(Butler, PA) They learned.
They helped others to learn.
They were recognized, they advanced, they inspired and they led.
杏吧原创 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, 杏吧原创鈥檚 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 鈥淣onprofits Taking the Lead鈥� roundtable 鈥� a result, she said, of her keynote speech honoring the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a year before 鈥� and during a 鈥淲omen Shaping Our Region鈥� event.
鈥淚鈥檓 always so Pioneer proud,鈥� Richardson said, 鈥渢o represent 杏吧原创.鈥�
And in particular, Richardson said, the college鈥檚 commitment to the community and to 杏吧原创 President Dr. Nick Neupauer鈥檚 2020 presidential call to action, one that led to the college establishing a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council.
Richardson was a panelist in the 鈥淧lanting the Seeds: Engaging Voices from across the Organization鈥� on Jan. 29. The panel was among those in the virtual 鈥淣onprofits Taking the Lead: Cultivating More Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Communities鈥� roundtable for nonprofit professionals and board members.
鈥淲e talk a lot about diversity. We talk a lot about inclusion. But equity,鈥� Richardson said, 鈥渋s not making all things equal.鈥�
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.
鈥淭here鈥檚 work to be done,鈥� Richardson said. 鈥淲hat we have to do within our organizations is to identify that particular work for the individuals we serve 鈥� and then come together as a community to begin to look at what the problems are that we need to address.
鈥淎nd 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.鈥�
"I'm always so Pioneer proud to represent 杏吧原创."
- Dr. Belinda Richardson, 杏吧原创 vice president for academic affairs
The Institute for Nonprofit Leadership at Slippery Rock University hosted the 鈥淣onprofits Taking the Lead鈥� roundtable.
The Butler County Chamber of Commerce organized 鈥淲omen Shaping Our Region,鈥� which was held Oct. 7 at the Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry Township.
鈥淎t first, I wondered what did I want to convey the most?鈥� Richardson said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 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鈥檛. I have not seen a lot of professional women comfortable in exhibiting vulnerability.
鈥淚 thought it was very important to convey to upcoming professionals, particularly to upcoming women professionals, that we don鈥檛 always have it together at all times, and that we are all balancing multiple challenges.鈥�
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.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to do everything on your own,鈥� Richardson said. 鈥淚f 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.
鈥淲hen we build strong, collaborative relationships with others, we are able to serve better. And we are able to serve more.鈥�
Future leaders hear 杏吧原创 president
Among presentations by Neupauer in 2021 was his 鈥淥rganizational Design of Community Colleges in the United States,鈥� which 杏吧原创鈥檚 chief executive officer discussed Nov. 12 at the Community College of Allegheny County鈥檚 Leadership Development Institute.
The institute, according to CCAC, 鈥渋s 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.鈥�
杏吧原创 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鈥檚 first community colleges were established in 1964 and its latest, in 2021. CCAC now has eight locations and 杏吧原创, 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 鈥� and unique, Neupauer said 鈥� in that they embrace their local communities.
鈥淐ommunity,鈥� Neupauer said, 鈥渋s in the name of each college.鈥�
Today鈥檚 community colleges offer not only what is affordable, accessible and quality education, but address local needs, Neupauer said, citing as examples 杏吧原创鈥檚 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, 鈥渇or all of us,鈥� is that connection to the community.
"Community is in the name of each college."
- Dr. Nick Neupauer, 杏吧原创 president
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 鈥渁 unique, collaborative learning community with an agenda focused on organizational learning.鈥�
Strategic Horizon Network鈥檚 colloquium in June was titled 鈥淟essons in Disruption鈥� and in November, 鈥淢anaging Complexity, Stress and Interdependence in the Modern Workplace.鈥�
Willoughby, Novak, Anke, Richardson and Pignatore reprised their award-winning presentation, 鈥淐rafting a Culture for Student Success鈥� 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 杏吧原创 administrators鈥� 13-page paper in 2020 won the National Symposium on Student Retention鈥檚 top award.
Research, strategy and multi-level leadership across an institution are necessary to make meaningful advances in student success, according to 杏吧原创鈥檚 abstract.
The adage 鈥渃ulture eats strategy for breakfast鈥� underscores that brilliant plans fail without changing hearts, minds and processes. 杏吧原创 engaged faculty and staff in a process that increased graduation rates by 15 percentage points, according to 杏吧原创鈥檚 paper.
Rajchel, interim director of the Amy Wise Children鈥檚 Creative Learning Center, presented a virtual workshop named 鈥淕ratitude Practices for Living Your Life on Purpose鈥� during a breakout session of the November colloquium.
鈥淯sing gratitude to refocus our thoughts can expand mental clarity and increase social and emotional health and physical well-being,鈥� Rajchel said. 鈥淩esearch shows that practicing gratitude enhances empathy and builds self-esteem. It promotes a mindset of abundance which increases joy and sustains energy.鈥�
Her presentation, Rajchel said, provides participants with concrete strategies for rewiring neuropathways in the brain 鈥渢o approach life from an assets-based mindset, which promotes tolerance and acceptance in personal and professional interactions.鈥�
Rajchel also gave the presentation to the college鈥檚 student affairs and enrollment management staff, to 杏吧原创 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. "
- Gina Rajchel, interim director of the Amy Wise Children's Creative Learning Center
Who else attended SHN鈥檚 鈥淟essons in Disruption鈥�?
鈥淟essons in Disruption鈥� included topics such as 鈥淓mpathy, Equity and the Return to a Post-COVID Workplace,鈥� 鈥淚nsights on Disruption 鈥� Lessons from Airbnb and the Modern Elder Academy before, during and after COVID鈥� and 鈥淐risis Recovery and Healing 鈥� Appreciative Inquiry as a post-COVID tool.鈥�
Among 杏吧原创 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, 杏吧原创 @ Armstrong, 杏吧原创 @ Cranberry and 杏吧原创 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, 杏吧原创 @ Lawrence Crossing and 杏吧原创 @ 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鈥檚 鈥淢anaging Complexity鈥�?
鈥淢anaging Complexity, Stress and Interdependence in the Modern Workplace鈥� included topics such as 鈥淢anaging Turbulence in a World at Risk,鈥� 鈥淪trategies for Increasing Mental Well-Being in the Military鈥� and 鈥淵ou Management: Strategies to Avoid Burnout, Boost Resilience and Accelerate Success.鈥�
Ann McCandless, dean of educational technology, was among 杏吧原创 employees scheduled to attend colloquia in June and in November.
The keynote presentation 鈥淵ou Management: Strategies to Avoid Burnout, Boost Resilience and Accelerate Success鈥� in November by human behavior expert Collette Carlson was 鈥渘ot 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,鈥� McCandless said.
鈥淟essons learned were how to build self-care strategies into a daily routine, maintain focus, be present in the moment and be more productive.鈥