Penn College Administrator Accepts Presidential Post in Florida

Jill S. Landesberg-Boyle, vice president for student affairs at Pennsylvania College of Technology since 2003, is leaving to become president of Florida Keys Community College.

Landesberg-Boyle will begin her new duties on June 1; she will replace William A. Seeker, who is scheduled to retire this summer.

Penn College is launching a national search for a successor. The college will advertise the position and seek applications for a replacement within the next few weeks. A review of the applications is expected to begin by May 1 and continue until the position is filled.

"Jill was asked to 'take Student Affairs to the next level' and did so in any number of ways," said Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour. "Through her tenure, she was responsible for the expansion of the Fitness Center, the addition of the Job Location and Development Office, student luncheon forums, Student Affairs professional-development activities on an annual basis, and the formalization of a divisionwide assessment plan that positions Student Affairs for the future, to name a few.

"In addition, under her leadership, her staff was responsible for the expansion of our work with off-campus landlords; introduction of 'Connections,' our new-student orientation; renovation of student space in the Bush Campus Center; and expansion of our athletic programs again naming the highlights. Jill will be a focused and hands-on president at Florida Keys Community College and will indeed make her mark on the institution, culture and students. We wish her well in her new adventure."

Landesberg-Boyle said she has learned much while overseeing Student Affairs at Penn College that has helped to prepare her for her new role.

"In four years, I have had the opportunity to work at the institutional level on strategic planning, student-retention initiatives and budgeting," she said. "I have also had the pleasure of working alongside some wonderfully talented people too many to mention. I am especially fortunate to have had such a terrific group of colleagues on President's Council, and to have worked under Dr. Gilmour. Davie has been a mentor to me throughout my time at the college." She also had high praise for Student Affairs staff.

"We have incredibly committed, hard-working and passionate professionals here who go out of their way each and every day to make great things happen for students and the institution as a whole," Landesberg-Boyle said. "I am very proud of what we have accomplished together."

At Penn College, the vice president for student affairs oversees Athletics; the Counseling, Career and Disability Services Office; the Financial Aid Office; Penn College Police; Residence Life; the Student Activities Office; and Student Health Services.

The vice president for student affairs serves as:

• the chief student personnel officer, providing leadership and oversight in matters relating to student life
• a member of President's Council, participating in planning and policy decisions, and advocating for strategic initiatives that uphold the college's student-centered mission
• a fiscal manager, defining parameters for budget development and establishing priorities for purchases, grant initiatives and facility renovations (operating, auxiliary and grant budgets total roughly $11 million)
• a personnel administrator, consulting on hires and promoting continued development of staff expertise

Before coming to Penn College, Landesberg-Boyle was dean of students at Southeastern Louisiana University and chief student affairs officer at the University of Judaism, Bel Air, Calif.

She also worked in the residential education program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she earned a doctorate and a master's degree in organizational development and a bachelor's degree in psychology.

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