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Category Archive: President

• Police Academy Finds New Home At Penn Highlands

  Posted January 27, 2022 at 9:04 am

  The original column appeared in the Tribune-Democrat, written by Dr. Steve Nunez. Click here to see original sourced column.

  There are some things you take for granted in life. You just assume that your water will flow when you turn on the shower.

  You just assume that January will bring snow to the Johnstown area, and that Fox News and CNN are going to have diametrically opposed coverage of every political issue.

  And, you just assume that in the case of an emergency, first responders will be there quickly to deal with the chaos of the moment and in some cases to save the lives of your friends and family.

  Unfortunately, there is a labor shortage for most first responders in Pennsylvania including paramedics, firefighters, EMTs, and police officers. The underlying reasons for that are complex. In some cases, people are less interested in entering those professional fields.

  Ten years ago, when I was at another community college in Illinois, criminal justice was one of the top three majors at the college – behind nursing and radiology. Today, that same program is struggling, with only a small number of students enrolled.

  County commissioners, borough council members, and local state legislators within the College’s service area regularly mention the shortage of qualified first responders – and yet, many training programs have more capacity.

  While I don’t have all the answers, Penn Highlands will continue to do its part. It was with great pride that we announced that the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC) approved the transfer of the Johnstown Regional Police Academy to the management of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.

  We believe that there will be great synergy between our existing two-year criminal justice degree program, our state-of-the-art police training simulator, and the management and operation of a regional police academy.

  The College’s service region is quite broad and extends across Cambria, Blair, Somerset, Huntingdon, and other counties. We already offer a multitude of services and programs across this region.

  We believe our regional approach will help attract interested cadets who want to be police officers or attract current police officers who need annual requisite training.

  Also, many police departments prefer or even require, that their officers have a minimum of a two-year college degree – which Penn Highlands already offers in criminal justice.

  Penn Highlands has become a one-stop shop for training police officers. What an exciting time to be working at the College.

  Personnel are working diligently to offer the first police academy class sometime in the fall. If you have any questions about the police academy, please search our website at pennhighlands.edu for the latest updates.

  See you at Penn Highlands.

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  Written By Dr. Steve Nunez, College’s Fifth President. This monthly series appears in The Tribune-Democrat, and will allow Dr. Nunez to provide his perspective on the value of education and of a community college.

  

• Christmas Was Magical

  Posted January 3, 2022 at 8:54 am

  The original column appeared in the Tribune-Democrat, written by Dr. Steve Nunez. Click here to see original sourced column.

  When I was a child growing up in southwest Virginia, I had access to very few external sources of entertainment.

  Of course, there was no internet. We did watch TV, but the clarity of the two TV channels we did get was unpredictable and was based on the fine-tuning of the large antenna we had bolted to our deck and the direction of the wind on any given day.

  Even VCRs were a thing of the future and my brother and I used a cassette player/recorder to capture the audio of our favorite TV shows, such as “Hogan’s Heroes.” What we watched on TV was equally dictated by what we could receive via antenna and whatever my dad wanted to watch – often something sports-related.

  Radio was something we listened to regularly – mostly to the latest rock-n-roll hits, but also any college basketball games we could find.

  Therefore, by default, my two siblings and I had to find other ways to entertain ourselves. We all became voracious readers.

  I found myself reading a lot about U.S. history, most often focused on World War II or the Civil War. Eventually, I discovered J.R.R. Tolkien, and his books opened a universe where I could escape the confines of southwest Virginia and mingle with not only other humans, but elves, dwarves, and orcs.

  My family also played a lot of games – most often various card games, but also a litany of board games. Monopoly was a family favorite.

  At some point, my interests in science fiction/fantasy books coincided with my adoration for board games.

  Friends introduced me to the world of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D to those in “the know”) – a role-playing game that required a hefty amount of imagination and peanut butter sandwiches and cups of Kool-Aid to provide the necessary fuel to persevere through dark dungeons, fight vicious dragons and laugh long and hard with friends (Can’t picture it? Watch “Stranger Things”).

