Council of Trustees

The 12-member Council of Trustees governs Slippery Rock University. Its members are nominated and appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate serving a term of six years, and until their successors are appointed and qualified. At least two members of the group are alumni of the institution and one member is a full-time undergraduate student. The council meets on a quarterly basis at the University or from time to time as may be called upon by the president, chairperson, or upon request of three of its members.

Upcoming COT 2023-2024 Meeting Dates

December 7-8, 2023 (Current LiveBinder)
March 21-22, 2024
June 13-14, 2024

The Council of Trustees of Slippery Rock University of PA will hold open meetings to the public on December 7-8, 2023.

On Thursday, December 7, 2023, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee meets at 2:00 p.m. and the Finance and Administrative Affairs Committee meets at 3:15 p.m. All meetings will take place in the Russell Wright Alumni House and Conference Center.

On Friday, December 8, 2023, the University Advancement Committee meets at 8:30 a.m., the Governance Committee meets at 9:00 a.m., followed by the SRU Council of Trustees quarterly business meeting at 10:00 a.m. All meetings will take place in the Russell Wright Alumni House and Conference Center. A trustee will be available at 8:15 a.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023, in the Alumni House to meet with anyone who wishes to discuss university-related matters, and who has scheduled an appointment either in writing or by calling the President’s Office, 724-738-2000, by 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

The public may participate in the meetings via ZOOM by registering at:

Registration link: https://sru.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HxPutUVrSVihq1l3ekhmxQ
Telephone number: (309) 205-3325
Webinar ID: 956 2814 0756

Council welcomes public comment at the quarterly business meeting, 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 8, 2023, Russell Wright Alumni House and Conference Center, SRU campus.

Council of Trustees member profiles

Domenic Ionta - Chair

New Castle man becomes trustee at Slippery Rock | Local News ...

Ionta was appointed to a seat on SRU’s council of trustees, Jan. 31, 2020, by the Pennsylvania Senate.

A native of New Castle, Ionta earned a bachelor's degree in education from then-Slippery Rock State College in 1963. He is a former teacher (Southwest Butler County and Seneca Valley school districts); principal (Beaver Area Jr.-Sr. High School); superintendent (Union Area School District); and acting superintendent (Union and Greenville Area school districts). He also served as interim director for the Lawrence County Career and Tech Center and Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School.

Ionta also earned a master's degree in education from Westminster College (1967) and a superintendent's letter of eligibility from Youngstown State University (1978).

Joshua Young - Vice Chair

Commissioner Joshua Young

Joshua Young is a 2000 Graduate of Coatesville Area Senior High School and a 2004 graduate of Slippery Rock with a B.A. in Political Science. While at Slippery Rock, Joshua was a student leader serving many roles including Student Trustee, SGA Senator and Speaker of the Senate and many more.

Since leaving SRU Mr. Young has become a leader in Chester County business and politics. Joshua currently works for Young’s Garage Inc., which his grandparents started in 1960. He is currently the Vice President and third generation working for the company. Joshua is a mechanic, tow truck driver and involved in business operations.

In 2005, Mr. Young joined the political world by running for Township Commissioner in Caln Township, Chest County at the age of 23.

On January 3, 2006, Joshua Young was sworn in as the youngest Commissioner in Caln Township history. He has since been re-elected three times. Commissioner Young has helped revolutionize government in Caln, provided a vision for the future, and maintained a stable budget. In his role as Commissioner, Mr. Young serves as a member of the Finance Committee, the Parks and Recreation Committee, member of the Lincoln Highway Redevelopment Committee, Chair of the Caln Community Day Committee, Chair of the King’s Highway Park Master Plan Committee, Liaison to the Thorndale Fire Company and the Finance Department.

Mr. Young also serves on community boards including, Trustee of the Downingtown Library, member of the Coatesville Christmas Parade, member of the Thorndale Volunteer Fire Company Board of Fire Directors, member of the Thorndale Volunteer Fire Company and other charitable entities.

Joshua is also involved in the Chester County Democratic Committee. He has served as a committee person since 2005. In his many years he has served as a Zone Leader and elected State Committeeperson.

Mr. Young helped form the Western Chester County Council of Governments, served as its first Vice President, second President and as Secretary/Treasurer. In his time as President, he helped form the Western Chester County Regional Emergency Management Council.

