Written by David Mekeel/Reading, Pa

On her 16th birthday, Dr. Susan Looney walked into the office at her high school in Freehold, N.J., and quit.

"I didn't like high school, I didn't fit in," she explains simply.

She thought it was an end, that dropping out would finish her educational career. She was wrong.

Instead, it was the start of a winding journey that in February led to her taking the reins as the sixth president of Reading Area Community College.

"It's all I ever wanted to do"

Looney did something else the day she turned 16, something she had been dreaming about for as long as she can remember. On the same day she gave up on high school, she became a professional harness horse racer.

Her family was deeply entrenched in harness racing. Her grandparents, Elmer and Helen Looney, were well-known breeders and trainers, and her mother, JoAnn Looney-King, was a pioneer in the sport as one of the first female drivers.

Looney's first memories were of horses, were of racing. It was her entire world as a child.

"As long as I can remember it was all I ever wanted to do," she said. "So to no surprise, I followed in their footsteps."

When she turned 12, the youngest age you're allowed to start racing, Looney began driving as an amateur. She took to the family business quickly and was more than ready when she turned pro four years later.

As a professional, her success continued. She was named rookie of the year at Pocono Downs, was the youngest driver to ever win a race at the Meadowlands and was the first woman to win a race at Garden State Park.

Over the next few years she continued to excel, even earning the right to represent the U.S. at international harness races around the world.

She was in love, completely enthralled with the sport.

"I thought that's what I would do forever," she said.

But then one night in 1988 everything changed. She was 20 years old, driving in a race at the Meadowlands when she crashed.

Even though she escaped serious injury in the violent spill, it was a wake-up call.

"It was a little tap on the shoulder that I should have a backup plan," Looney said.

A new beginning
The crash at the Meadowlands would be the end of Looney's racing career.

But with the only thing she ever wanted to do behind her, what was her next step? The answer, it turns out, was education.

In the time since she had dropped out of high school, Looney had managed to earn her GED. Looking for a new path, she decided to enroll in a local community college.

It was not an easy decision.

Looney hadn't enjoyed her previous school experience, so the idea of going back didn't thrill her. She figured she'd just go for two years, earn an associate degree and get a job.

On her first day, Looney said, she drove in circles around the parking lot at Brookdale Community College three times, too nervous to park and go inside. She grappled with the idea to just drive away and go home.

"Change is never easy, and that was a major change in my life," she said

Despite her misgivings, Looney decided to give college a shot.

The first few months were difficult, she said. Having dropped out of high school she found herself starting at the school's lowest level, just trying to catch up on the basics.

"But that was OK," she said. "The community college built my strength in those areas."

And she found a support system that tirelessly encouraged and pushed her.

"The faculty and staff saw things in me that I didn't," she said.

During her two years at Brookdale, Looney found a new passion, one that rivaled her feelings for racing.

"I fell in love with learning at my community college," she said.

Looney would go on to earn a bachelor of science degree and a master of business administration degree from Monmouth University.

Giving back 
After college, Looney took a job with the U.S. Department of Defense, first for a two-year internship, then as an operations research analyst.

But the impact her college experience, particularly at Brookdale, had on her had created a spark she couldn't extinguish.

"It had so transformationally changed my life, I knew I wanted to do something to give back," she said.

So while working at the Department of Defense she spent two nights a week and Saturdays earning a law degree from Widener University. And when her time with the military was up, she made a beeline for the world of education.

She took a job in 1998 as an accounting professor at Mohave Community College in Arizona and in 2001 moved back east to teach business administration at Delaware Technical Community College.

She would eventually move into the administration at Delaware Technical, serving as assistant to the campus director and director of corporate and community programs. Later she would serve as assistant vice president of academic affairs, arts and sciences at Colorado Mountain College before coming to RACC in 2014 as dean of instruction.

A year later she became senior vice president of academic affairs and provost at RACC, titles she held until being named president.

Through each stop, Looney stayed focused on students, many of whom had jagged paths to college filled with struggles and doubt much like she had. She made it her mission to give her students the support that was so vital to her own success.

"I've tried to take my experience and try to build a better process for our students," she said. "I will do everything I can to help build a community that gives them an opportunity to succeed."

Taking the lead
The 50-year-old Looney has only officially been RACC's president for about three weeks.

