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Faculty Members Earn Promotion & Tenure

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has promoted two faculty members and granted tenure to one faculty member who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in teaching, advising, professional development, and service to the college and the community.

Their work with students is exemplary and serves as an inspiration to students and colleagues alike. The new status of each faculty member will become effective in August 2023.

“The Penn Highlands’ faculty demonstrates their commitment to student success by working with students in and out of the classroom,” stated Dr. Cynthia Doherty, Vice President of Academic Affairs. “They help students by creating an engaging classroom environment and support materials to help them navigate their classes. They are also actively engaged in their communities. We are proud of the quality of the faculty at Penn Highlands.”

Eligible faculty members undergo a rigorous application and review process that assesses their effectiveness in full-time teaching/advising and service to Penn Highlands, the community, and professional development.

FACULTY EARNING ADVANCEMENT IN RANK:

• Wayde Simington from Instructor to Assistant Professor, Mathematics. Simington began his full-time career teaching mathematics courses at Pennsylvania Highlands in January 2019. Prior to that, he served as an adjunct instructor for the College. Simington has a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently working on completing a Master of Science in Mathematics through Emporia State University.
• Dr. Matthew Sisak from Associate Professor to Professor, Biological Sciences. Dr. Sisak began his career as a full-time instructor in January 2014. He is President of Sisak Chiropractic Clinic, P.C., and has taught as an adjunct at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and Westmoreland County Community College, teaching Anatomy and Physiology courses. Dr. Sisak has a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic.

FACULTY EARNING TENURE:

• Morgan Dugan, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education. Dugan began her career teaching Early Childhood Education courses at Pennsylvania Highlands in August 2018. Prior to that, she was employed at Greater Johnstown School District as an elementary teacher. Dugan has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and a Master of Education from Saint Francis University.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has been serving the region since 1994 and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.