Luzerne County Community College

Dr. Mary Lou D’Allegro is the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) at Luzerne County Community College. She also holds the rank of Professor, Mathematics. Not new to the role she served as the VPAA at a community college in Tennessee and the Dean of Curriculum and Instruction at State Technical College in Missouri. Overseeing ten academic departments and four administrative departments including Workforce. In that capacity, Dr. D’Allegro has worked with the co-presenters to in the development and implementation of educational programs and pathways that lead to a career in one of Pennsylvania’s High Priority Occupations (HPO). She has developed over 25 work-based credit and non-credit courses. She has consulted for various companies and organizations regarding the integration of internships, work-based learning, and other opportunities for rising high school and college seniors. This presentation is just one example of the many innovative initiatives in this realm.

Dr. D’Allegro has published over 25 peer-reviewed articles and two book chapters. She also has served as the principal investigator and/or evaluation specialist for three NSF Grants: a.) two NSF-ATE grants aimed at faculty development and enriched learning opportunities and b.) Collaborative Virtual Computer Laboratory (CVCLAB) to enhance distance learning capacity in cyber security. All that said, the mentoring of new faculty and K-12 teachers to become excellent educators and mentors is Dr. D’Allegro’s true advocation.

Susan Spry is currently Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs at Luzerne County Community College. She has worked at the College for over thirty years, first as Director of the New Choices/New Options Program, which assisted single parents and homemakers in their return to college, then in progressive roles in Workforce Development and currently in her role in Academic Affairs. Susan oversees the Continuing Education Department, Adult Literacy Training and Assistance Program, and the Center for Business Solutions, the business and industry outreach arm at Luzerne. Susan is the regional WEDnetPA partner for business and industry incumbent worker training and works as the liaison at Luzerne to the public workforce system.

Susan has served as the Youth Council Chairperson for the Workforce Development Board, as a Board Member for the Victims Resource Center, as a Wilkes University and Luzerne County Community College Adjunct Instructor, and as a consultant, trainer, and therapist for the Luzerne County Office of Human Services and Community Counseling of Northeastern Pennsylvania.