  Mom never complained (openly) about the hoard of kids (or wizards, fighters, and clerics) that would descend on the household on many Saturdays; she almost seemed to enjoy it.

  When I was a child, Christmas was magical. I still remember opening presents – my mom, dad, sister, brother, and myself all surrounding the tree on Christmas morning.

  Dad would hand out one present at a time to each person and we all had to take turns opening them.

  It was grueling to watch everyone else open their presents while my eyes were firmly fixed on my next present tucked away in the corner of the room. “Come on, Dad – just give it to me already!”

  As an adult, I appreciated Christmas, but the experience was different. I lived through my kids – their anxiousness and anticipation for Christmas Day and the annual visit from Santa. and I learned to appreciate giving gifts to others – how fun and satisfying it was (is) when you pick just the right present for your loved one.

  But I will always remember the magic of going to bed as a child on Christmas Eve, barely able to sleep, and waking up the next day to a family room full of presents.

  And I still smile broadly with the memories of opening five Christmas presents delivered by Santa – five D&D books – that provided me (and my friends) with years of entertainment exploring dungeons, fighting goblins, finding gold, and building lasting memories – all within the comfort of my home.

  I hope you can play a game or two over the holidays with your family.

  See you at Penn Highlands.

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  Written By Dr. Steve Nunez, College’s Fifth President. This monthly series appears in The Tribune-Democrat, and will allow Dr. Nunez to provide his perspective on the value of education and of a community college.

  

• Soaring Through Life

  Posted November 20, 2021 at 9:37 am

  The original column appeared in the Tribune-Democrat, written by Dr. Steve Nunez. Click here to see original sourced column.

  One of the unique aspects of my job is my reporting structure. I report to a Board of Trustees.

  Twelve of these trustees are appointed by the Cambria County Commissioners. Three additional trustees are appointed by the Board itself – one from Somerset County, Blair County, and Huntingdon County. The last is a Student Trustee who is voted onto the Board by the student body of Penn Highlands Community College.

  Yes, you heard me right – I have 16 bosses, and one of them is a student.

  I, of course, was not surprised that a Board of Trustees would supervise me and provide oversight to college operations when I took this job almost two years ago. I have been in higher education for 25-plus years.

  I have presented many times to other boards as a faculty member or as a senior administrator. But in this job, the trustees are my direct supervisors, and so, it is different.

  Initially, it was a little intimidating, trying to understand the motivations and expectations of so many different people. I made it a goal of mine to meet with every single trustee individually as soon as I could; a goal I accomplished within a few months of my initial hire.

  Those meetings and my regular interactions with them during the past two years as president have convinced me to embrace the perspectives, experiences, and knowledge of the trustees – to be open-minded and to listen.

  Having those 16 diverse perspectives, sometimes contradictory to my own, became comforting when I recognized that they all want the college to be successful – and hence, they want me to be successful. Having served on a few boards myself (all not-for-profit), I hope that those CEOs always felt that I supported them and the mission of the organization.

  At Penn Highlands, trustees serve six-year terms – a very long commitment to any organization. But the long terms provide stability by reducing constant turnover. Recently, trustee Dr. Kathleen O’Rourke indicated that she would be leaving the board after serving two full terms (that’s 12 years to you and me).

  O’Rourke spent her entire career dedicated to educating youth. In her words, “I always wanted to work with kids.”

  Having earned a college degree in elementary education from Lock Haven, she taught fourth grade for several years. She then turned her attention and talents to being a school counselor after earning a master’s degree in counseling; she eventually earned a doctorate in counseling and administration. She retired, after 38 years in education, as the head of counseling in the Altoona Area School District.

