President Lewis E. Thayne reaffirmed the College’s support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). He joined numerous other college and university presidents who pledged their support for the continuation of the policy to protect Dreamers in light of the upcoming Supreme Court decision on DACA. 

President Lewis E. Thayne, on behalf of Lebanon Valley College, signed a dual-admissions agreement with Reading Area Community College (RACC), which was represented by its president, Dr. Susan D. Looney. The partnership will make it more seamless for RACC students to pursue specific majors at LVC, including actuarial science, music business, and the accelerated accounting/MBA program. This is the second dual-admission agreement LVC has made with a community college, having been partners with Harrisburg Area Community College for many years.

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.”