Faculty & Staff Articles

"Working Class: 100 Years of Hands-On Education," which chronicles the rich and challenging history of Penn College and its predecessors, can be viewed on the college's YouTube channel. The one-hour documentary – which premiered Jan.

Brian D. Walton has been named assistant dean of business and hospitality at Pennsylvania College of Technology. Walton had served as coordinator of academic operations for the School of Business & Hospitality since June 2013. “Brian Walton is an excellent addition to the leadership team in the School of Business & Hospitality,” said Paul L.

Elizabeth A. Biddle has been appointed director of corporate relations at Pennsylvania College of Technology, effective Jan. 19. Biddle has been project manager for the Outreach for K-12 Office at Penn College since 2009. In her new role, she will develop and sustain mutually beneficial relationships with business and industry to benefit students at Penn College.

As Penn College mourns the loss of faculty member John J. Messer, who died Jan. 5 after a courageous battle with cancer, the President's Office would like to clarify the intent of this weekend’s event. On Saturday, Jan. 17, a celebration of life fundraiser to benefit brain tumor research at Geisinger Health will be held by John’s family at 3 p.m.

Gerri F. Luke has been named dean of business and hospitality at Pennsylvania College of Technology. Luke had served as interim dean since July. Previously, she was a professor of business administration/management and marketing and received the Veronica M. Muzic Master Teacher Award, the highest level of recognition for a Penn College faculty member, in 2013. She joined the faculty in 2004.

Pennsylvania College of Technology has named Debra M. Miller as vice president for institutional advancement. Miller, who had served as director of corporate relations at Penn College since 2004, succeeds Barry R. Stiger, who retired in December. She has 40 years’ experience working with senior administration and governing boards, including 28 years in higher education.

John and Lenore Penfield have established a scholarship that will benefit Pennsylvania College of Technology students enrolled in dental hygiene and landscape/horticulture majors. John Penfield is a 1975 graduate of Penn College predecessor Williamsport Area Community College, having earned a degree in nursery management.

Friends and family of John J. Messer, a Pennsylvania College of Technology faculty member who fought a courageous battle against brain cancer, have established a scholarship fund in his memory. Messer, who taught in Penn College’s web and interactive media major, died Jan. 5 – barely two weeks before his 50th birthday.

Brett A. Reasner has been appointed dean of transportation and natural resources technologies at Pennsylvania College of Technology. Reasner, who began his employment with Penn College in 1993, succeeds Colin W. Williamson, who retired in December. From 1993 to 2007, Reasner was an associate professor and department head in aviation technology.

President Davie Jane Gilmour welcomes employees, retirees, students and community members to the grand finale of the college's Centennial celebration. Afterward, admittedly near-speechless in admiration, she said the documentary reflects a passion for the institution and a responsibility to build upon its legacy.