Joshua previously served on the Council of Trustees as a student Trustee and Trustee appointed in 2007 to 2013. In his first full term he served as Chair of the Council from 2010-2012 where he was the youngest Chairman in the history of the state system at the age of 28.

Mr. Young continues to be a leader and advocate for Higher Education and Slippery Rock University.

He currently resides in his hometown, Coatesville, Pennsylvania.

Cierra Mitchell

Photo of Cierra Mitchell

Cierra Mitchell joined the council of trustees in May 2023. She occupies the one seat designated for a full-time SRU undergraduate student. Her term will expire when she graduates.

Mitchell was selected based on a campuswide application and interview process. A selection committee consisting of three employee union representatives and a representative from the Slippery Rock Student Government Association recommended Mitchell to the SRU Office of the President. Her recommendation was approved and forwarded to the Office of the Chancellor of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education and final approval was made by the state's board of governors.

A political science major from Pittsburgh, Mitchell worked as an intern in the summer of 2023 in the office of U.S. Rep. Al Green of Texas as part of a program through the Fund for American Studies, a nonprofit educational organization that provides opportunities for the next generation of leaders in government.

Mitchell is a member of several campus organizations and groups, including Black Action Society, the Debate Society, QUEENS (empowering minority women), and the Student Conduct Hearing Board. She also works as a security guard for Allied University in Pittsburgh.

Alfonso Angelucci

Dr. Alfonso Angelucci is currently the superintendent of the Slippery Rock Area School District in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. A former elementary and middle school teacher in Stafford County Public Schools, VA, Dr. Angelucci has served as an assistant elementary school principal in Stafford County, VA as well as an elementary principal in the North Hills School District and also the Ellwood City Area School District. After serving as the assistant superintendent in Ellwood City, he moved on to the role of superintendent with the Union Area School District in New Castle, PA before arriving at his current post in Slippery Rock.

A graduate Shenango Jr.-Sr. High School in New Castle, PA, Dr. Angelucci graduated with an undergraduate degree in elementary education from Slippery Rock University in 1992. He holds a master's degree in Educational Leadership from George Mason University and is a graduate of the Administrative and Leadership Studies doctoral program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He has presented at two national parent organization conferences and a state-wide conference on the subject of parent involvement. Dr. Angelucci was featured in the October 2005 edition of PTO Today magazine.

Dr. Angelucci authored an article which was published in May 2005 edition of Pennsylvania Administrator and another which appeared in the fall 2009 edition of Educational Leadership. He is a past executive board member of the Lawrence County School to Work and the New Castle YMCA. He currently serves on the University of Pittsburgh Tri-State Study Council Executive Board. He has also been very active in youth sports in the Ellwood City area in the past as a coach and former president of the Ellwood City Amateur Baseball Federation.

Dr. Angelucci and his wife, Holly, have three children. They are all active in their church, Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish in Ellwood City, PA.

Matthew Lautman

Mr. Matthew Lautman Matthew Lautman is a graduate of Slippery Rock University where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science. He was elected chairman of the council in June 2016. While at SRU, he was a member of the Kappa Delta Rho fraternity, the Slippery Rock University Program Board, and a student member of the Slippery Rock University Judicial Board. Lautman then attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and received his juris doctor. He was president of his law school class.

Today, he is an attorney and shareholder at Houston Harbaugh, P.C., a law firm in Pittsburgh. He is licensed to practice law in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the state of West Virginia as well as federal district courts across the country.

Lautman focuses his practice in commercial, bankruptcy and construction litigation representing companies and individuals in matters such as breach of contract claims, negligence claims, collection actions, commercial tenant disputes, commercial foreclosure actions, products liability matters and shareholder disputes. He routinely represents companies in adversary actions, including preference claims and fraudulent transfer claims. As part of his bankruptcy and collections practice, he consults with clients about their overall credit process, contracting documents, terms and conditions, and works with them to develop procedures that may increase the likelihood of payment or collection. Additionally, he handles an array of matters in the construction industry, including representation of various parties in asserting and defending breach of contract claims, including mechanics lien claims. He also represents architects and engineers in construction defect claims.

Lautman has presented educational seminars on various topics, including: "Contract Law for Design Professionals"; "Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: Shaking Hands With the Rules"; "Protect Your Business Now in Case a Customer Stops Paying Later"; "Considerations When Dealing With a Distressed and/or Bankrupt Customer"; and "The Fair Share Act: How it Changes Comparative Negligence in Pennsylvania."

