Newsroom

Omar Strohm Hired As AVP Of Finance

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has appointed Omar Strohm as the College’s new Associate Vice President (AVP) of Finance. 

Omar Strohm, Associate Vice President of Finance

A native of Altoona, Strohm has more than 20 years of experience working in local government, including serving as the Finance and Human Resources Director (2003-18), Deputy City Manager (2018-21), and City Manager (2021-23) in the City of Altoona. 

As the AVP of Finance, Strohm serves as the College’s Chief Financial Officer, providing leadership and guidance to the business office, student financial services, procurement, the bookstore, and dining services. In this capacity, he is responsible for the development, assessment, and improvement of services in each of the supervised areas. 

“Everyone here has been very open and willing to help me,” Strohm stated. “I already feel like I am a part of the family. It has been a positive experience so far getting to know everyone and adjusting to the new position. There is a lot of information and processes to learn, but I am beginning to get settled in.” 

Strohm holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) and multiple master’s degrees. These include a Master of Arts in Industrial & Labor Relations from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Business Administration from Saint Francis University, and a Master of Community and Economic Development, Public Administration, and the Psychology of Leadership from Penn State. 

He is also a Member of the International City/County Management Association and the Association of Pennsylvania Municipal Managers, as well as a former Board Member of the Altoona Blair County Development Corporation, Altoona Parking Authority, Central Blair Recreation Commission, and the Vice-Chair of the Altoona Water Authority. 

“For more than twenty years, I provided leadership to the City of Altoona,” Strohm stated. “I have also spent a lot of my adult life pursuing degrees in higher education and have always wanted to work in higher education. This College has a great reputation, and I am excited to get started.”