LCCC President Appointed to New State Board of Higher Education

Schnecksville, Pa., Sept. 13, 2024 – Dr. Ann D. Bieber, president of Lehigh Carbon Community College, has been appointed by PA Governor Josh Shapiro to the new State Board of Higher Education, part of the reforms the governor signed into law as part of the 2024-25 budget.

Dr. Bieber has served as president of LCCC since July 2014 and contributes to the community as a member of numerous boards and organizations, including the Workforce Board Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, KidsPeace, Manufacturers Resource Center, Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority and Century Promise.

The new state board brings together leaders from higher education, the business community, labor, students, legislators, and members of the Shapiro Administration to craft a strategic plan for higher education, coordinate between higher education institutions and sectors, make higher education more accessible and affordable for students, and ensure the Commonwealth’s higher education institutions are training students with the skills and credentials needed to fill critical workforce shortages and power the economy for generations to come. Additionally, the board will create a new Outcomes-Based Funding Council that will deliver recommendations for how best to fund state-related universities and provide a range of supports to institutions experiencing fiscal instability.

“Every Pennsylvanian deserves the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed — and that’s exactly what the new State Board of Higher Education will help deliver,” said Gov. Shapiro. “The new board builds on my blueprint for higher education and brings together a diverse set of leaders and stakeholders to develop statewide and regional solutions to the challenges we face – tackling workforce shortages head on and improving access and affordability for students.”

The governor’s appointees to the State Board of Higher Education are:

Cynthia Shapira (chair), chairwoman of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors

Dr. Brenda Allen (vice chair), President of Lincoln University

Dr. Ann Bieber, President of Lehigh Carbon Community College

Sean Eden, student at Pennsylvania State University

Richard Englert, Interim President of Temple University

Kara Laskowski, professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Shippensburg University and a member of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF)

Kenneth Long, President of East Stroudsburg University

Dr. Cheryl McConnell, President of Saint Joseph’s University

Pedro Rivera, President of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

Andrea Shirk, President and CEO of Rock Lititz

Michael Wade Smith, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff of Penn State University

Michael Warfel, Vice President of Governmental Affairs at Highmark, Inc.

Kevin Washo, Chief of Staff to the Chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh

Bobbie Jo Zapor, Library Assistant at Indiana University and President of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 763

The General Assembly has also made four appointments to the State Board of Higher Education:

Senator Jay Costa

Senator Wayne Langerholc

Representative Peter Schweyer

Representative Jesse Topper

“I am honored to be appointed by the governor to represent community colleges,” said Dr. Bieber. “This board will ensure that higher education options for Pennsylvanians remain viable and robust. The fact that community colleges have a seat at the table reflects the value placed on community college education by Gov. Shapiro.”