Frank Britt, Penn Foster

E1 Stability of the region rests with the quality of education system By Bill O’Boyle [email protected] ILKES-BARRE — Earlier this year, Larry Newman, executive director of the Diamond City Partnership, said a significant key to the economic growth and stability of any region rests with the quality of education at all levels. grams to the professional “college-town” vibe , Colleges & Universities W degree programs, higher but also makes us more of Pennsylvania, private Northeastern Pennsyl- education creates the resilient and sustainable colleges and universities vania — and specifically region’s workforce pipe- in bucking the trends play a major role in the Luzerne County — is line. to national enrollment state’s economy: fortunate to have many “Equally important numbers that are trending • $5.67 billion — Sala- colleges and universities and mostly overlooked, down. ries and wages paid to that provide numerous higher education is an Strong academic capital employees, making pri- programs that produce economic driver in and of provides a great ecosys- vate colleges and univer- thousands of graduates itself,” Ooms said. “The tem for STEM-based sities the fourth largest each year. institutions are criticized innovation, research, industry employer in PA. “Consider this: in for being nonprofits, i.e. entrepreneurial creativ- • $9.6 billion — Insti- 1919, Wilkes-Barre was exempt from property ity and business activ- tutional expenditures. Newman the largest city in the taxes, but their economic ity — not just in higher • $1.8 billion — Stu- 2018 and supports 3,516 Van Genderen United States without impact supports our com- ley. education, but in critical dent and visitor spending jobs in the community, any college or univer- munities in so many dif- “The alignment of specialty trades as well, ($1.7 billion in student with more than 700 jobs sity to educate its young ferent ways.” business and academics Van Genderen said, in spending, $155 million in being from sectors other people,” Newman said. Ooms said the colleges makes for a great local fact LCCC now offers visitor spending). than higher education “Today, Greater Wilkes- and universities are major economic ecosystem,” specialty trade curricula • $1.1 billion — Value and 369 more jobs than Barre boasts five different employers with family- Van Genderen said. “Wil- and certifications that of federal funds received in 2018. colleges and universi- sustaining jobs. She said kes, Kings, Misericordia, align with the need for for research and develop- Ooms said she ran a ties enrolling more than employees reinvest their Penn State/Wilkes-Barre, skilled trade labor in the ment projects. high-level model of eco- 16,000 students. That earnings in the region and Luzerne County workforce. • $945 million — Con- nomic impact based on didn’t happen by acci- through purchasing local Community College “With high demand struction and renovation the number of employees dent, but through hard goods and services. And have all expanded their for graduates of LCCC’s projects. at Wilkes, Kings, Miseri- collective effort.” the schools themselves programs and their facili- welding, automotive and • $167 million — State cordia, LCCC, and PSU buy local goods and ser- ties, resulting in more additive manufacturing payroll taxes. Hazleton and Wilkes- vices. students and deeper spe- programs, there’s now a • $136 million — Barre. She said since it “Further, there is cializations.” waiting list to enroll at Municipal taxes (wages is based only on current impact of student spend- Van Genderen said LCCC’s Technology Cen- and local services taxes). employment and doesn’t ing and additional LCCC’s downtown ter,” he said. • $17.9 billion — Total include student and visi- spending when their campus is their fastest “Add academic capital, economic impact of pri- tor spending, it is a very families and friends come growing. Simultaneously, business innovation, and vate college and universi- conservative estimate of to visit,” Ooms said. Wilkes and Kings have community leadership ties in Pennsylvania. the economic impact in “Finally, their capital also seen increases in and you have a strong Another recent study Luzerne County. projects create short-term incoming undergraduate synergy in which the done by the Association “Luzerne County has a economic boosts through and graduate students whole is greater than the of Independent Col- number of higher educa- construction. All in all, in their Wilkes Barre sum of its parts.” leges and Universities tion institutions which their collective annual Campuses. Misericordia Van Genderen said by of Pennsylvania — The contribute so much to economic impact — not connecting the academic Economic Impact of Ooms is in the midst of the the region,” Ooms said. including student and completion of a $30 mil- capital of the colleges Independent Higher Edu- “First, they support Teri Ooms, executive visitor spending. lion Science Center and and universities to the cation in Pennsylvania — economic development director of The Institute Wico Van Genderen, Penn State also expanded