He is a member of the Slippery Rock University Alumni Association; a graduate of the Leadership Development Initiative, XVII; a volunteer with the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council; and a former member of the board of directors of Oakland Planning and Development Corp.

He currently resides in Pittsburgh.

Dan Lavallee

Dan Lavalle Headshot

Dan LaVallee was appointed to the council of trustees May 14, 2020. LaVallee is the director of social impact at UPMC Health Plan in Pittsburgh. In his role, LaVallee leads UPMC Health Plan's Pathways to Work program that provides workforce, training and education opportunities to people on Medicaid. He also leads community partnerships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and housing for Health Plan members, as well as health programs for the LGBTQ community.

LaVallee received a bachelor's degree in policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University in 2009 and a master's in health care policy and management from CMU in 2010.

LaVallee is an active civic leader. In 2014, he was one of the youngest nominees to run for U.S. Congress, and as a board member for the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, he helped lead a merger with the United Way of Butler County. LaVallee was named as one of Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 under 40 and as Managed Healthcare Executive’s “10 Emerging Leaders” in 2019.

He lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, Terrina, and daughter, Kalea.

William McCarrier

Mr. William McCarrier William McCarrier was born in Butler to Dr. W. Victor & Lois Gruver McCarrier. He was elected secretary of the council in June 2016.

In 1960 he married Irene Trabert of Harrisville and they are the parents of three sons, Bill, Jr., Brian and John and the grandparents of six.

Employment And Business Experience
Math and Physics Teacher - Moniteau High School 1961-1966.
Founder and CEO of Interstate Pipe & Supply Co. - 1966-1995.
Former Partner - Sterling Care Personal Care Homes
Former Partner - Morrow Drilling Co.
Former Partner - Meadville Pines Corp.
Former Independent Oil Producer
Butler County commissioner 1996-1999; 2012 -

Community Activities
Former member and president of the West Sunbury Boro Council.
Former member of the West Sunbury Volunteer Fire Department.
(Served as chief, president and treasurer of WSVFD)
Past president of the Butler County Fire Chiefs' Association.
Served as Republican committeeman for West Sunbury and Butler Township
Member of the board of directors of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce: 1988-1996.

Trustee of Butler County Community College: 1996-2012.
Member of the board of visitors-Slippery Rock University, College of Business Administration: 1996-2001
Member of the board of directors of the Community Development Corp. of Butler County.
(President of the CDC from 2000-2004, Secretary 2005-2013)
Member of the board of directors, Butler County United Way, 1994 campaign chair, 1998 board chair.
Member of the board of directors of the Endowment for Butler County: 1996-2001.
Member of the board of directors of the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance: 1996-2001.
Member of the board of directors of the Butler Salvation Army: 2000-2010.

Church
Sunday School teacher for 25 Years.
Member of the board of directors for 10 Years.
Served as building fund chairman which built The North Main Street - Church Of God 1,000-seat sanctuary and fellowship hall debt free.
Served as secretary of the church's budget and finance committee.
Served as Sunday school superintendent.
Served as an usher for 30 years.
Served on the church's evangelism team.

Other Organizations
Served as master of Butler Masonic Lodge - trustee of lodge for 25 years.
Served as commander in chief of the Scottish Rite Masons of New Castle -12,000 members.
Served on the Committee on Masonic Homes of PA from 1992-1999.
Served as potentate of the Syria Shriners of Pittsburgh in 2007 - 9,000 members.
Member of the New Castle Cathedral Foundation from 1980-1995.
Vice President of the New Castle Benefit Fund from 1984-2003.
Deputy for Pennsylvania for the Scottish Rite Masons 2005-2011 - 45,000 members.
Chairman of the Supreme Council Finance Committee of the Scottish Rite: 2010-2012.
Member of the administrative council of the Supreme Council - 180,000 members.

