State System Board of Governors
State System of Higher Education
Dixon University Center, 2986 N. Second St.
Harrisburg, PA 17110
The Board of Governors is responsible for planning and coordinating development and operation of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). It establishes broad educational, fiscal and personnel policies, and oversees the efficient management of PASSHE. Among other tasks, it appoints the chancellor and university presidents, approves new academic programs, sets tuition and coordinates and approves the annual PASSHE operating budget.
Board Members
Kenneth M. Jarin, Newtown
Jarin is a partner in the Philadelphia-based law firm Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll. He represents both public and private employers in the areas of labor relations, contract negotiations, interest arbitration, employment discrimination litigation, and wage and hour disputes. He is chief labor negotiator for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia. Jarin earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University and his law degree from Temple University.
C.R. "Chuck" Pennoni, Bryn Mawr
Pennoni is chairman of the board of Pennoni Associates Inc. of Philadelphia, a consulting engineering firm he founded in 1966. He also served for a year as president of Drexel University and is chairman of the university's Board of Trustees. He has a bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering and an honorary doctorate from Drexel. Pennoni has served as a guest speaker and lecturer at Drexel, Temple, Villanova and Widener universities, as well as at Texas A&M University, Purdue University, Swarthmore College, University of Pennsylvania and University of Pavia, Italy.
Aaron A. Walton, Allison Park
Walton is senior vice president of corporate affairs for Highmark Inc. of Pittsburgh where he is responsible for administering Highmark's public relations and social mission strategy and overseeing the departments of Community Affairs, Community Health and Strategic Health Initiatives. He is vice chair of the Council of Trustees at California University of Pennsylvania and previously served as the chair from 1999 to 2003. Walton holds a bachelor's degree in speech pathology and audiology from California University and a master's degree in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University.
Matthew E. Baker, Wellsboro Elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1992 and re-elected five times, Baker represents the citizens of Bradford and Tioga Counties. He is a member of the Appropriations Committee, as well as the committees on Aging and Older Adult Services, Commerce and Economic Development, and Tourism and Recreation Development. Baker is a graduate of Elmira College and attended Mansfield University.
Marie Conley Lammando, Harrisburg Lammando has worked on numerous political campaigns, including overseeing fundraising and political outreach. Additionally, she served as the convention director for the Pennsylvania delegation at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York and was convention coordinator for the state delegation in Philadelphia in 2000. She is a 1994 graduate of Bloomsburg University, with bachelor's degrees in speech communications and political science. She is chairman of the Board of Governors' Human Resources Committee and also serves as secretary of BU's Council of Trustees.
Paul S. Dlugolecki, Mechanicsburg Dlugolecki is minority executive director of the Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee, a position he has held since 1987. Previously, he spent eight years as director of the Senate Democratic Research Office and has worked for the Senate since 1973. He is a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures Fiscal Affairs and Legislative Oversight Committee and the National Association of Legislative Fiscal Officers, serving as the organization's president in 1998. Dlugolecki is a graduate of Shippensburg University.
Richard Kneedler, Lancaster
Kneedler is president emeritus of Franklin & Marshall College. He also served as chairman of the Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers and as interim president of Rockford College. He earned an undergraduate degree in French from Franklin & Marshall and both master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He has served on boards of education-related organizations at regional, state and national levels, including the Association of Independent College and Universities of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities.
Michael K. Hanna, Lock Haven
Hanna was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1990 and has been re-elected seven times. He represents portions of Clinton and Centre counties. He is a member of the House Finance, Game and Fisheries and Tourism and Recreational Development committees. He also is a member of the Board of Directors of The Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Hanna is a graduate of Lock Haven University and a former member of its Council of Trustees. He earned his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
Vincent J. Hughes, Philadelphia
Hughes was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1994 in a special election and has been re-elected twice. He is the Democratic chairman of the Communications and High Technology and Public Health and Welfare committees and a member of the Appropriations, Education, Military and Veterans Affairs and Policy committees. He attended Temple University and is the recipient of an honorary doctoral degree from Cheyney University. Hughes is a member of numerous boards, including the Center for Human Advancement, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and Cheyney University Wade Wilson Scholarship Fund.