  In 2009, she helped start SOAR (Study, Overcome, Achieve Rewards) – a mentorship-based after-school educational program that helps youth attain college degrees – youth who have great potential but are struggling to find their way. The program helps them focus on their education and career goals so that they can be prepared to attend college (and for some, find a path out of poverty).

  If the young people stick with the program, they can eventually earn $7,500 toward that degree. But their true reward is that they have built a life-long relationship with an adult mentor and friend, one that supports and cares for them.

  I’ve been in the business of education for my entire professional life. And yet, when I hear stories like O’Rourke’s, I can’t help but feel gratitude.

  Gratitude for her commitment to our youth. Gratitude for her clear focus to make a difference in individual kids – every kid matters. Gratitude that even after retirement she found the energy and drive to continue with educational programs that make a difference in our communities and to be a trustee on her local community college’s board.

  Thank you, Dr. O’Rourke, for everything you have done for our communities and for your support of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and its president. I will miss your insight and support.

  See you at Penn Highlands.

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  Written By Dr. Steve Nunez, College’s Fifth President. This monthly series appears in The Tribune-Democrat, and will allow Dr. Nunez to provide his perspective on the value of education and of a community college.

  

• The Smell Of Football Is In The Air

  Posted November 8, 2021 at 9:33 am

  The original column appeared in the Tribune-Democrat, written by Dr. Steve Nunez. Click here to see original sourced column.

  I have fond memories of my seventh-grade year at Elk Garden Elementary.

  We were a small school located outside the metropolitan area of Lebanon, Va. (population 3,100), but we were also a proud, close-knit school and community – proud of our teachers, kids, and the education we received there.

  That year, I just happened to be the quarterback of the Elk Garden Goldies. My dad, coincidentally, was also my coach.

  During my first football game, I scored several TDs on the way to a blowout victory.

  It felt awesome to be a “winner.” However, the rest of the season was not quite as glamorous.

  During the very last game on the last play, with the score tied, I was tackled for a safety with no time remaining on the clock. Yes – I still remember that moment like it was yesterday.

  Dad said to me right before that last play, “Steven, whatever you do don’t get sacked in the end zone.” Dad had to be disappointed in me – he had to be, right?

  But after the game, he just hugged me and told me he loved me; he never spoke another word of it. That was Dad’s quiet way of telling me that this won’t be the last time you stumble and fall – and in the grand scheme of things, losing a seventh-grade football game was inconsequential.

  That was nearly the end of my football career. I suited up again in eighth grade, but my heart wasn’t into it and I found out that I wasn’t as athletic as I thought. I never really returned to organized sports after that.

  Fast forward three decades and I find myself with two sons – both gifted athletes who enjoyed playing football.

  They were naturals. When they put their minds to it, they could make the most difficult football moves look easy. At the age of 12, they could easily beat me in a dead sprint – it wasn’t even close.

  By the time they reached 14 or 15, I rarely wanted to tangle with them as they always seemed to hurt me.

  I had to learn verbal judo and issue threats of being grounded just to get myself out of wrestling matches which inevitably left me pinned, unceremoniously, to the living room floor.

  I still have strong, persistent memories of the boys playing organized football – both boys started playing when they were very young.

  Our home was continuously filled with the smells and sights of two boys engrossed in their sports – and when I say smells, there is nothing like the smell of teenage football practice gear.

  And while I didn’t have the athletic ability my two sons did, I could read. My poor sons were exposed to a rigorous weight training program throughout high school. I was always astounded how quickly they adapted to every new routine. Looking back, I may have been living out my own dreams through their exploits.

  Both enjoyed terrific individual successes as footballers but had diametrically opposed successes with their teams.

  The oldest played for a team that was inconsistent. I always felt great compassion for him and his teammates (I mean, we knew every single kid that played) when they walked off the field after another heartbreaking loss covered in sweat, dirt and bruises, with their heads low, and with sadness in their eyes.

