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Faculty Members Earn Promotion And Tenure

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College recently promoted and granted tenure to select faculty members who have, over time, demonstrated a commitment to excellence in teaching, advising, professional development, and service to the college and the community. Their work with students is exemplary and serves as an inspiration to students and colleagues alike.

Eligible faculty members undergo a rigorous application and review process that assesses their effectiveness in full-time teaching/advising and service to Penn Highlands, the community, and professional development.

Faculty Earning Advancement in Rank:

• Dr. Robert Clark from Associate Professor to Professor, Criminal Justice and Social Sciences. Dr. Clark began his full-time teaching career with Pennsylvania Highlands in January of 2011. He is a tenured professor for Pennsylvania Highlands and holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He also serves as an ACT 120 Certified Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officer, Certified Municipal Police Academy Instructor (MPOETC); ACT 235 Certified Lethal Weapons Instructor; Certified Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer for the Laurel Highlands Region; ILO (Intelligence Liaison Officer) through PaCIC, Certified Cybercrime Investigator (IFCI), and is a former Certified Diplomate Child Forensic Interviewer through the National Association of Child Forensic Interviewers.
• Ms. Laura Gaunt from Instructor to Assistant Professor, Health Care Professions. Ms. Gaunt began her full-time career with Pennsylvania Highlands in August of 2019. Prior to that, she worked as a staff nurse for 18 years and in nursing administration for two years. She teaches courses in Health Sciences. Ms. Gaunt is a graduate of the Conemaugh School of Nursing program and has a B.S. in Nursing from the University of Pittsburgh.
• Ms. Jill Mitchell from Associate Professor to Professor, Biological Sciences. Ms. Mitchell began her career with Pennsylvania Highlands as a full-time faculty member in January of 2010. She has served as the advisor of the College’s Biology Club, an ACE Faculty liaison, and lab manager. Ms. Mitchell has a M.A. in Science Education, Biology from Western Governors University, a B.S. in Biology Education, and a B.A. in Biology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
• Ms. Michelle Myers from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor, Biological Sciences. Ms. Myers began her career with Pennsylvania Highlands as a full-time faculty member in August of 2014. Ms. Myers is the Sustainable Hydroponic Agriculture and Rural Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator and also teaches courses in Biology. She has a B.S. in Biology from Juniata College, and has a M.S. in Biology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Faculty Earning Tenure:

• Ms. Melissa Boback, Associate Professor, Accounting. Ms. Boback began her career with Pennsylvania Highlands in January of 2017. She holds a M.S. in Accounting from the University of Phoenix, a B.S. in Accounting from Mount Aloysius College, and an A.S.B. in Accounting and Microcomputer Applications from Cambria-Rowe Business College.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has been serving the region since 1994 and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.