(Butler, PA) They learned.
They helped others to learn.
They were recognized, they advanced, they inspired and they led.
Butler County Community College employees in 2021 shared or gained insights during in-person or virtual conferences, panels or roundtables; were honored, appointed or published.
Among them, Dr. Belinda Richardson.
Richardson, BC3’s vice president for academic affairs, is also a board member of the Butler County United Way and of the YWCA Butler.
She shared insights twice as a panelist in 2021.
Richardson discussed diversity, equity and inclusion during a “Nonprofits Taking the Lead” roundtable – a result, she said, of her keynote speech honoring the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a year before – and during a “Women Shaping Our Region” event.
“I’m always so Pioneer proud,” Richardson said, “to represent BC3.”
And in particular, Richardson said, the college’s commitment to the community and to BC3 President Dr. Nick Neupauer’s 2020 presidential call to action, one that led to the college establishing a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council.
Richardson was a panelist in the “Planting the Seeds: Engaging Voices from across the Organization” on Jan. 29. The panel was among those in the virtual “Nonprofits Taking the Lead: Cultivating More Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Communities” roundtable for nonprofit professionals and board members.
“We talk a lot about diversity. We talk a lot about inclusion. But equity,” Richardson said, “is not making all things equal.”
Equality is giving everyone the same-sized box upon which to stand to see over a fence, Richardson said. Equity is giving everyone the sized box needed upon which to stand to see over a fence, she said.
“There’s work to be done,” Richardson said. “What we have to do within our organizations is to identify that particular work for the individuals we serve … and then come together as a community to begin to look at what the problems are that we need to address.
“And then, from each of our areas of expertise, we address those needs so we can introduce the concept of equity and support individuals so that they have the opportunity to learn and grow.”
“I’m always so Pioneer proud to represent BC3.”
The Institute for Nonprofit Leadership at Slippery Rock University hosted the “Nonprofits Taking the Lead” roundtable.
The Butler County Chamber of Commerce organized “Women Shaping Our Region,” which was held Oct. 7 at the Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry Township.
“At first, I wondered what did I want to convey the most?” Richardson said. “I didn’t know going right in what I wanted to talk about, but I knew what I wanted to represent as a woman, a woman leader in this area. I wanted to be able to exhibit a vulnerability that professional women often don’t. I have not seen a lot of professional women comfortable in exhibiting vulnerability.
“I thought it was very important to convey to upcoming professionals, particularly to upcoming women professionals, that we don’t always have it together at all times, and that we are all balancing multiple challenges.”
Her messages to those in attendance were to learn how to manage and overcome challenges; that to whom much is given, much is required; and collaboration.
“You don’t have to do everything on your own,” Richardson said. “If you want to do well in a position as a leader, you must connect with others in the community, other experts, so that you can build strong collaborations.
“When we build strong, collaborative relationships with others, we are able to serve better. And we are able to serve more.”
Future leaders hear BC3 president
Among presentations by Neupauer in 2021 was his “Organizational Design of Community Colleges in the United States,” which BC3’s chief executive officer discussed Nov. 12 at the Community College of Allegheny County’s Leadership Development Institute.
The institute, according to CCAC, “is designed to train and retain a diverse group of leaders. The institute enables members of the CCAC family to develop key leadership and management skills and explore the potential for leadership in a variety of senior college roles.”
BC3 and CCAC are among about 1,100 community colleges in the United States, according to Neupauer, who told participants at the CCAC Boyce campus in Monroeville that the institutions of higher education are largely a 20th-century American phenomenon. Pennsylvania’s first community colleges were established in 1964 and its latest, in 2021. CCAC now has eight locations and BC3, six.
Governance of community colleges in the United States varies, Neupauer told participants.
Some leaders are publicly elected, others appointed, Neupauer said. Some leaders are paid, others volunteer.
Sponsorship of community colleges also varies, Neupauer said, noting that some in Pennsylvania are funded by counties or municipalities and others, by school districts.
Regardless of differences in governance or sponsorship, community colleges are similar – and unique, Neupauer said – in that they embrace their local communities.
