FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE: PITTSBURGH TECHNICAL COLLEGE WELCOMES SIX NEW BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBERS
OAKDALE, Pa., October 16, 2023 –
- President Harvey-Smith Reaffirms Strategic Plan and College’s Future
- Board provides unwavering support for President
- Independent internal investigation results prove no wrong doing
Pittsburgh Technical College (PTC) today announced six new appointments to its Board of Trustees, effective immediately. The appointments include local and regional leaders who will be responsible for governing the long-term strategic advancement of PTC. The Board began the process of identifying and interviewing prospective members in February 2023.
The new members were voted in and confirmed by the Board of Trustees early this morning and represent the most diverse Board in the college’s 75-year history.
- Dr. Kanak Iyer, President, Kanak Financial
- Orlando Houston, Financial Advisor, Equitable Advisors
- Dr. Beverly Moore, Deputy Executive Director, Allegheny County Housing
- Dr Shana Nelson, Assistant to the Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction & Professional Learning, West Allegheny School District
- Steve Trusnovic, Mayor, City of Oakdale
- Dr. Linda Yankoski, Chief Executive Officer, Holy Family Institute
These leaders will join the existing Board which includes volunteer business and community leaders who support the strategic plan, transformation and advancement of the College. The Board of Trustees will now comprise eight individuals.
The Board of Trustees Co-Chairs jointly stated, “We are excited to welcome these incredible local leaders to our Board. They bring a wealth of experience and community perspective that is vital for PTC as we continue to transform while simultaneously filling the local workforce pipeline.”
They continued, “Over the past few months, our former board chair passed away, and a few other members resigned for personal reasons, such as employer conflicts of interest or physical family moves out of state. With change comes opportunity, and we have a bright future at PTC with these new board members and our fearless leader President Dr. Alicia Harvey-Smith.”
2020-2025 Strategic Plan Reaffirmed
PTC President Dr. Alicia Harvey-Smith today reaffirmed the College’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan. The five-year strategic plan includes six strategic directions to move PTC forward in areas such as expanding access, enabling success and skills for the future, elevating public and private partnerships and more. It also includes a Strategic Planning Taskforce, formed in 2020, and includes individuals inclusive of all PTC departments.
“For nearly 80 years, Pittsburgh Technical College has been providing students with the skills, education, and talent to dream about their future, helping them to realize that dream, and ultimately become contributing members of the workforce and society,” said Dr. Harvey-Smith. “Through execution of our strategic plan, we will continue to build upon this great legacy.”
Strategic Plan Progress
- Secured more than $25 million dollars in new grants; $1,955,425.00 in National Science Foundation Grants, and $241,453.00 in indirect costs; · Established new and innovative programming including the Robotics Autonomous Engineering Technology Program, developed in partnership with Aurora Innovation, Inc., one of the nation’s leaders in autonomous trucking;
- Launched Health, Wellness and Fitness Center, resulting from support from both UMPC and Highmark;
- Hired an inaugural Dean of Counseling and Student Development with the generous support of the Citrone 33 Foundation;
- Established the College’s First Educational Foundation;
- Impressive efforts resulting in the college obtaining four National Science Foundation Grants enabling the college to grow it science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs;
- Created dual enrollment pathways with the West Allegheny School District and its workforce expansion commitment with Partners4Work, Pittsburgh’s premiere workforce development organization; · Identified as a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (awarded jointly through the U.S. National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security);
- Established PTC’s Office of Diversity Excellence and Inclusion;
- Honored as 2021 Tech 50 “Innovator the Year” by Pittsburgh Technology Council;
- Pittsburgh Technology Council Honored President Dr. Harvey-Smith as 2021 “CEO of the Year”; and
- Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as “one of the best regional colleges” in 2021.
Internal Investigation Concluded: Proves No Wrong Doing
The Pittsburgh Technical College Board of Trustees today reiterated its unwavering support for PTC President Dr. Alicia Harvey-Smith after the completion of an independent internal investigation. After reviewing the results of the investigation, the Board concluded that there was no wrongdoing. The Board considers the investigation is closed, and no action is required or contemplated.
In July 2023, the Board of Trustees received anonymous complaints about the Office of the President’s decisions and spending, and subsequently hired an independent law firm to conduct an internal investigation. The Board ultimately concluded that the complaints were without merit. During the investigation, a non-binding vote of no confidence was orchestrated by a small number of PTC staff and faculty. Both the timing and circumstances were questionable and as such the vote resulted in no additional review. Dr. Harvey-Smith, working remotely at the request of the Board until the investigation was complete, continued to drive strategic progress for the College.
The Board of Trustees jointly stated, “In 2019, we selected Alicia to lead PTC because of her visionary leadership and proven track-record of success. She inherited crushing debt and was charged with rebuilding a troubled institution. We knew she could drive aggressive and necessary changes at the College to ensure its sustainable, long-term future.”
The Board’s full statement is available here.
“Dr. Harvey-Smith is recognized nationally as a strong and capable leader. Her reputation as a transformational and effective leader has made her a role model and example for others, not only in Pennsylvania but also throughout the country,” said George R. Boggs, Ph.D., President and CEO Emeritus, American Association of Community Colleges.
“Dr. Harvey-Smith continues to be a strategic, conscientious, decisive leader that continues to put students first and create incredible talent for Pittsburgh,” said Roger W. Davis, President of Community College of Beaver County. “Her leadership over PTC has transformed this institution into a regional leader among its peers.”
“Dr. Harvey-Smith is the epitome of a great leader, and Pittsburgh Technical College is lucky to have her at the helm, especially as many higher education institutions weather difficult storms,” said Michael Russell, Academic Chair, The School of Information Systems & Technology and The School of Design, PTC. “Since 2019, she has developed and has been implementing a long-term, strategic plan to enable the College to fill the necessary regional workforce pipeline, while simultaneously transforming PTC from an institute into a private, two-year college.”
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