Sunday, July 1, 2018, Reading, PA­- Dr. Susan Looney officially became the sixth president of Reading Area Community College in Reading, Pennsylvania on July 1, 2018. She succeeds Dr. Anna Weitz, who retired on June 30, 2018 after 11 years of service as RACC's president.

Previously serving as senior vice president for academic affairs/provost at RACC, Dr. Looney plans to draw on that experience as she assumes the presidential role. "I look forward to this next chapter in the history of this great college," says Dr. Looney. "I truly believe that the student is not one of the reasons we are here, they are the only reason we are here."

The new president is a shining example of how opportunity, access, excellence and hope offered by the community college can changes lives. She earned her AA at Brookdale Community College and went on to earn a BS and MBA in business administration from Monmouth University, a JD from Widener University School of Law and an Ed.D. in higher education leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

"We are excited to welcome Dr. Looney as RACC's 6th president. With her years of experience as a community college faculty member and administrator, she is uniquely positioned to lead RACC into an exciting future," says RACC Board of Trustees Chair Mr. Guido M. Pichini.

In her 20 years as a full-time community college educator, eight as a faculty member and 12 as a senior administrator, Dr. Looney has worked in a variety of academic and administrative roles at Mohave Community College in Arizona and at Delaware Technical Community College. Throughout her career, she has been significantly involved in team building, budgeting, strategic planning, assessment, community engagement, and fundraising.

Dr. Looney joined the staff of RACC in 2014 as dean of instruction before moving to the position of senior vice president for academic affairs/provost in 2015. Throughout her tenure she has consistently demonstrated her deep commitment to the success of RACC students and has focused the staff on excellence, while using outcomes to inform next steps. "I am extremely excited and blessed for the opportunity to provide the experience and vision to lead RACC into an exciting and vibrant future."

To read Dr. Looney's presidential greeting and biography click here.