“Community,” Neupauer said, “is in the name of each college.”
Today’s community colleges offer not only what is affordable, accessible and quality education, but address local needs, Neupauer said, citing as examples BC3’s launching of an opioid addiction and recovery program, serving as a convener among various stakeholders, developing partnerships with other institutions of higher education or with businesses focused on workforce shortages, and by having employees serve on boards of nonprofit organizations.
The responsiveness to local needs can also appeal to donors, Neupauer said, adding that the path forward, “for all of us,” is that connection to the community.
“Community is in the name of each college.”
6 share insights at SHN
Dr. Case Willoughby, Dr. Josh Novak, Sharla Anke, Richardson, Amy Pignatore and Gina Rajchel shared insights as 2021 presenters at Strategic Horizon Network, described on its website as “a unique, collaborative learning community with an agenda focused on organizational learning.”
Strategic Horizon Network’s colloquium in June was titled “Lessons in Disruption” and in November, “Managing Complexity, Stress and Interdependence in the Modern Workplace.”
Willoughby, Novak, Anke, Richardson and Pignatore reprised their award-winning presentation, “Crafting a Culture for Student Success” for the June colloquium.
Willoughby is vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, Novak is dean of student development, Anke is assistant dean of institutional research and planning, and Pignatore is dean of admissions and the college registrar.
The BC3 administrators’ 13-page paper in 2020 won the National Symposium on Student Retention’s top award.
Research, strategy and multi-level leadership across an institution are necessary to make meaningful advances in student success, according to BC3’s abstract.
The adage “culture eats strategy for breakfast” underscores that brilliant plans fail without changing hearts, minds and processes. BC3 engaged faculty and staff in a process that increased graduation rates by 15 percentage points, according to BC3’s paper.
Rajchel, interim director of the Amy Wise Children’s Creative Learning Center, presented a virtual workshop named “Gratitude Practices for Living Your Life on Purpose” during a breakout session of the November colloquium.
“Using gratitude to refocus our thoughts can expand mental clarity and increase social and emotional health and physical well-being,” Rajchel said. “Research shows that practicing gratitude enhances empathy and builds self-esteem. It promotes a mindset of abundance which increases joy and sustains energy.”
Her presentation, Rajchel said, provides participants with concrete strategies for rewiring neuropathways in the brain “to approach life from an assets-based mindset, which promotes tolerance and acceptance in personal and professional interactions.”
Rajchel also gave the presentation to the college’s student affairs and enrollment management staff, to BC3 tutors and to the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV.
“Research shows that practicing gratitude enhances empathy and builds self-esteem. It promotes a mindset of abundance which increases joy and sustains energy.”
Who else attended SHN’s “Lessons in Disruption”?
“Lessons in Disruption” included topics such as “Empathy, Equity and the Return to a Post-COVID Workplace,” “Insights on Disruption – Lessons from Airbnb and the Modern Elder Academy before, during and after COVID” and “Crisis Recovery and Healing – Appreciative Inquiry as a post-COVID tool.”
Among BC3 employees scheduled to attend in June were Leah Albert, online advising coordinator and academic adviser; Dr. Patty Annear, dean, Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health; Julia Carney, assistant dean, nursing; Erin Cioffi, assistant director, high school programming; Jocilyn Csernyik, student success coach, BC3 @ Armstrong, BC3 @ Cranberry and BC3 main campus.
Also, Ivory Dunlap, academic counselor, retention specialist and assistant professor; Barbara Gade, grant director, adult literacy; Amy Gallagher, career development coordinator and academic adviser; Ben Getkin, tutor coordinator; and Ramin Hajave, instructor, business.
Also, Brandy Huff, records and registration assistant; Jerry Johnston, admissions representative and business relations; Mary McGinnis, transfer coordinator and academic adviser; Martin Miller, dean, library sciences; and Sherri Osborne, student success coach, BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing and BC3 @ LindenPointe.
Also, Becky Smith, associate director, records and registration; Kim Smith, assistant director, records and registration; and Travis Timmons, assistant professor, liberal arts.
Who else attended SHN’s “Managing Complexity”?
