Facilitating the Establishment of A Community College for the Susquehanna Valley
Board Members
- Higher education through flexible, open-enrollment courses
- Attract, retain, and support local businesses
- Training for in-demand skills and career advancement
Community colleges are affordable, accessible, accountable, and adaptable
Board of Directions
The Susquehanna Valley Community Education Project
Dr. Lenaire Ahlum - Executive Director, Susquehanna Valley Community Education Project
Dr. Lenaire Ahlum has a passion for advancing the mission and work of community colleges. In 2007 she founded the Susquehanna Valley Community Education Project, Inc., a 501 (c)(3), non-profit organization to facilitate the establishment of a new and independent community college in Pennsylvania to serve the counties in the Greater Susquehanna Valley.
Dr. Ahlum completed the Doctor of Management in Community College Policy and Administration at the University of Maryland Global Campus. Her dissertation “Establishing Community Colleges: Exploring Initiative Entities” conducted primary research into the ways and means by which community colleges have been established.
Most recently, she incorporated “Community Colleges Moving US Forward, LLC” to promote community college opportunities to various stakeholders. Her own public higher education began at a Pennsylvania community college.
Meghan Beck - Immediate Past President
Meghan has lived in the Susquehanna Valley for over 20 years since her graduation from Bucknell University with a major in Political Science. She has over 20 years of experience in real estate as a Director of 1337 Holdings and has helped to manage several small businesses.
She is a regional business leader and community advocate. Meghan has served as President of Sunbury Revitalization, Inc and volunteered with many other local organizations. She is also a founder of STEAM Innovations Lab, a Makerspace pending launch in Sunbury, PA.
Hank Baylor - President
Henry (Hank) Baylor is a native of Milton and Vietnam Veteran. Hank was the worldwide Vice President of Field Operations for the Memorex Corporation, which included three manufacturing operations located in Maastricht Holland, King of Prussia PA, and Dallas Texas. After 25 years with Memorex and diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Hank retired and returned to his roots and settled in East Buffalo Township in 1995.
He has degrees in history and political science and was an East Buffalo Township Supervisor for 18 years. Hank is the Vice President of the William Cameron fire board, serves as a Central PA Ambassador for the American Red Cross, and is a member of the Lewisburg Sunset Rotary. Hank was an original organizer of the Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority and sat on the board for eight years. He was also one of the organizers of the Buffalo Valley Regional Police Department. His interests are singing (a tenor in the Buffalo Valley Singers), jazz, bass violin, blue water sailing, and believes it is his civic duty to give back to the community.
Dr. Jennifer Rager-Kay
Dr. Jennifer Rager-Kay is a physician and her medical specialization is Otolaryngology. She practices at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania. Dr. Jenn Rager-Kay, like many in her community, is committed to faith, family, and the future. She is the daughter of a coal miner so she understands concerns about losing a large source of income, jobs, and energy.
Her father served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, and she is a member of the VFW Auxiliary, and Marine Corps League Auxiliary. Dr. Rager-Kay has been an active member of the community, advocating for positive change, growth, and sustainability in the area. As a physician and mother of an 8-year-old son, she brings awareness to the health and welfare of residents in the Susquehanna Valley.
Rodger Babnew - Chair of Nominating Committee
Rodger is a retired truck driver. He drove for several trucking companies over for more than 40 years. He is the former Chair of the Northumberland County Democratic Committee.
Susan Nunan R.N, B.S.N.
Susan Nunan has been practicing nursing in the Susquehanna Valley for more than 40 years. She is a nurse educator who has written curriculum for a local Certified Nursing Assistant program. She is active in the Columbia – Montour Human Services Coalition and 4 H Club. Susan is an avid gardener and baker and an annual ribbon winner at the Bloomsburg Fair for her jams, cakes, and pies.
Kathy Specht
Kathy Specht is a career development coach. She has been a guidance counselor in the Susquehanna Valley for over 30 years and founded the Susquehanna Valley Association of School Counselors Association. As an instructor at Bloomsburg University, she trained new guidance counselors.
Kathy worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s 339 Program preparing school district leaders for implementing Career Pathways for the Future Ready Index. Kathy resides in Northumberland, PA. She has presented at statewide conferences on Career Guidance.
Jesse Newcomer - Academic and Curriculum Committee
Jesse Newcomer is a 7th-grade history teacher at Montgomery Middle School. He holds a master’s degree in Instructional Technology and is currently a doctoral student focusing on Curriculum and Instruction at Liberty University. Jesse began his higher education at Luzerne County Community College where he received an Associate’s Degree.
Jennifer Zyry - SVCEP Board Secretary
Jennifer grew up in Selinsgrove, PA and graduated in 1969 from the Selinsgrove Area School District where she was enrolled in the Business curriculum. After graduation, she attended Goldey Beacom Junior Business School and graduated in 1971 with an A.A. in Executive Secretarial.
In 1986, Jennifer graduated from Bloomsburg University with a BS degree in Business Education/Typing and Shorthand. She taught in the business curriculum at Northern Lebanon School District in Jonestown, PA and retired in 2013.
She received her Master’s degree in Workforce Education (School-to-Work) and in Cooperative Education from the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State).
Her employment after graduation from Goldey Beacom was as an executive secretary for the former Rea & Derick, Inc. in Northumberland, PA, which is currently CVS Drug Stores. Jennifer has also instructed adults at various vocational schools and the Harrisburg Community College in Harrisburg, PA.

