PHEAA Welcomes Senator Jeffrey Piccola to Board of Directors
Harrisburg, PA (February 19, 2009) - PHEAA welcomed Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola to its Board of Directors at the Board's monthly meeting held on February 12.
Senator Piccola has been appointed to the position vacated by Senator Jake Corman, who resigned from the Board in November 2008.
Representing Dauphin and York counties, the 15th Senatorial District, Senator Piccola has been serving our communities since his election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1977. He served the 104th District in that capacity until 1995 when he won a Special Election for the 15th Senatorial District. He currently chairs the Education Committee and serves as a member of Community, Economic, and Recreational Development Committee, the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee. He is a strong advocate for education reform.
His new position on the PHEAA Board of Directors provides him the opportunity to further promote the importance of higher education and provide Pennsylvania's students affordable access via student aid programs.
“It is an honor to serve on the PHEAA Board of Directors,” said Senator Piccola. “I am committed to working with the other members to further the future of our students and this Commonwealth through education.”
“Senator Piccola’s experience, specifically as Chair of the Education Committee, is a welcome addition to this Board,” said Representative William Adolph, Jr., Chairman of the PHEAA Board. “His knowledge and experience will be invaluable as we strive to continue our successes despite a turbulent economy.”
“I look forward to working with Senator Piccola on the PHEAA Board of Directors,” said Senator Sean Logan, Vice Chairman of the PHEAA Board. “It is critical to PHEAA's success, and the success of this Commonwealth, that we continue to work with leaders who have broad knowledge and leadership experience, and Senator Piccola certainly fits the bill to the benefit of our students and families.”
The PHEAA Board of Directors faced numerous challenges during 2008 but the Board, under Adolph's leadership, enacted the most strict travel and business expense reimbursement policy of any Commonwealth organization. That, combined with an aggressive cost-cutting campaign and the continued commitment of PHEAA associates, has led to PHEAA generating a positive operating income of $17.1 million for the first quarter of the 2008-09 fiscal year.