“Managing Complexity, Stress and Interdependence in the Modern Workplace” included topics such as “Managing Turbulence in a World at Risk,” “Strategies for Increasing Mental Well-Being in the Military” and “You Management: Strategies to Avoid Burnout, Boost Resilience and Accelerate Success.”
Ann McCandless, dean of educational technology, was among BC3 employees scheduled to attend colloquia in June and in November.
The keynote presentation “You Management: Strategies to Avoid Burnout, Boost Resilience and Accelerate Success” in November by human behavior expert Collette Carlson was “not only entertaining, but extremely informative and helpful for finding ways to reduce stress and anxiety during these times of uncertainty and amongst all of the changes that have occurred in education and the workplace,” McCandless said.
“Lessons learned were how to build self-care strategies into a daily routine, maintain focus, be present in the moment and be more productive.”
“Lessons learned were how to build self-care strategies into a daily routine, maintain focus, be present in the moment and be more productive.”
BC3 employees scheduled to attend in November were Cathy Baranowski, KEYS secretary; Mary Kay Bernat, student services/technology support specialist, BC3 @ LindenPointe; Debra Buttyan, educational technology support specialist; Lauren Buchanan, director, BC3 @ LindenPointe; and Lisa Campbell, dean, Workforce Development.
Also, Michael Catanzarito, coordinator of student services, BC3 @ Brockway; Chris Cleary, coordinator of science and technology labs; Bobbi Jo Cornetti, development coordinator, BC3 Education Foundation; Megan Coval, executive director, BC3 Education Foundation and External Relations; and Paula Crider, assistant director of human resources/recruitment and training development.
Also, Susan Davis, student services specialist, BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing; Karen Fair, secretary, STEM Division; Lynn Ismail, assistant director/financial manager, BC3 Education Foundation; Dr. Ryan Kociela, director, BC3 @ Cranberry; and Kelly McKissick, coordinator of professional education and certificate programs.
Also, Mikayla Moretti, director of special events, BC3 Education Foundation; Torey O’Donnell, associate director, student life; Brian Opitz, executive director, operations; Dr. Natacia Owens, assistant dean, advising and career planning; Renee Piovesan, secretary, vice president for academic affairs; and Rajchel.
Also, Gloria Sabatelli, coordinator of educational technology; Carla Schoentag, KEYS student facilitator; and Kristen Schooley, secretary to director of Lifelong Learning.
Who else attended both SHN colloquia?
Matt Kovac, dean of STEM, was among BC3 staff members to attend “Lessons in Disruption” and “Managing Complexity.”
“As with all previous SHN conferences that I attended, both of these were interesting and informative,” Kovac said. “While I obtained at least one and often many worthwhile takeaways from each of the presentations, probably the most beneficial for me professionally was Dr. David Cooperrider’s presentation.”
Cooperrider is a Fairmount Minerals Professor of Social Entrepreneurship at the Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland. His presentation in June was titled “Crisis Recovery and Healing – Appreciative Inquiry as a post-COVID tool.”
Appreciative Inquiry methodology is a collaborative, strengths-based approach to change, Kovac said, adding that proponents of Appreciative Inquiry argue that it provides organizations with energy for positive change and innovation.
“This is in contrast to a deficits-based approach which, Appreciative Inquiry proponents argue, places an unhealthy over-emphasis on fixing what is wrong,” Kovac said. “While it appears to me that Appreciative Inquiry is a useful model to utilize in general, it may be especially beneficial at a time when organizations and their employees have been, and still are, dealing with the multitude of challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“As with all previous SHN conferences that I attended, both of these were interesting and informative.”
Other BC3 employees scheduled to attend both colloquia were Anke; Rhiannon Baron, student services/technology support specialist, BC3 @ Cranberry; Kate Buza, assistant director, human resources/benefit administration; Scott Campbell, assistant dean, academic assessment and planning; and Sean Carroll, director, BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing.
