Alvernia University pairs with Leadership Berks
Date: 6/2/2009
Announced during an on-campus press conference June 2,
2009, Leadership Berks and its impressive program will become a part of
Alvernia University through the completion of an asset purchase
agreement recently approved by the University and the Leadership Berks
board. The change will become effective July 1, 2009.
According to Alvernia’s President, Dr. Thomas Flynn, “Coupled with
earning University status last September, and selection by the
prestigious Carnegie Foundation as one of 119 colleges and universities
in the country held up as models of community leadership, community
partnerships, and community service, not to mention the recently
concluded 50th anniversary celebration, this development is yet another
significant accomplishment for Alvernia over the past year.”
The Leadership Berks program will continue to offer the same quality
programming that has been its strength for almost 25 years. Toni
Eckert, Executive Director of Leadership Berks said, “We will continue
our annual tradition of engaging over 75 key leaders, field experts,
and elected officials, who serve as program instructors, and will
continue to offer experiential learning opportunities for participants
through our fieldwork projects. We believe this agreement will serve to
enhance our overall capacity to respond to community and business
needs, enhance the role we play in keeping talent local; and allow us
to demonstrate how our programs can help market Greater Reading and
Berks County from an economic development standpoint.”
Joan Lewis, Alvernia Dean of Graduate and Continuing Studies said,
“Alvernia is a place where leadership is taught and promoted. The
partnership with Leadership Berks gives the university yet another
avenue to address this critical issue for our community.” Leadership
Berks will work closely with the Graduate and Continuing Studies
division of Alvernia.
Though the decision was well planned, the process has been smooth
because of similarities between the groups’ missions. “Merging
Leaderships Berks and its tradition of connecting emerging leaders to
community organizations, further enriches Alvernia’s Franciscan
tradition and provides an unparalleled synergy in mission for both
organizations with terrific benefits to Greater Reading and Berks
County,” said Dr. Flynn.
Facts & Figures
- History: Established as a private four-year liberal arts college in 1958, Alvernia celebrated its 50th year by being awarded university status in 2008.
- Heritage: Founded by the Bernardine Sisters, a Catholic religious order, the university embraces the Franciscan core values of service, humility, collegiality, contemplation and peacemaking.
- Motto: “To Learn, To Love, To Serve”
- Campus: The main campus in Reading is 121 acres, with two satellite campuses in Philadelphia and Pottsville (Schuylkill County).
- Location: Our residential campus is situated three miles from center-city Reading, in the scenic Blue Mountain area of Eastern Pennsylvania.
- Enrollment: 2,800 students attend Alvernia including 1,420 traditional undergraduates, 600 continuing education students, and 780 graduate students. Over 77% of first-year students live on campus.
- Faculty: Among Alvernia professors, almost two-thirds hold the highest degree in their field. The student-to faculty ratio is 14:1.
- Athletics: NCAA Division III, member of the Commonwealth Conference of the Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation and member of Eastern College Athletic Conference, 8 men’s and 10 women’s intercollegiate sports.