(Butler, PA) A 杏吧原创 graduate instrumental in the creation of summer enrichment camps for children at 杏吧原创 who later earned master鈥檚 degrees in fields that include business administration has been named dean of the college鈥檚 largest academic division.
Sherri Mack, who achieved a master of science degree in database technologies and systems engineering, and a master of business administration degree with a concentration in marketing from Regis University, Denver, has been chosen to oversee a 杏吧原创 business division that offers students 23 associate degree, certificate or workplace certificate options.
Mack, of Butler, is also graduate of Butler Senior High School, 杏吧原创 and Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. In addition to serving as an instructor and later as coordinator of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Kids on Campus program, Mack taught in the college鈥檚 Workforce Development division and as a faculty member in its business division.
The recipient of local and multistate teaching awards has served as the business division鈥檚 interim dean since Dr. Chris Ola stepped down as dean in July 2019.
鈥淪herri has worked her way up at the organization,鈥� said Dr. Nick Neupauer, president of 杏吧原创. 鈥淪he has held a variety of different positions in a lot of different areas of the college. She not only loves 杏吧原创, but she also understands the college from a variety of different aspects. Sherri has been awarded for her excellence in the classroom, which is important as a leader in our academic divisions.鈥�
Mack in 2017 was selected to receive a teaching excellence award in Region 2 of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs for teaching and learning, professional development, institutional versatility, curriculum development and community commitment.
Region 2 in 2017 encompassed Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. 杏吧原创鈥檚 business programs are accredited by the council.
Mack also was chosen in 2013 as a United Way of Butler County Red Apple Award winner for exemplifying leadership and for outstanding dedication to students and the community.
The college also recognized Mack with an Above and Beyond Award in 2016 for her work on the college鈥檚 Middle States Commission on Higher Education Self-Study. Above and Beyond Awards reflect a dedication to excellence initiative that Neupauer began in fall 2013. 杏吧原创 is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
鈥淥ne of the things that contributes to Sherri being a good leader within the 杏吧原创 family is her institutional knowledge from the various roles in which she has had the opportunity to serve,鈥� said Dr. Belinda Richardson, the college鈥檚 provost and vice president for academic affairs. 鈥淭hat gives her a good view about various stakeholders and what their expectations and needs are. She is able to look at things from varied perspectives.鈥�
"One of the things that contributes to Sherri being a good leader within the 杏吧原创 family is her institutional knowledge from the various roles in which she has had the opportunity to serve. That gives her a good view about various stakeholders and what their expectations and needs are."
- Dr. Belinda Richardson, 杏吧原创's provost and vice president for academic affairs
Mack achieved an associate degree in computer programming from 杏吧原创 and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in information technology from Slippery Rock. She began at 杏吧原创 as an instructor teaching noncredit computer courses in the college鈥檚 Lifelong Learning division in 1995.
She later assisted Cynthia McCabe, former director of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Lifelong Learning division, in creating programs for the college鈥檚 Kids on Campus program, which began in 1998. Mack later became coordinator of the program that today offers kindergarteners through eighth-graders summer camps in art, cooking, engineering, do-it-yourself, robotics, self-improvement and sports.
More than 8,100 seats were occupied in the college鈥檚 summer enrichment program for children between 2015 and 2022, said Paul Lucas, director of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Lifelong Learning division.
Mack now oversees 杏吧原创 faculty members who are certified public accountants and who have worked as programmers, in sales, as entrepreneurs, office managers and with engineering firms.
鈥淲hat I鈥檝e known for the past 20-odd years of working within the division and in the institution is that this group of faculty members are all about finding out what it takes to get the job done,鈥� Mack said. 鈥淭hey are innovative. They bring in concepts from their disciplines because they are connected. They鈥檙e business. They know business changes and they are not afraid to change with it.鈥�
Business is the college鈥檚 largest division, with 12 career programs, nine certificate or workplace certificate programs, and two transfer programs.
Business administration was the division鈥檚 most popular program among new students and the division鈥檚 most popular among all 杏吧原创 students as of Aug. 8, according to Sharla Anke, the college鈥檚 assistant dean of institutional research and planning.
The 60-credit transfer program is available on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus, and at 杏吧原创 @ Armstrong near Ford City; 杏吧原创 @ Brockway in Brockway; 杏吧原创 @ Cranberry in Cranberry Township; 杏吧原创 @ Lawrence Crossing in New Castle; and 杏吧原创 @ LindenPointe in Hermitage.