Gilmour Named Interim Chief Operating Officer At Penn College

10-7-97
Williamsport, Pa. -- Davie Jane Gilmour has been named interim chief operating officer of the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, replacing Robert L. Breuder, who announced his retirement in September. His retirement is effective Dec. 31; beginning Jan. 1, Gilmour will serve as interim president while a search to fill the vacancy is conducted.

Gilmour, who began her career 20 years ago at Penn College's predecessor, the Williamsport Area Community College, has moved through the ranks of faculty and administration and has served as vice president for academic affairs and provost of the college since January 1996. As chief academic officer of Penn College and a member of President's Council, she has provided leadership and direction for credit and noncredit programming; supervised curriculum development, revision and evaluation; and authored and administered academic policies and procedures. She has fiscal responsibility for more than $21 million - 52 percent of the college's total operating budget - and for more than $1.5 million of auxiliary funds.

During her tenure, Gilmour has been responsible for facilitating the development of the college's first bachelor degrees - which number 22 to date. In addition, several building construction and renovation projects have been overseen by her, including the construction of the health sciences wing of the Robert L. Breuder Advanced Technology and Health Sciences Center; expansion of the library; and expansion and renovation of Le Jeune Chef Restaurant, which serves as a working laboratory for students in the School of Hospitality.

In the past, she has served as an external reviewer for the Commission on Higher Education, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Periodic Review Reports and as an evaluator for the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Dental Hygiene Programs.

She earned her A.S. and B.S. degrees in dental hygiene from West Liberty State College, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in health education from Penn State. Before beginning her career in education, she was a dental hygienist for a number of Harrisburg area dentists. She also is a past president of the Pennsylvania Dental Hygienists Association.

Gilmour was named interim chief by Penn College's Board of Directors. In related action, Robert E. Dunham, the University's senior vice president and dean of the Commonwealth College who will retire in December, was elected president of the Board of Directors. Dunham will replace Alvin C. Bush, who resigned.

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