Gilmour named chair of MSCHE accrediting organization

Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour. Credit: Penn College / Penn State. Creative Commons

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Pennsylvania College of Technology President Davie Jane Gilmour has been elected chair of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a non-governmental membership association that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an institutional accreditor to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation activities for more than 500 institutions of higher education.

Gilmour, whose term as chair begins Jan. 1, has served as vice-chair for MSCHE and its executive committee since January 2020. She returned to the commission in 2019 after having previously served from 2012-17.

She served on the executive committee in 2017 and was chair of the Committee on Follow-Up Activities and Candidate Institutions. Gilmour also served on the MSCHE Rebranding Committee that was charged with creating a new messaging platform for the commission.

“I am honored to serve as chair of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education,” Gilmour said. “These are challenging times in higher education, but opportunities abound, as well. I look forward to working with MSCHE leadership and staff to implement the commission’s strategic priorities and to promote educational excellence across the diverse member institutions that we serve.”

“The commission is fortunate that we can rely on Dr. Davie Gilmour to lead the commission through the challenges and opportunities facing our member institutions, accrediting agencies, and the higher education community,” said Heather F. Perfetti, president. “Davie has already been a strong voice and advocate in shaping the commission’s strategic priorities and carries a wealth of experience with the commission that will help shape its future with continued emphasis on achieving our mission.”

Gilmour has served as president of Penn College, a special mission affiliate of Penn State, since 1998. She has been employed by the college since 1977. Gilmour has announced that she will retire as the institution’s president at the end of June 2022.

Eight members (including officers) comprise MSCHE’s Executive Committee, which is elected annually. The committee has authority to act on behalf of the commission as necessary between meetings to continue operations of the corporation, as well as to take action on accreditation and institutional membership. It includes administrative, faculty and public representatives.

For an announcement of the election of the MSCHE Executive Committee and officers, visit the organization’s website.

MSCHE defines, maintains and promotes educational excellence across institutions with diverse missions, student populations and resources. MSCHE examines institutions as a whole rather than specific programs within institutions. MSCHE member institutions are located in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other jurisdictions across the United States, as well as globally. Learn more at msche.org.

For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll free 800-367-9222.

Last Updated December 13, 2021

Contact