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College Foundation Names Four New Members To Its Board Of Directors

Posted October 19, 2026 at 8:38 am

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation has welcomed four new members to its Board of Directors. Jessica Carpenter, Bettina Fochler, Heather Franci, and Sean McCool have started their respective four-year terms, bringing fresh perspectives and expertise to the organization.

“We are pleased to welcome these individuals to the Foundation Board,” stated Carole VanMeter, Director of the Foundation. “Their diverse backgrounds, community involvement, and commitment to education will help strengthen our partnerships and expand opportunities for students, alumni, and the communities we serve.”

Carpenter is a Software Engineer & Data Scientist at Concurrent Technologies Corporation, where she has worked since June 2023 on artificial intelligence and machine learning development, workforce AI initiatives, and technical project leadership. Before transitioning into technology, she spent 19 years as a teacher at Somerset Area School District from 2004 to 2023, focusing on STEM curriculum development, lesson planning, and community engagement. This unique blend of education and engineering experience allows her to bridge technical innovation with a strong understanding of learning and workforce needs. Jessica holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from West Virginia University (2004), an M.S. in Educational Leadership from Penn West (2010), and a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Colorado Boulder (2023).

Fochler serves as Chief Credit Officer and Chief Risk Officer of AmeriServ Financial, Inc., holding more than 25 years of experience in credit risk management. Since January 2017, she has led the credit risk function, guiding underwriting standards and loan portfolio performance, and she was recently appointed Chief Risk Officer to oversee enterprise-wide risk and regulatory alignment. Earlier in her tenure, she served as Credit Manager, where she handled commercial loan underwriting and helped manage asset quality across the institution. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business from the University of Pittsburgh (2000) and has long led AmeriServ’s fundraising efforts for St. Vincent DePaul’s Food for Families project.

Franci is currently the Chief Nursing Officer at Penn Highlands Healthcare, where she oversees nursing services and operations across eight hospitals and three long-term care facilities. Her career with Penn Highlands began in 1997 as a Staff RN and advanced steadily through roles including Nursing Supervisor, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit Director, Service Line Director for the Heart, Lung, and Brain & Spine Centers, and Assistant Chief Nursing Officer before her appointment to the top nursing role in 2022. She brings deep expertise in cardiovascular critical care along with proven strength in service line strategy, operations, and financial management. Franci earned her Bachelor of Science from Carlow University in 1997 and a Master’s in Business and Health Care Administration from Point Park University in 2021.

McCool serves as Assistant Vice President & Business Relationship Manager at 1ST SUMMIT BANK, where he grows business client relationships and delivers customized lending and banking solutions. He joined the bank in 2021 as Public Relations & Communications Manager, leading strategic communications and brand positioning, after nearly a decade at Penn Highlands Community College as a Creative Services & Marketing Specialist guiding branding, marketing, and social media efforts across multiple campuses. Deeply committed to his community, Sean serves as Vice President of the Cambria County Backpack Project, chairs the Hoops4Hunger fundraising event, and contributes to the American Heart Association’s Laurel Highlands Heart Ball. He holds a B.S. in Communication & Media Studies from Slippery Rock University and a Certificate in Business & Commercial Lending from the American Banking Association.

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation is a non-profit educational trust under Section 501(c)(3) and actively pursues financial support for Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and its students. It achieves this by cultivating relationships, raising funds, and expertly managing resources.