Also, Tina Fleeger, executive director, human resources/equal opportunity compliance officer; Jake Friel, controller; Jim Hrabosky, vice president for administration and finance; Karen Jack, KEYS Project director; Heather Jewart, coordinator of tutoring; Steve Joseph, dean, liberal arts; Jenn Loue, coordinator of access and disability resources; and Paul Lucas, director, Lifelong Learning.
Also, Dr. Jill Martin Rend, director, BC3 @ Brockway; Viviane Marx, student services, BC3 @ Brockway; Jess Matonak, executive director, communications and marketing; McCandless and Neupauer.
Also, Novak, Pignatore, Richardson, Morgan Rizzardi, associate director, admissions; Kathy Strobel, coordinator of business training; Willoughby; and Dr. Nichol Zaginaylo, dean, education and behavioral sciences.
Ex-YSU educator returns for conference
Bernat joined three educators from Youngstown State University as a panelist for “The Basic Course: Teaching Communication to Distant Learners in a Time of Crisis,” a presentation during the Ohio Communication Association annual conference Oct. 1-2.
The theme of the conference, held at Youngstown State and virtually, was “Resilience Through Communication.”
From the beginning of the pandemic, distance learning in the basic communication course has become a valued option for teaching principles and practices of oral communication to students, according to information provided by Bernat, a former adjunct instructor at Youngstown State.
The educators shared insights on how the basic course faculty at Youngstown State adapted to the need to provide a distance experience during the health crisis of student learners.
Attendees turned presenters
Pignatore, Rizzardi and Becky Smith attended the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers meeting March 29-April 21.
The conference included recorded sessions and a live presenter question-and-answer period to enable attendees to engage beyond the event end date. A keynote speaker, Joel Zeff, reminded participants to “not take ourselves too seriously and celebrate the ‘ta-da!’ moments in our personal and professional lives with humor and passion.”
Topics in the virtual conference included Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act updates and planning and implementing impactful virtual and in-person events amid the dynamics of a global pandemic.
Pignatore, Rizzardi, Becky Smith and Jessica Horgos, assistant director of admissions, then submitted a proposal to the Middle States Association of Collegiate Registrars and Officers of Admission to present a session titled “Square Pegs-Round Holes: Adapting to Organizational Change when Nothing ‘Fits.”
The session was presented during the virtual conference and meeting Dec. 1.
Concurrent enrollment topics discussed
Cioffi attended the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships’ national conference Oct. 24-26 in Orlando, Fla.
The membership-based organization is the sole accrediting body for concurrent enrollment partnerships, Cioffi said.
The organization helps programs to adhere to the highest standards so students experience a seamless transition to college and teachers benefit from meaningful, ongoing professional development.
Cioffi attended sessions such as the “Accreditation Institute,” which included information on applying for accreditation for BC3’s College Within the High School program. Additional sessions were titled “Student Success through High School and Community College Partnerships,” “Leveraging the First-Year Student,” “High Expectations for Every Student” and “College and Career Transition.”
Domestic violence teleconference theme
Kim Smith attended the PurpleOne “Dynamics of Domestic Violence and the Impact on Victims” teleconference Nov. 8.
The teleconference, sponsored by the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit 5, Edinboro, was designed to inform participants about the societal, emotional, behavioral and physical effects of domestic violence on victims, on witnesses in the classroom and on the community.
“I learned these effects manifest as post-traumatic stress disorder, confusion and trouble concentrating,” Smith said. Other effects include dissociation – “daydreaming, memory loss,” Smith said – stress in education and or at work, and difficulty in obtaining, maintaining and adjusting to employment or the classroom.
Other effects of domestic violence, Smith said, include self-medication such as drug and alcohol use and abuse.
PurpleOne, Smith said, “detailed how domestic violence is a community concern that directly impacts the growth of the community.” Community members can be prosocial bystanders who can positively impact the outcome of a harmful situation, Smith said, “often by positively affecting the incident and supporting the victim.”
The teleconference also included resources on how local organizations and businesses can positively affect change and promote community growth and success.
3 hear updates from state official
Annie Lindsay, Stephanie Long and Zaginaylo joined teacher education faculty and deans from institutions statewide at the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges of Teacher Education conference in Harrisburg.
