D. Penny Jennings Appointed to Board of Trustees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: June 3, 2009

CONTACT: Lisa Saunders

(845) 574 - 4244

lsaunde2@sunyrockland.edu

Rockland County Legislature Appoints D. Penny Jennings to Rockland Community College Board of Trustees

Suffern, NY - The Rockland County Legislature appointed D. Penny Jennings of Pomona to serve on the College’s Board of Trustees, assuming the place of Mr. Juan Del Pilar, whose term expired June 30, 2008.  Del Pilar, who declined reappointment, served as a hold-over Trustee during this period. Jennings’ term of service is May 20, 2009 – June 30, 2013.

Jennings, who graduated Rockland Community College in 2001 while raising her son, said, “RCC gave me the support I needed to succeed as an adult student.  When I graduated in 2001, I wanted more.  More knowledge, more excellence, more dreams fulfilled.  RCC gave me a great foundation.”

Jennings is the CEO of A.C.T., Inc. (Adults Caring for Teens) in Nyack. She founded A.C.T. in 2002 because she wanted to recruit a pool of ethnically diverse men and women to mentor underachieving teens.  Today A.C.T., Inc. boasts a high rate of minority males mentoring boys. She also facilitates weekly self-development workshops for the Rockland County Guidance Center in Nyack.

Jennings said, “As CEO of a youth development agency, I know that young people need to be exposed to college at an early age. They need to attend activities on campus to get a feel of college life. As an RCC Trustee, I hope to really focus on the ‘community’ aspect, ensuring that more services and programs are available at the Haverstraw and Spring Valley sites.  A strong presence in the community builds a strong relationship with youths and families.”

Jennings began reaching out to troubled youth when she worked as a correction officer for the New York City Department of Corrections on Rikers Island from 1985-87. From 1989-2006, she worked for the MTA in Brooklyn as the Rail Control Center Supervisor.

Jennings earned an Associate of Arts in Humanities and Social Science from Rockland Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Economics and a Master of Arts degree in Social Policy from Empire State College, Saratoga. She is a candidate for a Doctorate in Law and Policy from Northeastern University, Boston, MA.

For more information about SUNY Rockland Community College, visit www.sunyrockland.edu

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Rockland Community College, a unit of the State University of New York, is located 25 miles northwest of NYC. The majority of its students transfer to four-year colleges, and many find immediate employment upon earning their associate's degree or certificate. The College also offers others, from preschoolers to senior citizens, the opportunity to simply learn something new. Quality education...at a price you can afford.