “They serve as role models for all young people.”

During a decades-long career of public service and educational capacities, Mr. Pichini has served as council member in the Borough of Wyomissing Hills, and four terms as Mayor. As a member of the President’s Council at Alvernia University, and presently as a member of Alvernia University’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Pichini has served as a member of the Council of Trustees of Kutztown University (serving three terms as Chair). He served on the Board of Directors of the Kutztown University Foundation, and as President of the Pennsylvania Association of Councils of Trustees. He presently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Reading Area Community College, on the Reading Area Community College Foundation Board, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the PA Commission for Community Colleges. Mr. Pichini served twelve years as a Governor of the PA State System of Higher Education, serving five terms as Chairman of the Board. In 2016, Mr. Pichini was honored by being named Chairman Emeritus of the PA State System of Higher Education Board of Governors. Guido served as a member of the executive committee and co-chair of the education committee of the PA Workforce Investment Board. Mr. Pichini also served as a commissioner on the PA Post-Secondary Education Commission.

Learn more about the U.S. Presidential Scholars Programs.