For immediate release: Aug. 22, 2007

BLOOMSBURG — The student representative on Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania’s Council of Trustees wants to make sure he stays involved.

“There are really no set boundaries on how involved you can be and I want to be really hands-on,” said James D’Amico, Mount Carmel, a senior majoring in elementary education.

D’Amico was one of several students who applied for the position after the previous student Trustee graduated. He submitted an application and was interviewed by a search and screen committee of nine individuals and then another interview by Judy Hample, chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, before he was appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell in a process that took about five months.

“It was a very intimidating process, but I had people tell me that it was something I’d be good at, so I just stuck with it,” said D’Amico. “I decided I have good judgment and this could be the right fit for me.”

While serving on the Council of Trustees, D’Amico will be a member of the executive committee and the student life committee. He will also serve as a member of the Community Government Association’s executive board and attend CGA senate meetings.

In addition to serving as a Trustee, D’Amico is president of the BU chapter of the Pennsylvania State Education Association and a member of Kappa Delta Pi education honor society, Association for Childhood Education International and Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
“Time management is a very important skill and it’s necessary with everything that I’m involved in,” said D’Amico.

After graduation, D’Amico hopes to obtain a full-time teaching position in Columbia, Northumberland or Schuylkill county and earn a master’s degree from BU.

Bloomsburg University is one of 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The university serves approximately 8,000 students, offering comprehensive programs of study in the colleges of Professional Studies, Business, Liberal Arts and Science and Technology.