Three New Members Added To Board of Trustees
Posted January 29, 2024 at 12:57 pmJennifer Anderson, Rev. Reginald Floyd, and Brett Smith have been added to the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Board of Trustees.
These individuals replaced former board members Alan Cashaw, Edwin Bowser, and Marc McCall. Floyd will be on the board for a three-year term that ends in December 2027, while Anderson and Smith each have a six-year term that runs through 2029.
“We are thrilled to welcome our newest Trustees to the Penn Highlands family,” stated Dr. Steve Nunez, President of Penn Highlands Community College. “Their diverse backgrounds, expertise, and commitment to education make them invaluable additions to the Board of Trustees. I look forward to working collaboratively with them to help the College better serve our communities.”
Anderson is the Director of Professional Learning and Organizational Development with the Office for Educational Programs and Services with Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 (IU8). Throughout her 21 years at the intermediate unit, she has served as a special education teacher, educational consultant, special education supervisor, and executive-level administrator.
Currently, she leads the IU8 Training and Consultation Team and serves as the Region 7 Lead for the Safe Schools, School Climate, and Social and Emotional Wellness initiatives through the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Statewide System of Support.
Anderson holds a Bachelor of Science dual degree in Elementary and Special Education, a Master’s in Educational Leadership, and a Special Education Supervisory Certificate from Saint Francis University, as well as a Superintendent Letter of Eligibility from Gannon University. She is currently a doctoral student at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
“As an administrator in the K-12 public education system, I’ve worked alongside some exceptional individuals at the national, state, and local levels to enhance learning opportunities for our youth and educators,” Anderson stated. “It is an honor to serve in this capacity with Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and its community of learners on its journey to be a premier institution of higher education and an integral part of the growth and development of our region.”
Floyd has served the local community through various roles, with four years of active duty in the United States Army and 26 years with the Johnstown Police Department under his belt. He has also worked as a School Resource Officer for the Greater Johnstown School District, a Camp Trojan Director, and is the outreach minister for St. James Missionary Baptist Church.
He has also contributed to eight different volunteer initiatives, including HOPE for Johnstown Board, Crisis Intervention Team Board, NAACP Veterans Board, The Bruce Haselrig Group, Cambria County SERT, Cambria County Mental Health Advisory Board, Cambria County Drug & Alcohol Advisory Board, and Salvation Army Advisory Board.
“I am honored to be selected to serve on the Pennsylvania Highlands Board of Trustees,” Floyd stated. “I come from a generation that was raised by men and women that worked in Bethlehem Steel. They always told us as children to pay attention to our education and go as far as we can. Education is very important, and I want to help instill that message in as many people as possible.”
Smith holds both a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Saint Francis University, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Valparaiso University and a Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University.
He then passed the Bar Exam and was admitted to practice law in 2009, which Smith has been doing since then via a private practice. Smith is also the current solicitor for Cambria County Crimestoppers, Portage Township, the West Carroll Water Authority, and the Adams Township Zoning Hearing Board.
“I was born and raised in this area, so being able to serve on a college board that is close to home is very rewarding,” Smith stated. “I aim to try to encourage people, that maybe wouldn’t otherwise go to the College, to come to Pennsylvania Highlands and get an opportunity at quality higher education. I am excited to be a part of that outreach.”
Jennifer Anderson, Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8
Reverend Reginald Floyd, Retired
Brett Smith, Brett Smith Law Offices, LLC