Lindsay is BC3’s Praxis program director and with Long serves as an instructor in education and behavioral sciences.
Professional development on a variety of current teacher education topics was provided, Zaginaylo said.
Noe Ortega, the state secretary of education, attended the conference and provided updates about the teacher certification process.
The conference, Zaginaylo said, “provided a great opportunity for faculty and administrators to network with one another and with representatives from the state Department of Education.”
Workforce Development leader lauded
The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Women’s Leadership Council selected Lisa Campbell, dean of Workforce Development, as one of three 2021 History-Making Women of Butler County.
In recognition of Women’s History Month, the United Way in March recognized women who are creating positive change in the region, and lauded their leadership and dedication to others.
Campbell serves on boards for the Butler AM Rotary Club, YWCA Butler, the Visiting Nurses Association of Western Pennsylvania, Butler; and Butler Downtown. She is also a past president of the Rotary, and was among community volunteers to help to found the initial Butler County Empowerment Initiative.
Among goals of the initiative are to eliminate for job-seekers barriers that could prevent employment, and to educate employers about the potential of those candidates.
Fleming picked as Paragon winner
Amanda Fleming, college business services specialist, received in November a Phi Theta Kappa Middle States Region Paragon Chapter Adviser Award for 2020.
Fleming is primary adviser of BC3’s Rho Phi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international academic honor society for associate degree-granting colleges. Those who have been a Phi Theta Kappa chapter adviser for fewer than four years are eligible to receive the Paragon Adviser award. She began as a Rho Phi co-adviser in fall 2017.
As a co-adviser, Fleming helped to lead programming associated with Phi Theta Kappa’s Middle States Completes Week and Rho Phi’s College Project. She was also instrumental in teaching student leaders about their new responsibilities as Rho Phi officers, and coordinated a number of fundraising activities.
Tomorrow’s firefighters among topics
Lisa Campbell participated on a panel to provide testimony to the state Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee at the Somerset Volunteer Fire Company fire hall.
The panel included representatives from Westmoreland County Community College and from the Community College of Allegheny County. Panelists testified about next-generation firefighters and discussed recruitment and retention, junior firefighters, online training, technology, partnerships and dedicated funding to support first-responders.
Kiley Cribbs, coordinator of EMS and police training programs, attended a virtual Pennsylvania emergency medical services conference that provided professional development and continuing education sessions for EMS providers and for EMS educators.
Among the sessions Cribbs attended were those titled “Recruitment, Engagement and Retention of EMS Workforce;” “A Matter of Degrees: The Case for Higher Education in EMS;” “Human Trafficking” and “Rural EMS Integration of Intermediate Providers.”
Educational sessions focused on teaching strategies for the ever-changing world of emergency health care, Cribbs said.
Cribbs also attended webinars for Augusoft in support of her role as the lead power-user for Lumens, BC3’s continuing education and workforce development enrollment management system.
Augusoft webinar topics included system upgrades; new features, such as the certificate module; scholarships; and feature enhancement to the finance module. Lumens also presented webinars on training opportunities and strategies during COVID -19.
The Pennsylvania Association of Hazmat Technicians conference provided a networking opportunity for Kevin Smith, coordinator of BC3’s Fire and HazMat training programs, to promote training opportunities at BC3.
Hazmat team members from multiple states area attended the conference in Seven Springs, where participants discussed previous incidents and their response and attended a presentation from David (Randy) Padfield, director, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
Smith also attended a discussion with representatives from PEMA, the state Department of Environmental Protection and the state fire academy, and took a class about propane emergencies.
The class, Smith said, “covered the properties of propane, its hazards, preplanning and how to address a leaking container on an emergency scene.”
Smith also attended a class about hazardous material properties and tactics to be used when modern technology fails in the field.
Ken Clowes, community initiatives center assistant, presented or represented “Hope is Dope: Reset Your Brain” to a variety of organizations, service providers and businesses.
Among those to whom Clowes presented the college’s opioid initiative were the Butler Collaborative for Families, the Mercer County Resource Collaboration, the Butler Clergy Network and FirstEnergy Corp.