growing and diverse busi- revealed that the nearly activities since they have [for Public Policy & president/CEO of the on their Invent Penn nesses and to the commu- 290,000 students enrolled the capacity to provide Economic Development], Greater Wilkes-Barre State drive to encourage nity’s social sector, you at independent colleges a trained and skilled said a 2019 study shows Chamber of Commerce, entrepreneurial, health create “a fertile Petrie and universities in Penn- workforce. Workforce is that collective higher said there is a “collegiate services and STEM-based dish” producing sustain- sylvania spend $1 billion the primary driver deter- education investment in energy” in Luzerne programming aligned to able economic momen- annually, or $2.7 million a mining if a business will Luzerne County exceeds County that extends from the skill-set needed in the tum in the region. day at local Pennsylvania locate in a region.” $547 million — about downtown Wilkes-Barre region. All of which not According to a 2017 businesses. The total eco- Ooms said from the $28 million more than to the Back Mountain only adds to the regional study done by the Asso- nomic community college pro- and throughout the Val- ciation of Independent GeisingerE2 2 Sunday, December 29, 2019 PRESIDENTIAL PROFILES: BlooMSBURG UNIVersitY Times Leader Diana Rogers-Adkinson, Bloomsburg University Name: Dr. Diana Rogers-Adkinson Title: Bloomsburg University Provost / Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Quote: “When I got to Bloomsburg for my interview I immediately felt at home. The passion for students by the faculty, staff and President (Dr. Bashar) Hanna was what I was looking for in the step phase of my career. I knew I was joining an institution with the same values as mine.” Dr. Rogers-Adkinson interacts with students during regular, informal morning coffee meetings that she holds with students and faculty. Submitted Dr. Diana Rogers-Adkinson joined Bloomsburg University as provost/senior vice president of academic affairs in June. Submitted By Marcella Kester For Times Leader LOOMSBURG – Bloomsburg University is preparing for a series of changes, additions and enhancements, Band helping to lead the way is a new provost. Following a nation- mine.” track record of fostering, backgrounds. wide search, Dr. Diana Hanna said he was supporting and nurturing Rogers-Adkinson works Rogers-Adkinson began excited to welcome Rog- a diverse student popula- alongside Hanna to meet her tenure at Blooms- ers-Adkins aboard, citing tion,” he said. priorities and goals of burg University in June. her extensive experience Earning her master’s Bloomsburg Univer- She previously served that can serve faculty and degree in counseling, sity. While the president Southeast Missouri State students at Bloomsburg Rogers-Adkinson began focuses on external fac- University, where she led University, alike. her career working as a tors – such as working seven departments and “Her focus on academic special education teacher with the community, more than 3,500 students excellence, student suc- and therapist for students alumni and key stakehold- as the dean of the College cess and retention, along with emotional disorders. ers – the provost handles of Education, Health and with faculty growth and Realizing there was a inward duties to ensure Human Studies. the academic mis- “When I got to Blooms- sion of the univer- developing a Bachelor of our campuses through burg for my interview “I knew I was joining sity is fulfilled. Fine Arts. A Masters in online learning,” she said. I immediately felt at “President Social Work is also await- On taking her new role, home,” she said. “The an institution with the Hanna and I meet ing approval, with even Rogers-Adkinson said passion for students by weekly to discuss more programs working she’s currently focused the faculty, staff and Pres- our priorities and their way through plan- on taking input, listening ident (Dr. Bashar) Hanna same values as mine.” goals,” she said. ning stages. and understanding before was what I was looking “We try to make As an institution inciting change. As a first for in the step phase of development aligns per- missing bridge between sure we are serving all of within the Pennsylvania generation college stu- my career. I knew I was fectly with our strategic the two sectors, she our constituents effective- State System of Higher dent herself, she feels like joining an institution direction. In addition, she would later earn her doc- ly in service to Blooms- Education, the future she can relate to students with the same values as understands and has a torates in both to create burg University.” of Bloomsburg Univer- on campus today and wel- an encompassed care plan Along with a new sity is one that has the comes conversation. for her patients and their provost, the institution potential to be intercon- “I hope students will families. also welcomed some new nected, Rogers-Adkinson feel like they can ask me It wasn’t until a faculty courses of study and long- explained.

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