  But what struck me is that most of them kept giving it their all, day after day, week after week, just to play that terribly hard sport. I admired that about them – their commitment to each other even in the face of defeat.

  The youngest played for a different high school and had tremendous team success – even winning a state championship once and being in the hunt for several others.

  But it was just as heartbreaking when he, and his team, walked off the field as seniors, the clear favorites to win it all, but losing a close one in the playoffs.

  Sports can teach a player many valuable lessons about life – commitment, work ethic, teamwork, brotherhood (or sisterhood), sacrifice, grit, and even empathy.

  But sports also remind us that we won’t always be winners on the field of life – that sometimes you get tackled for a safety with no time remaining on the clock.

  Sports’ greatest lesson is to move forward even when it is difficult, even in the face of defeat.

  The lesson is instilled in the Japanese proverb, “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.”

  And sometimes we just might need someone to help us up when we fall – like my Dad did so many decades ago.

  See you at Penn Highlands.

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  Written By Dr. Steve Nunez, College’s Fifth President. This monthly series appears in The Tribune-Democrat, and will allow Dr. Nunez to provide his perspective on the value of education and of a community college.

  

• Embracing The Motto Of Service Above Self

  Posted August 2, 2021 at 9:27 am

  The original column appeared in the Tribune-Democrat, written by Dr. Steve Nunez. Click here to see original sourced column.

  About seven years ago, Sauk Valley Community College, where I worked, hired a new president. During one of my first meetings with him, he asked me which community organizations I belonged to; I embarrassingly said none. He then went on to inform me that as I was a senior community college leader, he expected me to join and participate in several community organizations.

  It seems so logical to me now – I mean, the word “community” is embedded right in the name of community college. I, therefore, wholeheartedly agreed and quickly joined multiple organizations across several communities.

  That same boss suggested that I join a local chapter of Rotary International. Again, embarrassingly, I had to ask what the mission of Rotary was. He patiently explained that it was an organization dedicated to community service at the local, regional, national, and even international levels.

  The motto being “Service Above Self.”

  I was intrigued and soon joined the Dixon, Illinois, chapter of Rotary – where I was a member for five years.

  During those five years, we did great work for the Dixon community and raised more than $50,000 for college scholarships and participated in multiple community renewal projects.

  What impressed me most was that the Rotary Club was full of civic-minded, kind, and generous folks. As we say in the south, “they are good people,” and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them. Many are still good friends today.

  After being hired as President at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, I had a conversation with my own leadership team about joining community organizations, just as my former boss did with me those seven years ago.

  I have talented leaders on my team, and I stressed to them the importance of not only participating in but also providing leadership to community organizations.

  I was pleased. They were already engaged with and provided leadership to many community organizations. I’m proud to say that the College remains “plugged in” to our communities as we serve as members of and provide leadership to many civic, service, and economic development organizations.

  Last year, I decided to join the Ebensburg Rotary Club, where I quickly realized that members are good people who love their community.

  A short year later, I am now the club’s president. We are a small but mighty club that is invested in helping the Ebensburg community. Our list of annual projects is quite impressive and only seems to keep growing.

  We are most intently focused on designing and funding a dog park near Lake Rowena – and years of effort and persistence are finally paying off as we may be nearing the construction phase.

  I’ll leave you with a call to action – investigate your local community organizations (of any sort) and join one.

  Even if you can only infrequently participate, your expertise, your time, and your service is important to that club and to our community’s wellbeing. You won’t regret joining and you may find yourself falling in love with its mission – much as I did with the Rotary.

  If you’d like to help the Ebensburg Rotary Club in its efforts to complete a dog park, you can attend our Dawg Pawty fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 14th at Lake Rowena.

  And, we’ll see you at Penn Highlands.

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  Written By Dr. Steve Nunez, College’s Fifth President. This monthly series appears in The Tribune-Democrat, and will allow Dr. Nunez to provide his perspective on the value of education and of a community college.