She's still using her old office - delivery of the furniture for her new digs has been delayed. On the door a fellow administrator has covered up her old titles with big letters cut out of red construction paper that read "PRESIDENT."

Looney laughs at it as she unlocks the door and takes a seat at a small round table.

In many ways, it still seems that she's trying to wrap her head around everything. That she likely has to pinch herself sometimes to make sure it's all real.

When asked what her 16-year-old, racing-obsessed self would think about where she is now, she smiles.

"She wouldn't believe it," she said.

Looney said she was blown away by the news that she would be taking over for Dr. Anna D. Weitz, who retired as RACC president June 30.

"I know I have big shoes to fill," she said. "It is a privilege and an honor to be in this new role."

After she was named the new president in February, Looney began a listening tour, meeting with students and staff to get a pulse of campus culture and a better sense of the wants and needs of the college community.

She said as president she will focus on the four-part mission of community colleges: providing access, opportunity, excellence and hope. To do that, she said, she'll look at three key areas.

The first is student success. She said she'll work to improve both graduation rates and enrollment.

Looney said she also wants RACC to continue its efforts in workforce development.

"I want to make sure RACC is the leader in creating a well-trained, well-educated workforce for Berks County," she said.

The final prong of Looney's plan is to publicize the amazing work of her great faculty and staff.

It's a lot of work, making sure things run smoothly for the 4,000 credit-seeking students and countless others who use RACC, but it's a role Looney said she cherishes.

"I feel so fortunate I get to do something I love every day and have a small impact in making someone's life better," she said.

Sunday, July 1, 2018, Reading, PA­- Dr. Susan Looney officially became the sixth president of Reading Area Community College in Reading, Pennsylvania on July 1, 2018. She succeeds Dr. Anna Weitz, who retired on June 30, 2018 after 11 years of service as RACC's president.

Previously serving as senior vice president for academic affairs/provost at RACC, Dr. Looney plans to draw on that experience as she assumes the presidential role. "I look forward to this next chapter in the history of this great college," says Dr. Looney. "I truly believe that the student is not one of the reasons we are here, they are the only reason we are here."

The new president is a shining example of how opportunity, access, excellence and hope offered by the community college can changes lives. She 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.

"We are excited to welcome Dr. Looney as RACC's 6th president. With her years of experience as a community college faculty member and administrator, she is uniquely positioned to lead RACC into an exciting future," says RACC Board of Trustees Chair Mr. Guido M. Pichini.

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 for academic affairs/provost in 2015. Throughout her tenure she has consistently demonstrated her deep commitment to the success of RACC students and has focused the staff on excellence, while using outcomes to inform next steps. "I am extremely excited and blessed for the opportunity to provide the experience and vision to lead RACC into an exciting and vibrant future."

To read Dr. Looney's presidential greeting and biography click here.

On June 25, 2018, Reading Area Community College (RACC) President Anna Weitz and DeSales University President Rev. James J. Greenfield, O.S.F.S., signed a dual admissions agreement outlining new academic pathways between their institutions for students wishing to pursue a baccalaureate degree starting in the fall of 2018. 

The DeSales’ Dual Admissions, Core-to-Core agreement ensures the credits earned by RACC students who complete Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice will be accepted towards the core requirements at DeSales.

The agreement with DeSales University reflects RACC’s commitment to preparing students for their bachelor’s degrees in the sciences. DeSales’ state-of-the-art laboratories at the Gambet Center parallel favorably with RACC’s new science labs dedicated to the health sciences.

“We are pleased to launch this new agreement with Reading Area Community College,” said Fr. Greenfield. “This partnership will allow both institutions to promote our similar educational missions, particularly in the sciences as we use our laboratory learning spaces to prepare students for careers in science and healthcare.”

RACC students will find DeSales University a welcoming environment with a rich culture of student engagement, whether locally through Habitat for Humanity, or internationally, through study abroad projects. 

RACC students who sign a Letter of Intent to DeSales University before completing 30 credits with RACC are eligible to take a course with DeSales for free while still enrolled full-time at RACC. DeSales under this agreement, will offer a transfer scholarship equal to 50% of the tuition rate in effect at the time of matriculation when full-time student has a 2.75 GPA or above. 

“RACC is committed to making transfer as seamless as possible for students through building strong institutional partnerships,” says RACC President Dr. Anna Weitz. 

