Geoffrey Roche, vice president of strategic initiatives and secretary of the College, was an invited panelist for the Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Foundation workshop at Shippensburg University May 19. Roche, who was a HOBY participant while in high school, spoke about how community service experience helps prepare high school students for college, and how college students reach out to and impact the communities in which they reside.

Leo Bagley, executive deputy secretary of PennDOT, visited campus in early May to review the design plans for the new Pedestrian Bridge and see the current bridge. Lewis E. Thayne, president; Shawn Curtin, vice president of finance and administration; and Geoffrey Roche, vice president of strategic initiatives and secretary of the College; discussed safety and greater accessibility as driving forces behind the necessity of building a new bridge. Senator Mike Folmer; Julie Cheyney, executive director of the Lebanon County Planning Department; and Nolan Ritchie ’06, executive director of the State Senate Transportation Committee; were also part of the tour.

Geoffrey Roche, vice president of strategic initiatives and secretary of the College, hosted Eileen Cipriani, deputy secretary for workforce development at the Department of Labor & Industry (L&I), for a recent campus tour. Deputy Secretary Cipriani visited several campus spaces as part of Governor Tom Wolf’s PAsmart initiative to increase STEM skills training and education.

Deputy Secretary Cipriani also met with Dr. Mike Green, vice president of academic affairs and dean of the faculty, and several members of the College’ digital communications, education, and science faculty (Carrie Coryer, Dr. Walter Patton, Kathleen Blouch, Linda Summers, Dr. Stacy Goodman, Dr. Erica Unger, Dr. Jeff Ritchie, Dr. Joel Kline, and Greg Krikorian), while touring the Jeanne and Edward H. Arnold Health Professions Pavilion, Neidig-Garber Science Center, and Heilman Center.

“What I heard today is that Lebanon Valley College is not just an academic institution concerned with getting students in seats but also one that truly prepares students for careers and roles in their communities,” noted Deputy Secretary Cipriani during the visit.

President Lewis E. Thayne was quoted in a release distributed by L&I. “Like Governor Wolf and his administration, we are committed to preparing students for great jobs that build stronger communities. Pennsylvania needs skilled and knowledgeable professionals across industries, and we’re meeting that need by providing an advanced education in the high-demand fields of healthcare, STEM, and technology.”

Geoffrey Roche, vice president of strategic initiatives and secretary of the College, served as a judge for the Partnership with Business event at the Pennsylvania FBLA State Competition in Hershey April 9. According to their site, the awards program “recognizes and rewards excellence in a broad range of business and career-related areas.”

Geoffrey Roche, vice president of strategic initiatives and secretary of the College, co-presented with Miriam Gonzalez, HACC admission counselor, at Leadership Lebanon’s annual Education Day. The goal of the day is to “gain exposure and insight into the educational challenges of the Lebanon community, as well as the educational program development and services with a focus on three Lebanon County school districts.”

According to the Lebanon County Chamber of Commerce March newsletter, Gonzalez and Roche “spoke about the programs provided at their respective schools, the student focused program improvements, and the partnerships they have formed with each other, other post-secondary education institutions, and Lebanon Valley School Districts to help better prepare the Lebanon County youth for education after high school graduation.”

Dr. Lewis E. Thayne, president, and Geoffrey Roche, vice president of strategic initiatives and secretary of the College, attended the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., yesterday. They discussed various issues colleges such as Lebanon Valley currently face, including the Higher Education Reauthorization Act, with members of Congress. They were able to advocate on the College’s behalf and our students’ behalf to Congressman Charlie Dent, Senator Pat Toomey, and Senator Bob Casey, among others.