Newsroom

Dr. Robert Clark appointed to Assistant Professor position

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Robert M. Clark to the position of Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences. This position is both full-time and tenure-track based.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Clark was both an Instructor and Lecturer for Pennsylvania Highlands in the Criminal Justice department from Spring 2011 through Spring 2013, while also serving as department lead. He currently serves as Curriculum Committee Chair for the College. Before teaching at Pennsylvania Highlands, Dr. Clark taught undergraduate-level courses as a Visiting Assistant Professor at St. Francis University (Depts. of Sociology/Criminal Justice and Social Work), and as a full-time/temporary Instructor at California University of Pennsylvania (Dept. of Justice, Law and Society). He also teaches graduate-level courses in leadership for Duquesne University’s School of Leadership and Professional Advancement.

Before teaching, Dr. Clark worked exclusively in county government-level social services and the court system in three states as a supervisor, trainer, county multi-disciplinary team co-coordinator, and forensic interviewer. His primary focus was working with individuals in the juvenile justice system as well as adults in the victim services system, which included those in court-supervised probation, substance abuse treatment, child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault cases. Along with law enforcement and county prosecutors, Dr. Clark conducted forensic interviewing of victims and alleged perpetrators in preparation for court, as well as participated in court-record reviews, judicial and District Attorney conferences, depositions, court-testifying and helped write various court documents, juvenile compromises, and victim impact statements. Additionally, he has over 700 hours of certified training, as well as direct professional experience and expertise in the areas of child abuse and neglect crime, sex crimes and analysis, PTSD, adult victim services, and crimes codes associated within these specific areas.

Robert earned his Ph.D. in Administration and Leadership Studies (concentration in sociology, political science, leadership and economics), an M.A. in Sociology (concentration in human services with a substance abuse focus) and a B.A. in Sociology (Applied Social Research track), all from Indiana University of Pennsylvania

.

Heather Jo Eckels joins Lady Black Bears as new Head Coach

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is happy to announce that Heather Jo Eckels will join the Lady Black Bears as the Head Coach of the women’s volleyball team.

Eckels graduated from Altoona Area High School in 1995, then went on to obtain her Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Government and Public Service with an interdisciplinary minor in Management. After a year of working for the Blair County District Attorney’s Office as a Victim/Witness Advocate, Eckels again attended the Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she earned her Master of Arts degree in History.

Eckels has been an Instructor of history at Penn State Altoona for the past five years and is also employed by the Altoona Area School District as a Pennsylvania Literacy Corps Coordinator. In addition, Eckels works as a PIAA official for both volleyball and softball.

She began her collegiate career at Penn State Altoona where she played volleyball for two seasons. Eckels served as the Penn State Altoona Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach during the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons.

Grand Opening for Blair Center to be held on July 31

After months of anticipation, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is announcing the grand opening of the College’s Blair Center. Community members will be able to tour the state-of-the-art, multi-classroom facility in the Logan Valley Mall, next to Macy’s, at a Grand Opening on Wednesday, July 31st, from 2pm – 6pm. College President Dr. Walter Asonevich and members of the faculty and staff will be on-hand to greet and meet with visitors.

The Grand Opening will include refreshments, give-a-ways and a live broadcast with Hot 100. In addition to touring, perspective students can speak with both admissions counselors and financial aid staff. Potential students can even win an iPAD Mini; all they must do to enter is complete the application process for the fall semester.

Pennsylvania Highlands offers over 30 associate degree, diploma, and certificate programs in a variety of flexible formats (daytime, evening, and online courses). Please join us as we celebrate the opening of our Blair Center.

For additional information, please contact the College’s Blair Center at 814-201-2700 or blair@pennhighlands.edu.

College nationally recognized for Affordability

The U.S. Department of Education is recognizing Pennsylvania Highlands Community College for its strength in affordability. According to a study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, Penn Highlands ranks 28^th in the nation in for lowest net price of two-year public institutions and first in this category for two-year public institutions in the state of Pennsylvania. The data included was from the 2010-2011 academic year.

The calculation for net price includes a combination of tuition, fees, and text book costs for students, minus grants and scholarships received. For the 2010-2011 academic year, 68% of Penn Highlands’ students qualified for and received federal, state, or local aid and/or scholarships.

“This recognition is a testament to our Financial Aid department’s diligence in serving our students and our institutions commitment to providing an affordable education,” said Dr. Walter Asonevich, College President. “We recognize that our responsibility to these students goes beyond the classroom and that their futures can be positively impacted by keeping down the level of debt incurred in the pursuit of a college education.”

Pennsylvania Highlands serves approximately 2,000 students annually from its various locations in Cambria, Somerset, Huntingdon, and Blair Counties.

Richard Bukoski set to head new Programs in Comm. Studies and Media Production

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is happy to announce the appointment of Richard Bukoski to the full-time, tenure track position of Instructor, Communication and Media Studies at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College beginning this fall.

Richard, known as Rick Shepard on radio and television since 1984, is currently employed as News Director and Copywriter at Forever Broadcasting in Johnstown. Rick was an assistant news producer and on-air talent at WJAC-TV and also operated the Central Pennsylvania Radio Reader – a reading service for the visually challenged in the region.

Rick holds a BA in Communications from Edinboro University, an MA in Adult Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Communications Media and Instructional Technology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Rick will serve as lead faculty for the newly created Communication Studies and Media Production programs.