Leadership at the Community Arts Center – a wholly owned subsidiary of Pennsylvania College of Technology that merged with the college for administrative purposes in June – is transitioning, beginning Monday, Sept. 13.
Having helped to guide the administrative consolidation of the Arts Center with Penn College, Chuck Still, executive director, is turning over the reins to James R. Dougherty III, who has been employed with the college since 2003, most recently as director of computer and media services.
Dougherty also has an extensive background in multimedia production and the performing arts, and he has strong ties to the Greater Williamsport community, including the Uptown Music Collective and Lycoming Arts. He has performed live and played in studio settings as a drummer and percussionist.
Still – a veteran cultural arts and fundraising executive who has led the Arts Center since January 2020, steering it through the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic – will assist with the transition and serve in a consulting role in the coming months.
Dougherty has worked at the college in a variety of capacities including instructional technology, audio-visual services, and digital media. He has taught Penn College courses in video production, multimedia communications, live broadcasting, narrative filmmaking, digital media editing and web-based media management. He has taught similar classes as an adjunct faculty member at Lycoming College and Bloomsburg University. Previously, he worked in the private sector as a multimedia producer and senior technician/software trainer.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in film and media arts from Temple University, and he holds a master’s degree in instructional technology from Bloomsburg University.
Dougherty is a member of the Consortium of College and University Media Centers, a former board member of the Central Pennsylvania Film Office and the South Williamsport Youth Fund, a volunteer with Little League International (and video production coordinator for the Little League World Series from 2009-13), and a volunteer coach and referee with the American Youth Soccer Organization since 2010.
“The college is fortunate to have Jim’s passion for the arts, his broad and deep skill set, and his track record of leadership success as we continue to secure the long-term sustainability of this vital regional asset,” said Patrick Marty, Penn College chief of staff. “Further, Jim firmly believes that colleges and universities have a moral responsibility to broadly elevate the cultural cachet of the communities in which they are located – a tenet shared by our president and our Board of Directors.”
“At the same time, our team is deeply appreciative for Chuck’s piloting of the CAC through a difficult time during which the performing arts industry – globally – was acutely affected,” Marty continued. “Under Chuck’s leadership – and with the support of partners like the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania and Lycoming College – we made strategic use of this time to get major infrastructure and system upgrades in place, grow the philanthropic support of our treasured donors for future programming, and reopen the Arts Center with a successful student summer stock show, “The SpongeBob Musical,” and performances by Uptown Music Collective and other talented musicians. Moreover, we greatly value his lifetime of industry experience, which he continues to share with our team.”
Penn College extensively renovated and reopened the Community Arts Center, the former Capitol Theatre, in 1993. Since then, the 2,200-seat venue, located at 220 W. Fourth St., has hosted nearly 2 million patrons for live performances, cultural and education events, and films.
The Arts Center relies upon philanthropic support from the community to thrive, with the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania leading the way. Additional funding assistance comes from local government, Visitors Bureau grants and individuals. An annual investment from crosstown higher-education partner Lycoming College has also been essential to operations.
Lycoming College continues its use of the Arts Center for curricular and co-curricular programming, offering valuable opportunities to cross-enrolled Penn College students, as well.
For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.
Having helped to guide the administrative consolidation of the Arts Center with Penn College, Chuck Still, executive director, is turning over the reins to James R. Dougherty III, who has been employed with the college since 2003, most recently as director of computer and media services.
Dougherty also has an extensive background in multimedia production and the performing arts, and he has strong ties to the Greater Williamsport community, including the Uptown Music Collective and Lycoming Arts. He has performed live and played in studio settings as a drummer and percussionist.Still – a veteran cultural arts and fundraising executive who has led the Arts Center since January 2020, steering it through the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic – will assist with the transition and serve in a consulting role in the coming months.
Dougherty has worked at the college in a variety of capacities including instructional technology, audio-visual services, and digital media. He has taught Penn College courses in video production, multimedia communications, live broadcasting, narrative filmmaking, digital media editing and web-based media management. He has taught similar classes as an adjunct faculty member at Lycoming College and Bloomsburg University. Previously, he worked in the private sector as a multimedia producer and senior technician/software trainer.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in film and media arts from Temple University, and he holds a master’s degree in instructional technology from Bloomsburg University.
Dougherty is a member of the Consortium of College and University Media Centers, a former board member of the Central Pennsylvania Film Office and the South Williamsport Youth Fund, a volunteer with Little League International (and video production coordinator for the Little League World Series from 2009-13), and a volunteer coach and referee with the American Youth Soccer Organization since 2010.
“The college is fortunate to have Jim’s passion for the arts, his broad and deep skill set, and his track record of leadership success as we continue to secure the long-term sustainability of this vital regional asset,” said Patrick Marty, Penn College chief of staff. “Further, Jim firmly believes that colleges and universities have a moral responsibility to broadly elevate the cultural cachet of the communities in which they are located – a tenet shared by our president and our Board of Directors.”
“At the same time, our team is deeply appreciative for Chuck’s piloting of the CAC through a difficult time during which the performing arts industry – globally – was acutely affected,” Marty continued. “Under Chuck’s leadership – and with the support of partners like the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania and Lycoming College – we made strategic use of this time to get major infrastructure and system upgrades in place, grow the philanthropic support of our treasured donors for future programming, and reopen the Arts Center with a successful student summer stock show, “The SpongeBob Musical,” and performances by Uptown Music Collective and other talented musicians. Moreover, we greatly value his lifetime of industry experience, which he continues to share with our team.”
Penn College extensively renovated and reopened the Community Arts Center, the former Capitol Theatre, in 1993. Since then, the 2,200-seat venue, located at 220 W. Fourth St., has hosted nearly 2 million patrons for live performances, cultural and education events, and films.
The Arts Center relies upon philanthropic support from the community to thrive, with the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania leading the way. Additional funding assistance comes from local government, Visitors Bureau grants and individuals. An annual investment from crosstown higher-education partner Lycoming College has also been essential to operations.
Lycoming College continues its use of the Arts Center for curricular and co-curricular programming, offering valuable opportunities to cross-enrolled Penn College students, as well.
For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: This media release, which includes much of the same information as an earlier announcement, is published here for archival purposes.)