The Clarion University Council of Trustees is composed of eleven members who, except for the student member, are nominated and appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania with the advice and consent of the Senate. The powers and duties of the Council include the establishment of academic programs and schools for consideration by the Board of Governors; review and approval of annual operating and capital budgets, fees, purchases, and contracts; participation in university and System-wide strategic planning; review and approval of policies and procedures governing the use of university facilities and property; annual inspection of university facilities; and the annual evaluation of the President.

2009-2010 Council of Trustees

R. Lee James, Chairperson
Oil City, PA

R. Lee James ('74, ‘83) of Oil City, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 1997 and reappointed in 2002 and 2009. Mr. James is a Financial Consultant with Raymond James Financial with 36 years experience in commercial banking and investment management.  He is a current officer or board member of Sugar Creek Station, div. of UPMC; Luther Place, div. of Lutheran Service Society; Grove Hill Cemetery Association.; and the Oil City Kiwanis Club.  He was a former board member of Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Development Commission Loan Committee, Venango County Industrial Development Corporation, Venango County Vocational-Technical School, Boy Scouts of America, and twice Campaign Chairman of United Way of Venango County.  Mr. James is a member of Lodge #710 F & A M, and was honorably discharged from the U. S. Navy in 1972.  He holds a B.S. in Business and MBA from Clarion University.    

Howard H. Shreckengost, Secretary
New Bethlehem, PA

Howard Shreckengost of New Bethlehem, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 2001 and reappointed in 2009.  He has owned and operated Char-Val Candies in Porter Township for 45 years.  Mr. Shreckengost spent eight years a member of the New Bethlehem Borough Council, three as president.  He has also served on the Redbank Valley Municipal Authority and on the board of directors of New Bethlehem Bank.

Dr. Syed R. Ali-Zaidi
Shippenville, PA

Dr. Syed Ali Zaidi of Shippenville, PA was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 1980 and reappointed in 1985, 1991, 1997, 2003 and 2009. He was a founding member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors, serving from 1984 to 1988 and from 1997 to 2002.  In 1998, Dr. Ali-Zaidi chaired the board's Task Force on Science and Advanced Technology Education, Workforce Development, and Implementation Research.  In 2001, he established the Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence, which annually recognizes an outstanding State System graduate. Dr. Ali-Zaidi is the recipient of the System's 2002 Eberly Award for Volunteerism.  He is retired from a 25-year career in research and development with the glass industry.  He has a B.S. in Glass Technology from Sheffield University in England, and a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Ceramic Engineering, both from The Ohio State University.

The Honorable Ross C. Cioppa
Braddock Hills, PA

The Honorable Ross Cioppa of Pittsburgh, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 2009. Judge Cioppa has served for the past ten years as a Magisterial District Judge in Allegheny County. Prior to his election to his current post, he was Administrative Assistant to Congressman William Coyne of Pittsburgh for 18 years. He formerly served as a personnel specialist in Allegheny County's Human Relations Department and as the Western Regional Supervisor within the PA Department of Revenue. Judge Cioppa was a school director for the Swissvale Area School District, serving as a member of the board and board secretary.  He currently serves as a life member of Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, University of Pittsburgh; District Director for the PA Special Court Judges; and member of the Ethics and Professional Committee.  He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh.

Joy Dunbar
State College, PA

Joy Dunbar of State College, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 2009.  She is chief administrator for the Pennsylvania Rural Leadership Program (RULE) based at The Pennsylvania State University.  She frequently lectures to various leadership, governmental, and agricultural groups around the world and is a feature writer for the Pennsylvania Borough News Magazine.  Ms. Dunbar holds a B.A. in English and M.S. in Communication from Clarion University and has completed all coursework and comprehensive exams toward a Ph.D. in Speech Communication at Penn State.  She has also completed a Kellogg Fellowship in leadership development at the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy in Washington, D.C.

Susanne A. Burns
Shippenville, PA

Susanne Burns of Shippenville, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 1997 and reappointed in 2001 and 2009.  She is a real estate broker and certified general appraiser with Burns and Burns Associates, Inc. of Clarion, PA.  Mrs. Burns currently serves as secretary of the Clarion University Foundation Executive Committee and as a member of the Clarion Hospital Foundation Committee, CNB Community Bank Board of Directors, and the Westminster College Fund Board.  She formerly served as President of the Clarion Chamber of Commerce and was named Clarion Citizen of the Year in 1984. She was elected to serve as secretary of the Pennsylvania Association of Councils of Trustees (PACT) for 2008-2009. She and her husband Eugene Burns are the recipients of the Clarion University Alumni Association's 2008 Distinguished Service Award. Mrs. Burns holds a B.S. in Education from Westminster College. 

James L. Kifer, Vice Chairperson
Rimersburg, PA

James L. Kifer ('83) of Rimersburg, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 2006 and reappointed in 2009.  Mr. Kifer is President, CFO, and CEO of Clarion County Community Bank.

Kyle D. McMunn
Knox, PA

Kyle McMunn of Knox, PA, is a 2006 graduate of Keystone High School.  He was appointed as the student member of the Council of Trustees in July, 2008. Mr. McMunn graduated with honors from Keystone High School and is an Eagle Scout. A Senior Chemistry-Pre-Pharmacy major, he is a student worker in the university's Department of History and the Department of Political Science and Philosophy.

The Honorable Donna Oberlander
Clarion, PA

The Honorable Donna Oberlander of Clarion, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 2009.  She is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, serving the 63rd District, which includes all of Clarion County and parts of Armstrong County. In the current session, she serves as a member of the Children and Youth Committee, Commerce Committee, Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, and as Secretary of the Gaming Oversight Committee.  Representative Oberlander earned a B.A. in Political Science from Clarion University.

Larry C. Pickett
Pittsburgh, PA

Larry Pickett of Pittsburgh, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 2009.  He is Project Manager II for Highmark Standard Property Corporation, where he leads process improvement initiatives designed to enhance customer service and reduce operating costs.  Mr. Pickett serves as a mentor for the Katz Graduate School of Business Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence and as a member of the Smart Futures Board of Directors.  His affiliations include the American Society for Training and Development, The Juran Institute, Inc., and the Pittsburgh Chess Club.  He earned a B.A. in Art from Clarion University, M.A. in Leadership and Liberal Studies from Duquesne University, and a M.B.A. degree from California University of Pennsylvania.

Jeffrey J. Szumigale
Erie, PA

Jeffrey J. Szumigale ('82) of Erie, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 2001 and reappointed in 2003.  He is Senior Vice President and Managing Director for PNC Advisors in Northwest Pennsylvania.  Mr. Szumigale is President of The Board of the Boys & Girls Club of Erie, board member of the United Way of Erie County, board member of the PNC Foundation in Northwest PA, President's Associate of Mercyhurst College, and an external member of the Finance Committee of St. Vincent Health System.  He also serves as a member of the Estate Planning Council of Erie. In 1989 he received the Sales and Management Executive Award as outstanding sales winner. He was recognized again by the Sales and Marketing Executives in 1996 as the Distinguished Salesperson of the Year. Mr. Szumigale earned a B.S. in Marketing from Clarion University and an MBA from Gannon University.