Office of Academic Affairs

School Deans and Associate Deans

We have identified new office space for each of the school deans and associate deans. They are in their new roles and locations listed below.

  • Rick Albright, associate dean, Liberal Arts: Blocker 201G
  • Jennie Baar, dean, Business, Technology and Industry: Blocker 106F
  • Leslie Boon, dean, Liberal Arts: Gettysburg 141G
  • Wendy Bratina, associate dean, Liberal Arts: Blocker 201B
  • Megan Brightbill, associate dean, Health Sciences: Blocker 201F
  • Mike Corradino, dean, Science and Mathematics: East 204F
  • Janelle Heiserman, associate dean, Science and Mathematics: Blocker 201C
  • Margie Mattis, associate dean, Science and Mathematics: Leader 101B
  • Jazmin Simpson, associate dean, Business Technology and Industry: YC 122G and Whitaker 232J
  • Dory Uhlman, dean, Health Sciences: Blocker 106D

We also welcome the associate deans in each of the four schools!

Rick Albright has been with HACC for 15 years: eight years as an English faculty member, one year as interim English Department chair, and six years as associate dean at the Harrisburg Campus. He has three degrees, all in English: B.A., M.A, and Ph.D. He will be an associate dean in the School of Liberal Arts working with English faculty. Rick, who has a Ph.D. in English literature, has been teaching online English classes for several years and looks forward to supporting the virtual faculty in this school. He is also looking forward to working with the faculty to grow and strengthen the new English major and to increase enrollment in the variety of courses we offer.

Wendy Bratina has been at the college since 2003 as an adjunct faculty member in Psychology for 10 years, teaching both online and on the Harrisburg campus. She became Program Director for Human Services in 2013, and spent one year as the interim department chair for the Science Department. She has a Bachelor’s of Social Sciences from Penn State, an M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Millersville University, secondary school certification in school counseling from Shippensburg University, and an Ed. D. in Higher Education from Immaculata University. She has lived in PA her entire life, and is married (over 26 years) with four children, three Labrador Retrievers and two house cats. “I have a lot of respect for the hard work that goes into teaching, and my goal is to support faculty so they can dedicate their energy toward the students.” She looks forward to getting to know the faculty and staff in social sciences.

Megan Brightbill has been with the college for 12 years, first as an adjunct in dental hygiene, then as a full-time faculty member, and then program director before transitioning into the role of associate dean at the Harrisburg Campus. She has an Associates and Bachelor’s Degree in Dental Hygiene from Penn State University, an Master’s degree in health education (also from Penn State), and expects to complete her Doctorate in Health Science from the University of Bridgeport this summer. She is looking forward to having all of our health careers working under one umbrella and the opportunity to work with more faculty across the college. “Because this change process involves lots of communication between Deans and Schools, I am looking forward to the outcome of improved processes and collaboration. “

Janelle Heiserman has been the coordinator of Student Success and Advising at Midtown for five years. She has a B.A. in History and Art History from Lycoming College, an M.S. in Organizational Development and Leadership from Shippensburg University, and an Ed.D. from Penn State University in Adult Education. She is excited to work with our math and science faculty “to continue to provide an exceptional and comprehensive education for our learners!”

Margie Mattis has been with the college for 15 years as an academic dean and campus vice president. She holds a doctorate in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and has been teaching face to face, blended and online in Computer Information Systems for over 20 years. She will be in the School of Science and Mathematics, working with science faculty, and she also looks forward to supporting virtual faculty in this school. Margie is looking forward to connecting and collaborating with the science faculty across the college. She states, “Together, we share a commitment to student success and my focus will be prioritizing curricular needs and evaluating spaces to ensure a consistent experience for our students at all the campuses.”

Jazmin Simpson has been with the college for 10 years, working in Virtual Learning, first as Coordinator of Student Life and Recruitment, then as the Student Success Manager, and more recently as the Interim Dean of Academic Affairs. She has a B.A. in elementary Education and an M.S. in Educational Leadership. In 1999 she was in a music video with Luther Vandross! Now she will be associate dean in the School of Business, Technology and Industry, working with business faculty and supporting all the online faculty in this school. She looks forward to “learning all things associated with the School of Business, Technology and Industry and most importantly to supporting the faculty.”

Academic Affairs has developed a new contact list based on the school model which can be accessed here.

HACC to York College Articulation Agreement in Professional Writing

In December 2019, the English Department hosted Dr. Gabe Cutrufello, chair of the Communications and Writing Department and associate professor of Rhetoric and Composition at York College, to discuss the HACC to York College articulation agreement in Professional Writing.

Dr. Cutrufello met with both faculty and students, sharing an overview of the opportunities for students at York College. HACC students from a variety of majors have transferred into Professional Writing and have gone on to fully-funded graduate programs and exciting careers. This link includes an informational interview about the details of the major and includes Dr. Cutrufello's contact information. Advisors can encourage students from all majors to consider how professional writing can help them meet their career goals.

Faculty Spotlight: Bill Forney

Bill Forney has been teaching, guiding, and supporting students in classes at HACC for over 35 years! He began working in the automotive program in the Community Resources Institute or what later became the Workforce Development and Continuing Education Division. Back then, he was helping women with basic car maintenance (among other classes). More recently, he taught a blind student electronics! Bill worked with the Office of Student Access Services to develop accommodations, and had the student tell the person assisting how and where to connect the wires. The student was able to do computer repair by hearing vibrations, feeling the wires, chips and connectors. In the end, he ended up being more successful in the class than some of the sighted students.

Bill is a big proponent of hands-on learning, and his favorite part of teaching is seeing the light go on with students in his classes. In his own words, “Teaching is not an occupation, it is a gift! A gift to be used to improve the lives of others.” He uses a lot of questions to get students thinking for themselves. He has worked in quite a few programs: Automotive, Computer Information, and Computer Networking; and he led the Electronic Engineering and Nanofabrication Manufacturing programs. He especially enjoys advising because he gets to see students achieve their academic goals.

Bill will continue to share his gift with HACC students as an adjunct professor after he retires. We wish Bill well in this next phase of his career.