Currently, she lives in rural Riverside with her husband and spends her free time being a proud grandparent to five grandchildren who participate/participated in the various athletic sports for the Shikellamy School District and Bloomsburg University.
Sharlene Gilman
Sharlene (S.E.) Gilman enjoys working with diverse populations: developing training, advising, teaching, tutoring, and writing. Publishing opinion, academic articles, essays, poems an short fiction she has worked in education from teaching adult literacy and students in transition to college, to graduate courses in literacy education. She is currently employed in human services working with families on assistance, and previously in supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. A former professor, she understands instruction, service, and research, both direct supports and institutional responsibility. She has presented workshops, and organized public and professional panel discussions, and has experience in grant-management, editorial services, and people-oriented, qualitative research. She seeks to fight the good fight for equity and inclusion, strengthening communities with empathy and with a sense of humor. She is devoted to building organizational capacity and skills development and is happiest when she is working to inspire and help others.
Le Paliulis
Le Paliulis is the Herbert L. Spencer Professor in Biology at Bucknell University. Le's research focuses on cell division and chromosome segregation. Le is passionate about teaching and the importance of an education, has been involved in curriculum development for a number of organizations, and is very excited to be involved in the Susquehanna Valley Community Education Project and to contribute to the opportunities that will arise with the new community college.
Dr. Angela Miller - Secretary
Dr. Miller is the Employee Experience Manager at a 5-star community hospital in Lewisburg Pennsylvania and the founder of the Lisa Edgerton Memorial Fund at a level-I trauma center in Danville Pennsylvania. She has a diverse background in areas such as medical records, critical care, surgical medicine, and patient experience. For over 20 years she has sought to improve patient and employee lives while honing her skillset as an employee and leader. Dr. Miller holds an Associate's in Surgical Technology; a Bachelor’s in Business with an emphasis on Healthcare System Management, a Master’s in Business with an emphasis on Leadership, a Master's in Forensic Psychology, and a Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Learning with a specialization in Health Care Administration and Leadership. In addition to her previously mentioned roles, Dr. Miller is an online Faculty Member at the University of Phoenix and an in-person instructor for the McCann School of Business and Technology.
David Ackley
David Ackley is a lifelong resident of the Danville area minus his years of Naval Service. A 1981 graduate of Danville High school and a 1994 graduate of Susquehanna University with a degree in history.
His career has followed an extraordinary path from high school to Lock Haven State College to the United States Navy where he proudly served as a sonar technician aboard the USS Taylor FFG-50 end with NATO in Standing Naval Forces Atlantic 1987. After receiving an honorable discharge under medical conditions David was employed by South Danville (later Beyer) Lumber as the yard foreman while attending college at night.
David began a career in newspapers first with the Danville News as sports editor from there he moved to the Milton Standard /Lewisburg Journal and then to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette as a reporter. Upon leaving the Sun-Gazette, David was a substitute teacher for six local school districts — Milton, Warrior Run, Lewisburg, Bloomsburg, Southern Columbia, and Danville Area.
After suffering 113 broken bones in an auto accident in January 2006, David left the workforce and now volunteers with the Susquehanna Valley Community College Project and as chairman of the Montour County Republican Committee.
David hosts a webcast live Wednesdays from late August to December, “HEAVY METTLE: The Ironman Football Show” which is on the Black Diamond Sports Network. In addition, he is entering his fourth season as the color commentator on Danville High School football broadcasts. David and his wife, Tina, reside in Valley Township with their kittens and son, David II.
Shirley Nelson Brough - Treasurer
Shirley Nelson Brough has been the principal/owner of Brough Consulting for Small Business since 1995. Shirley started her consulting practice to create a more balanced life for herself and her family which includes her husband Jim, her children Collin – a bassist and language specialist, and Em - a carpenter/mason and previous disaster relief site supervisor for an international disaster relief organization. Shirley is a graduate of Milton Area High School. Shirley's hobbies include doing things with her family, her Clowder of Cats, creating artwork, and playing piano.
Shirley received higher education in a non-traditional fashion. Shirley's first post-secondary education was with the Williamsport School of Commerce. Next, while working 40+ hours per week, she pursued her BS in Accounting through the Wilkes Weekender program. She then earned her MSBS from Bucknell University, graduating with presidential honors.
In addition to her consulting work providing training and business services, she has held positions including Non-Profit Executive Director, Corporate Chief Financial Officer, Adjunct Faculty for Susquehanna University Sigmund Weis School of Business, Senior Financial Analyst, and Research Consultant for Bucknell SBDC. Shirley is a Senior Certified Human Resource Specialist through the Society of Human Resources, past president of SHRMA, local chapter, and the current Program Committee Director. Shirley is a 2007 Leadership Susquehanna Valley Alumnus. She is a Professional Life Member of Delta Mu Delta, an International Business Administration Honor Society. Shirley has served on the Central PA Chamber of Commerce Budget Committee for 15 years.
Through the collaborative development of strategic plans, she has facilitated organizations to grow corporate programs by employing talent management and training strategies for existing staff to utilize knowledge to create a more efficient workforce with the goal of creating a culture that supports employee retention and advancement. As an advocate of diversity and education, she is passionate about developing opportunities for individuals to grow professionally and personally at any stage of life.
Share On: