April 10, 2023 — The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) recently named Reading Area Community College (RACC) Medical Laboratory Technician Professor, Ms. Alayne Fessler as one of its 2023 Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty Award winners.

Named in honor of former AACC President and CEO Dale P. Parnell, this designation has been established to recognize individuals making a difference in the classroom. The AACC is the primary advocacy organization for the nation’s community colleges. The association represents more than 1,000 two-year, associate degree-granting institutions and nearly 12 million students.

According to Ms. Fessler, “The inspiration that I obtain from our RACC students continues to overwhelm me. My position as the program director of the Medical Laboratory Technician Program at RACC is the perfect professional opportunity to blend my love of clinical laboratory science with my desire for educating students.”

In addition to overseeing the Medical Laboratory Technician Program, Fessler also teaches and serves as the academic advisor for all students in the program.

Alayne graduated from Susquehanna University with a bachelor’s degree in biology. After graduation, she attended the former St. Joseph School of Medical Technology and became a certified Medical Technologist. She later obtained a master’s degree in education from Penn State University.

Her career began in the chemistry department at the former Community General Hospital in Reading. At that time, RACC had an affiliation with Community General Hospital and she had the opportunity to work with the RACC students during their clinical rotations. She loved sharing her passion with the students. That sparked her interest in pursuing a career in laboratory education.

To learn more about the Medical Laboratory Technician program at RACC, contact an enrollment specialist at admissions@racc.edu, 610.607.6224 or 800.626.1665.

David Mekeel | Reading Eagle | March 28, 2023 - Reading Area Community College is looking to help address the growing need for health care workers in the region with a new project.

The college has announced it will convert its Weitz Hall into the Weitz Healthcare Pavilion. The multimillion-dollar project will increase classroom and lab spaces in the building, realign the structure of RACC’s health science programs and consolidate those programs into one facility.

The project will allow the community college to increase the number of students in its health care programs by 80%.

“The Weitz Heathcare Pavilion will serve our community by providing Berks County students with a quality education in the health care fields and then bring these skilled workers to our local medical facilities,” said Dr. Susan Looney, RACC president. “The RACC students who learn at the Weitz Healthcare Pavilion will go on to care for all of us within our region.”

Work on the health care pavilion will begin in May and is expected to conclude in August 2024. The building’s current footprint will be expanded to create a new lobby and student lounge space.

When complete, the first floor of the new facility will feature state-of-the-art simulation nursing and respiratory care lab spaces with a central observation room and two debriefing rooms.

The second floor will include simulated patient rooms with cardiac monitors, alarms, and air supply systems that mimic real-life patient care areas. It will also be home to the college’s short-term health care professions programs, such as the nurses aid program.

The third and fourth floors will have redesigned classroom spaces, as a well as phlebotomy and dental assistant labs.

RACC has so far received $10 million in government funding for the project, and has begun a campaign to solicit further funding from local businesses, foundations and philanthropists. The project is expected to have a total price tag of around $22 million.

City Council in December allocated $2 million each in ARPA funds to Alvernia University, Albright College and Reading Area Community College.

RACC administrators said the college’s share of the funds will be used toward the project.

“We are grateful to the mayor and City Council for their support of the future Weitz Healthcare Pavilion,” Looney said at the time. “This facility will allow us to double our health care programs, addressing the critical need for skilled, well-trained health care professionals in Berks County.”

The need for well-skilled health professionals is higher than ever, said David Hessen, RACC’s director of marketing and communications.

“We have 700 RACC students on our waiting list to enter our RACC Nursing Program,” he said. “Our nursing program costs only $6,000 and takes only two years to complete.”

Graduates of the college’s nursing program, he added, have a pass rate of 94% on the state board exam.

In addition to allowing for the doubling of enrollment in RACC’s health care programs, such as the nursing program, Hessen said, the completed Weitz pavilion will allow the college to add to add other critically needed programs to qualify emergency medical technicians and paramedics, psychiatric and mental health services personnel, physical therapist assistants and other health care management technicians and personnel.

Tony DeMarco, RACC’s vice president of advancement, said the hefty investment will be fruitful, serving to bolster the local health care industry.

“Through the Weitz Healthcare Pavilion, we will continue to graduate qualified health care workers with diverse backgrounds resulting in equitable representation in our region’s health care centers,” he said. “The majority of health care students who graduate from RACC in both the academic and workforce curriculum remain in Berks County.”

For more information about the Weitz Healthcare Pavilion, contact Tony DeMarco at 610.607.6294.

Women of Influence Awards honor high-achieving women for their career accomplishments. The honorees are selected based on their professional experience, community involvement and a commitment to mentoring. 

Circle of Excellence honorees are women of longstanding, notable success in the community who are leading the way for other women. Women to Watch honors women leaders under the age of 35 who demonstrate outstanding professional accomplishments, community involvement and commitment to positive change. 

To be eligible for the awards, the winners must live or work in the Greater Lehigh Valley region.

“This year’s Women of Influence are professionally successful and committed to making a difference, inspiring change and mentoring the next generation of leaders,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of Lehigh Valley Business/BridgeTower Media. “The Circle of Excellence honorees are trailblazers who have followed their dreams and passions, and they inspire and grow other strong women. The Women to Watch are on the move as the next generation of leaders in the Lehigh Valley. We are pleased to recognize these incredible women.”

The winners will be honored at a celebration on May 10 at DeSales University’s University Center, 2755 Station Road in Center Valley. A networking reception begins at 5 p.m. followed by dinner and an awards celebration at 6 p.m.

Attendance is limited. Honorees and sponsors get the first chance to secure tables. Sponsorship includes a table for guests, multimedia marketing, an ad in the awards publication, logo usage and more. To secure a sponsorship, contact Suzanne Fischer-Huettner at shuettner@bridgetowermedia.com. The event hashtag is #LVBevents.

Winners will be profiled in a special magazine that will be inserted into the May 8 issue of Lehigh Valley Business and will be available online at LVB.com.

For more information and updated sponsorship information about Lehigh Valley Business’ 2023 Women of Influence, visit www.LVB.com.

About Lehigh Valley Business
Lehigh Valley Business is a multimedia news source with 37 years of journalistic excellence that breaks news daily on its website, LVB.com. It also publishes a print and online edition. In addition, Lehigh Valley Business publishes special focus sections and products throughout the year including Reader Rankings in addition to the yearly Book of Lists. It also hosts eight annual events, including Women of Influence, Icon Honors and Forty Under 40, to recognize excellence and provide leadership opportunities. Lehigh Valley Business facilitates thoughtful discussion with market leaders through its webinar series. Its Digital Marketing Solutions helps customers with social media, search engine marketing and optimization, retargeting, email marketing and more. Lehigh Valley Business and its sister publication, the Central Penn Business Journal, which covers business in Central Pennsylvania, are part of BridgeTower Media, the leading provider of B2B information, research, events and marketing solutions across more than 25 U.S. markets and industries.

2023 Women of Influence 

• Tara Anthony, City Center Residential
• Cameilia Baker, Lehigh Valley Hospital
• Jennifer Bruce, Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba PC
• Laura Budraitis, Altitude Marketing
• Erin Burke, Barry Isett & Associates
• Michele Denninger, King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul LLC
• Jennifer M. Driscoll, Lily's Hope Foundation and Cryo Technologies
• Laura M. Eberly, Reuther+Bowen
• Leigh Ehrlich, CPA, CHFP, MBA, Lehigh Valley Health Network 
• Rebecca L. Francis, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Fox and Roach, REALTORS®
• Renee Gould, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate | Valley Partners
• Elizabeth Hassler, Herbein + Company Inc.
• Jane Heft, City Center Investment Corp
• Alneasa Jordan, Kehe Distributors
• Katy Kresge, Cedar Crest College
• Laura Leinbach, GOLD Credit Union
• Diane Lewis, Manufacturers Resource Center 
• Terri Lampe Melcher, Schmidt Training and Technology Center at RACC
• Cheryl Mengel, RN, Fellowship Community
• Tina Montone, Conspectus Inc.
• Jessica O'Donnell-Gower, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Ashley Quinn, Members 1st Federal Credit Union
• Candice Richards, PSECU
• Pamela Riddell, MBA, Lehigh Valley Health Network
• Sarah Rubright McCahon, Esq., Barley Snyder
• Melissa Shafer, St. Luke's University Health Network
• Lori G. Sywensky, Turning Point of Lehigh Valley Inc.
• Lisa M. Walkiewicz, Via of the Lehigh Valley Inc.
• Christine Walp, Univest Bank and Trust Co.
• Lindsay Watson, FIA NYC Employment
• Dr. Suzanne Wenderoth, Tower Health
• Melissa Young, KeyBank

2023 Circle of Excellence

• Laurel Cline, Herbein | Mosteller HR Consulting
• Marci Martinez-Howey, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
• Jennifer Schlegel, Ph.D., Kutztown University

2023 Women to Watch

• Lauren Borrell, NAI Summit
• Janelle E. Hendershot, One Financial Services
• Bianca Rivera, Members 1st Federal Credit Union

Reading & Chester Counties, PA (February 6, 2023) —- As part of a first-time partnership, Reading Area Community College (RACC) and West Chester University (WCU) came together today to sign a degree completion agreement that will enhance greater access to a baccalaureate degree for RACC students. The new agreement between the two institutions enables qualified, enrolled RACC students to earn an associate degree and then transfer seamlessly to WCU with a renewable scholarship and priority housing. Eligible RACC students will receive a joint invitation from RACC President Dr. Susan Looney and WCU President Dr. Chris Fiorentino to enroll in the new dual admission program.