He also represented the initiative at a New Castle drug court.
The purpose, Clowes said, is to address the opioid crisis “through programming and education that benefits the individuals who have, or are, suffering from substance-use disorder, as well as the service providers who care for these individuals, and the family and community members who looking for alternative options.
“‘Hope is Dope’ has been very well received in every presentation and we continue to hold our promise to help reduce stigma throughout the community and empower people through education and science-based learning.”
McKissick, Strobel, Maria Chvala and Cribbs attended the LERN virtual conference Nov. 15-18.
Chvala is coordinator of industrial safety training. The 2021 LERN conference was her first.
“Each day there were several learning sessions a person could attend with a variety of topics,” Chvala said. “That’s what made it nice. You were able to choose what interests you and what might be beneficial to your area.”
Chvala attended sessions called “Optimizing Prices” and “Hot Marketing Tips.”
“Optimizing Prices” was described by LERN as not being an art form, but a process in which participants would learn how to determine the best price to maximize income and registrations.
“Hot Marketing Tips” was described by LERN as “making big money by repositioning just a few courses in your print brochure with our new page layout strategy.”
“Each day there were several learning sessions a person could attend with a variety of topics. That’s what made it nice."
“This was about the best way to design a brochure, placement of key courses, use of single-image banners and colored boxes,” Chvala said. “Definitely worth the time to attend.”
Other LERN sessions were named “Blow Up the Silos,” described as a new way of assigning staff duties to address peak times with limited staff; “Reducing Post-Pandemic Anxiety” and “Finding & Keeping Great Instructors.”
2 lead new divisions
BC3’s humanities and social science division, its largest with 24 associate degree programs and five certificate or workplace certificate programs, was replaced with a new education and behavioral sciences division and with a new liberal arts division.
Zaginaylo was named dean of BC3’s education and behavioral sciences division, which incorporates 12 associate degree programs and one certificate program.
Joseph became dean of the college’s liberal arts division, which incorporates 12 associate degree programs and four certificate or workplace certificate programs.
Joseph was the dean of the former humanities and social science division and Zaginaylo, the former associate dean.
BC3’s education and behavioral sciences division will include nine transfer and three career associate degree programs.
The college’s liberal arts division will include six transfer and six career associate degree programs.
Education and behavioral sciences will also include teacher certification preparation training.
Zaginaylo previously served at BC3 as a faculty member and as assistant dean of humanities and social science.
Joseph previously served as dean of library services.
4 receive tenure
Hajave received tenure in 2021, as did Melissa Griffie, Kristine Kenny and Jessica Lasanich, instructors in the Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health.
3 published
Dr. David Gesicki, a biology instructor in BC3’s STEM Division, co-authored an article with two educators from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, that was published Aug. 17 as a featured article in the peer-reviewed Journal of Field Orinthology.
Gesicki worked with Ian Anderson, of Bowling Green’s Department of Biological Sciences, and with Dr. Verner P. Bingman, of the university’s Department of Psychology and JP Scott Center for Neuroscience, Mind and Behavior, on an article headlined “Flight directions of songbirds are unaffected by the topography of Lake Erie’s southern coastline during fall migration.”
Joy Walsh, a professor in BC3’s liberal arts division, published a book review of “The Ardent Swarm,” by Yamen Manai in World Literature Today’s autumn 2021 issue, and attended the virtual National Council of Teachers of English annual convention Nov. 18-21.
Mike Dittman, a professor in BC3’s liberal arts division, completed book reviews for the “International Journal of Sequential Art” and had an essay accepted for publication in “The Adolescentia Project: Essays on Music, Adolescence, and Identity.”
Dittman also presented workshops and was a speaker at the West Virginia Writers annual membership meeting in June; attended the Writers Association of Northern Appalachia’s virtual conference in September; the Lit Youngstown Fall Literary Festival in October; and participated in the state House College Textbook Affordability Advisory Committee.
He was also named poetry editor for the “Appalachian Literary Journal” and facilitated an ekphratic creative writing workshop in partnership with the BC3 Writers Club and Butler’s Maridon Museum.