Ryan R. Jerico, Canonsburg
Jerico is a senior majoring in science and technology with a minor in leadership studies at California University. He is president of CU's Student Government Association. Previously, he served as the organization's financial secretary. He also is president of the Student Association Inc., which owns and operates the student bookstore and residence halls at CU and provides a variety of student services, and is vice chairperson for community service of the Board of Student Government Presidents.
Joseph F. McGinn, Linwood
McGinn is a lifelong resident of Delaware County, where he is serving his fifth year as sheriff. He helped to create the Southeast Pennsylvania Sheriff's Caucus, which has helped to reduce costs and improve services through the utilization of synergies across county lines. He is member of the National Sheriff's Association Homeland Security Committee and a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the Vietnam War. In recognition of his service, McGinn was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Stars and the Good Conduct Medal. He earned a bachelor's degree in education from Temple University and master's degree in education from Cheyney University.
Jeffrey E. Piccola, Harrisburg
Piccola has served in the state Senate since 1995. He is chairman of the Senate Education Committee and also is a member of the Community, Economic and Recreational Development, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Judiciary and Rules and Executive Nominations committees. He served as Senate majority whip, the third ranking Republican in the chamber, from 2001 to 06. He previously served in the House of Representatives for 19 years. Piccola is a graduate of Gettysburg College and the George Washington University School of Law.
Guido M. Pichini, Wyomissing
Pichini is president of Security Guards Inc. and its subsidiaries, WSK and Associates Consulting Group and Vigilant Security Services, all of Wyomissing. He is a member and former chair of the Council of Trustees at Kutztown University. He graduated from Kutztown University with a degree in education/political science, and completed graduate studies in public administration at Kutztown. He also graduated from Wilson College with certification in the minor judiciary.
Edward G. Rendell, Harrisburg
Rendell is governor of Pennsylvania. He previously served two terms as mayor of the City of Philadelphia and two terms as the city's selected district attorney. An Army veteran, Rendell is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Villanova Law School. He also has taught courses in government and politics at the University of Pennsylvania.
Harold C. Shields, Allison Park
Shields is a member of the Edinboro University Council of Trustees. He is the Human Resources Director of Global Business Services and HR Director of Pittsburgh Resource Units for Alcoa in Pittsburgh. He was the first African-American elected to the Erie City School Board and served a term as president. He was president of Three Rivers Youth; and executive board member and treasurer of the National Association of Minority Engineering Program Administrators; a board member of Women's Engineering Advocates Program Administrators Network; and a member of the Edinboro University Alumni Board of Directors.
Thomas M. Sweitzer, Swarthmore
Sweitzer has been a member of the Council of Trustees at Lock Haven University since 2005. He attended Pennsylvania State University as an undergraduate and later Temple University for graduate studies. He is a partner in The Campaign Group, a Philadelphia-based advertising agency he helped found 28 years ago. He has worked on more than 400 political campaigns across the country, has lectured at both Temple and the University of Pennsylvania.
Christine J. Toretti, Indiana
Toretti is chairman and CEO of the S. W. Jack Drilling Company, president of The Jack Company and managing partner of C&N Company and C&N Company No. 2, all based in Indiana, Pa. A graduate of the University of Virginia, she has served as president of the Foundation for Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). IUP's Nell and Sam Jack Distinguished American Lecture Series was established by the Jack family in 1984. A member of the S&T Bank Board of Directors, she chairs the audit committee and serves on the executive committee. Toretti also sits on boards for the NCAA Foundation, International Medical Corps and the Gettysburg Battlefield Museum Foundation, among others.
Gerald L. Zahorchak, Harrisburg
Zahorchak is Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education. He previously served as Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education for the Pennsylvania Department of Education and was superintendent of the Greater Johnstown School District. He is a graduate of St. Francis University, holds a master's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University.
Eleven board members are appointed to four-year terms by the Governor of Pennsylvania. Their appointments are confirmed by the state Senate. Three students, selected from among the universities' student government association presidents, serve on the board until graduation. Four legislators are selected by the majority and minority leaders of the state Senate and House of Representatives.
The Governor of Pennsylvania or a designee also is a board member, as is the state secretary of education or a designee. The board meets at least four times a year. Meetings of the Board of Governors are subject to the Pennsylvania Public Agency Open Meeting Law.