RACC also has dual admission programs with Albright College, Alvernia University, Bloomsburg University, Kutztown University, Elizabethtown College, LaSalle University, Millersville University, St. Joseph's University and Temple University.

For more information about this new community college partnership, please contact Jodi Corbett, Director of Academic Partnerships, 610.607.6219.

On June 20, 2018, Reading Area Community College (RACC) President Anna Weitz and Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (KU) President Kenneth Hawkinson signed an agreement which will allow Kutztown to teach a Bachelor’s of Social Work program (BSW) at the Reading Area Community College campus starting in the fall of 2018. 
 
RACC graduates will be able to earn a Bachelor of Social Work from KU in two years through an accelerated program at RACC’s campus. In addition to Kutztown’s Bachelor level program courses, students will be able to take additional RACC courses to fulfill general education and electives required by the bachelor’s degree major. 

“Kutztown University is excited to partner with Reading Area Community College in this unique endeavor,” says Dr. Anne Zayaitz, KU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “Our nationally accredited social work program is one of the cornerstones of our academic offerings, and we look forward to helping students at RACC interested in the major by offering classes on site in Reading.” 

The agreement frames a vital human services pathway formed by two Berks County public institutions of higher education, and addresses the projected workforce need for qualified social workers in the region. At the center of this agreement are the RACC AA in Social Work graduates who will be able to earn a Bachelor’s in Social Work right in the community where they live, work, and raise their families. 

“These students want to stay and serve the people in Berks County. The BSW at RACC’s campus helps them achieve their career goals while providing our community with well-trained social workers. RACC and Kutztown’s shared goal is to make students’ dreams attainable, and this is now made easier by offering the bachelor’s degree program on our campus,” says RACC President Dr. Anna Weitz.

For more information about the KU BSW program starting this fall at RACC’s campus, please contact Jim Garraway, KU’s Assistant Director of Transfer Admissions, 610.683. 4787 or Dr. Mary Rita Weller, Assistant Professor - Department of Social Work Kutztown University, 484.646.4270.

Five years ago, Esteffani Alcantra was living in the Bronx and was a patient outreach manager for a hospital system. She oversaw a team of 12, but the single mother knew that without a degree, chances of advancement were slim.

To give herself more time for school, five years ago Alcantra and her daughter, Amber, moved to Reading to live with Alcantra’s stepfather. She initially took a less demanding secretarial job and began working on a liberal arts associate degree from Reading Area Community College.

“I started working at the hospital at 19 and received three promotions, but when I asked for either another promotion or more money, I was told you hit a dead end because I didn’t have a degree,’’ said Alcantra, 30, who earned her associate degree in 2015 and her Bachelor of Applied Science in Technical Leadership (BASTL) from Bloomsburg University in May 2017.

Alcantra, who now works as a customer service representative for a plastics manufacturer, said she was attracted to the BASTL program for its flexibility – classes were online or at her community college – and the wide range of topics covered. At her current job, she’s used the practical skills such as web design and virtual tools to communicate with coworkers and clients in distant locations, as well as leadership training to help her resolve conflicts and better communicate with those at various levels in the company.

“The degree makes you a well-rounded leader because you get into accounting and management and other technical skills as well as intrapersonal skills and cultural diversity that you experience everywhere,’’ Alcantra said. “As a single mother of one and a full-time employee, the ability to take online courses and satisfy the Bloomsburg curriculum at RACC was definitely a determining factor.’’

In the future, Alcantra said she wants to pursue a masters in instructional technology and eventually move into a position where she is involved in training and development. In addition to being important to accomplish her career goals, she said advancing her education was something she needed to do for her daughter.

“I want my daughter to take after me and I have to lead the way,’’ she said. “As a parent and as a leader, you can’t just tell others what they need to do, you have to model the behavior you want others to show.’’

After consulting with employers who are looking for skilled managers, Bloomsburg University created its Bachelor of Applied Science in Technical Leadership program especially for individuals with associate degrees who are working and need flexibility. Up to 60 associate degree credits are accepted and half the BASTL classes are online and the rest taught at Bloomsburg’s partner institutions: Bucks County Community College, Community College of Philadelphia, Harrisburg Area Community College, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Northampton Community College and Reading Area Community College, and the State System campus in Center City Philadelphia. Learn more.