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Nutter Announces Appointees to Community College Board of Trustees

    by Catherine Lucey
    Published 

Here's the release:

MAYOR NUTTER ANNOUNCES APPOINTEES TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Philadelphia, March 25, 2009 Today, Mayor Michael Nutter announced his appointments to the eight open seats on the Community College of Philadelphia Board of Trustees: Matthew Bergheiser, Helen Cunningham, Stacey Holland, Harold Honickman, Councilman Jim Kenney, Dorothy Sumners Rush, Lydia Hernández Vélez, and Gil Wetzel. Board members serve up to a six-year term, without compensation, and meet monthly.

"The Community College of Philadelphia is a leader in educating our city's young people, in supporting adults who seek to return back to college, and in creating a competitive workforce for Philadelphia," said Mayor Nutter. "I am privileged to be able to contribute to the mission of this vital institution by appointing members to the Board who have demonstrated their commitment to education and job training in Philadelphia."

The appointment process is set forth by a City Council ordinance, passed and signed by Mayor Tate in 1963. Mayor Nutter appointed Dr. Arlene Ackerman to serve as the Chair of the Nominating Panel, the ex-officio members of which are listed in the ordinance. An advertisement soliciting nominations and applications for membership was placed in local newspapers and flyers were posted in city schools and libraries to inform the public about the application process. Applications were reviewed by the Nominating Panel, which selected 20 applicants to interview. After interviewing these applicants, the Nominating Panel shared their recommendations with the Mayor for his consideration.

Mayor Nutter thanked the Dr. Arlene Ackerman and the members of the Nominating Panel for their work in support of this important process.

Member Bios:

Matthew Bergheiser is the Regional Director of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Helen Cunningham is the Executive Director of the Samuel S. Fels Fund.

Stacey Holland is the Co-President & Chief Operations Officer for The Philadelphia Youth Network.

Harold Honickman is the Chairman of the Canada Dry Delaware Valley Bottling Company.

Councilman Jim Kenney is an At-Large member of the Philadelphia City Council.

Dorothy Sumners Rush is a retired teacher, curriculum specialist and principal. She has served on the Community College of Philadelphia Board of Trustees since 2000.

Lydia Hernández Vélez is the Executive Director of the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Gil Wetzel is the senior vice president of Mayer Leadership Group. A member of the Community College of Philadelphia Board of Trustees since 1993, he is also a founding member of the College's Foundation board.