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Weaver appointed, Kifer and Ali-Zaidi reappointed to Clarion University Council of Trustees

February 1, 2017

Gov. Tom Wolf has named Neil R. Weaver (’00), York, Pa., to Clarion University Council of Trustees. The Council of Trustees is composed of 11 members who, except for the student member, are nominated by the governor and appointed by Pennsylvania Senate.

Neil WeaverWeaver, who holds a bachelor's degree in communication from Clarion, is executive deputy secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, where he oversees the management, programs and operations for the state agency. He has served in many capacities in communications and government relations executive including: northeast manager for government affairs for Resource Environmental Solutions; director of communications and press secretary for DCED; deputy press secretary for the Department of Environmental Protection; director of client services for a private environmental engineering firm; national fundraising manager for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; and chief of staff to gubernatorial primary candidate Kathleen McGinty.

Gov. Wolf also reappointed James L. Kifer ('83), Rimersburg, and Dr. Syed Ali-Zaidi, Shippenville.

Jim KiferKifer was first appointed to the council of trustees in 2006, then reappointed in 2009 and 2017. He is chairman of the council, having served as vice chair and secretary. He is president, chief executive officer, chief financial officer and a member of the board of directors of Clarion County Community Bank.

He is a member of Clarion County Economic Development Corporation and past member of the Board of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers. He served two years as president of Rimersburg Lions Club and as a member of the Clarion Rotary Club. Kifer earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Clarion University and graduated from the Central Atlantic Advanced School of Banking at Bucknell University.

AliZaidiAli-Zaidi was appointed to the council of trustees in 1980 and reappointed in 1985, 1991, 1997, 2003, 2009 and 2016. 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, 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. Ali-Zaidi is

In 2001, he established the Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence, which annually recognizes an outstanding State System graduate. Ali-Zaidi is 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 bachelor's degree in glass technology from Sheffield University in England, and a master's and doctorate degree in ceramic engineering, both from The Ohio State University.

Trustees' duties include: the establishment of academic programs and schools for consideration by the State System 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. Trustees serve six-year terms.

Last Updated 1/11/21