Effective today, more than 25 associate degree programs at RACC will transfer directly into parallel programs at WCU for eligible students. In addition, a renewable scholarship award of up to $2,000 per academic year will also be available to eligible RACC students.

"The new admissions agreement between Reading Area Community College and West Chester University will expand access to our college's transformative education for Pennsylvania students. This partnership will provide a direct pathway to a West Chester University degree for the talented graduates of RACC programs," says RACC President Dr. Susan Looney.

While at both institutions, students will receive support through financial advising, tutoring, and academic success coaching. To benefit from transfer scholarships and housing priorities, qualified RACC students must enroll at WCU within one calendar year from their graduation from RACC. 

“West Chester University is excited to partner with Reading Area Community College and have its graduates join our community,” said President Fiorentino. “Much like RACC, WCU is committed to the success of all students from every point of entry, and we take pride in doing whatever it takes to help students cross the finish line to graduation. At the same time, providing our students with access to a quality education at a reasonable cost is an uncompromising priority. We welcome being the next step in the academic plans of numerous RACC graduates.”

The dual admission agreement is designed to provide the best of both worlds to eligible RACC students who will be mapping an intentional path to WCU. Students at both campuses will establish relationships with professors who are committed to engaging students in dynamic and purposeful ways that will support their development inside the classroom as well as outside the classroom. 

Eligible students must receive their associate degree and meet all University degree, major and grade point average requirements. The University’s Exploratory Studies, Sports Medicine, Respiratory Care, and traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) major programs are not part of this new guaranteed dual admission agreement.

About Reading Area Community College

Reading Area Community College is an accredited, comprehensive, open-enrollment education institution that provides associate degrees, certificate and diploma programs, career-focused training; transitional coursework and skills training for business and industry. Sponsored by Berks County, the college provides affordable access to meet identified community educational needs.

About West Chester University

Enrolling more than 17,000 students, West Chester University is the largest member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Founded in 1871, the University is a comprehensive public institution, offering a diverse range of more than 200 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 50 fields of study. In addition to the main campus in West Chester, the University offers programs through its graduate center, the campus in Philadelphia, and online. Six colleges and two schools comprise the University: University College, Colleges of Arts and Humanities, Business and Public Management, Education and Social Work, Health Sciences, and the Sciences and Mathematics, as well as the Wells School of Music, and the Graduate School.

January 17, 2023 — Earlier this year, PA Governor Tom Wolf announced that $1 million in PA Hunger-Free Campus grants have been awarded to 28 institutions of higher education and private licensed schools to combat student hunger across the commonwealth. Reading Area Community College (RACC) is among those recipients, and will receive $40,000 in total grant funding. 

“Hunger affects far too many postsecondary students across the nation,” says RACC President Dr. Susan Looney. “The PA Hunger-Free Campus designation and grant funding will help provide RACC students with access to healthy food so they can stay focused, learn and graduate.”

Postsecondary institutions that received a PA Hunger-Free Campus+ designation implemented additional innovative solutions to address student hunger and other basic needs for their campus community in conjunction with demonstrating additional criteria. Examples of these initiatives included offering a variety of meal plans, including an option that provides ten or fewer meals weekly to avoid interfering with SNAP eligibility, creating or implementing meal-sharing programs, educating student leaders on campus to develop student-centered programs, or facilitating innovative community partnerships.

RACC will use the funding to support two campus initiatives. Approximately $15,000 will be allocated to providing hot meals to eligible students in the campus cafeteria. The remaining funds will support The Raven Food Pantry. The pantry is regularly stocked with a variety of non-perishable foods and products, including canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, snack bars, crackers, rice, sauce and pastas. Personal care and clothing items are also available.

The grants are awarded with the purpose of addressing food insecurity on campus, including expanding access to food options, creating awareness initiatives, and upgrading facilities. Awardees will be able to utilize the grant funds until December 31, 2023.

To learn more, contact RACC Director of Grants, Rhonda Hudak at 610.372.4721 x5016.