Honorary
Who's Who In The East and Who's Who in Finance and Industry.
Butler Chamber of Commerce, Entrepreneur of the Year award - 2007.
Community Development Corporation's Key Award - 2007.
President's Award For Outstanding Volunteer Service to the Chamber of Commerce - 1991.
33⁰ Mason -1983.
Moraine Trails Council - Distinguished Friend of Scouting Award - 1999.
Finalist in Inc Magazines' Entrepreneur of the Year Award - 1991

Elise Michaux

Elise Michaux Headshot

Elise Michaux is from Connellsville, PA--a small rural community outside of Pittsburgh. She received her B.A. in English Literature and M.A. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Slippery Rock University. She realized her calling to higher education during her sophomore year when she served as a FYRST year-leader, mentoring students through their initial transition to college.

After graduate school, Elise began her higher education career at Robert Morris University as a Counselor for Special Student Populations in the Center for Student Success. In this role, she specifically worked with student-athletes, assisting them in creating their academic schedules, connecting them to appropriate academic support services, and ensuring their overall wellbeing.

For six years following her time at Robert Morris, Elise served as the Director of Student Leadership and Involvement at Seton Hill University. In this role, she expanded the university’s definition and understanding of involvement. Through a collaborative effort with faculty, staff, and students, she designed and implemented a robust slate of programming that engaged both campus and community. In addition, she created and supervised student leadership positions that were unique and relevant, allowing students to not only take ownership of programming on campus, but also gain relevant experience to market themselves competitively for their post-graduation endeavors.

Currently, Elise serves as the Fouding Director of Enrollment Management at Erie County Community College of Pennsylvania. In this role she not only facilitates the recruitment and onboarding process for students, but also serves as an advocate for prospective students. She does so by prioritizing access to education for the underserved residents of the local community, introducing marginalized individuals to opportunities available to them through ECCC.

Outside of her professional duties, Elise is committed to serving the communities that she is a part of. Passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion, Elise is a consultant to local organizations about issues and best practices surrounding this topic. She also serves as Vice-Chair on the Slippery Rock University Council of Trustees and enjoys enacting her creative expression through photography and digital design.

Jeffrey Smith

Mr. Jeffrey Smith

Jeffrey Smith is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University where he received a bachelor of science degree in computer science. He also earned an MBA at the University of Evansville.

He was elected chairman of the council in June 2018. Smith also serves as the President of the Pennsylvania Association of Council of Trustees. PACT is the association that represents all trustees in the PASSHE system.

Smith spent his entire professional career working for PPG Industries in a variety of assignments. He retired in 2018. Extremely active in local municipal government, Smith was recognized as the Outstanding Borough Councilman in Pennsylvania in 2008. In 2012, he received the Governor's Award for Excellence in Local Government for his role in establishing COG Care, a program designed to provide low-cost health insurance to municipalities. Smith served as the executive director for the Butler County Council of Governments as well as the elected city treasurer for the city of Butler.

"Being a Slippery Rock trustee is a special honor for me. Growing up in Shippensburg, the son of a Shippensburg University faculty member, I learned at a young age to have a great deal of respect for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. It is very exciting for me to now be a part of it."

Smith and his wife, Diane, live in Butler. They have six grown children.

Smith can be reached by email at jeff.smith@sru.edu.

Robert S. Taylor

Mr. Robert S. Taylor

Robert Taylor, esq. is chairman and chief executive officer of the Cameron Companies LLC, a diversified holding company specializing in business and government affairs consulting. Taylor earned a bachelor of arts degree from Slippery Rock State College and his juris doctor from Temple University School of Law. He is admitted to the United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He has been a White House appointee to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a trustee in bankruptcy in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and a staff attorney to the Pennsylvania Worker's Compensation Appeal Board.

Founded in 2003, Cameron Companies and its principals organized after a 20-year affiliation with Lewis, Eckert, Robb and Company, the Pennsylvania firm started by former United States Secretary of Transportation, Andrew L. "Drew" Lewis, which has resulted in considerable exposure to the legislative, regulatory and executive branches of state and federal government and private business management. Taylor's clients have included among others, Fortune 500 companies, large banks, engineering firms, marine terminal operators, software companies, energy and energy services companies, pharmaceutical firms, health related organizations and various non-profit organizations.

Taylor was responsible for drafting and developing the original authorizing legislation which was enacted by Congress in 1988 creating the National Constitution Center. He served as president and CEO of the center, which welcomes more than 1 million visitors annually. During his term, Taylor restructured the center's core mission, redefined its program operation, hired a complement of staff and eliminated all debt. His efforts allowed future leaders of the center to continue plans for, and the building of, the center.

He has provided association management services to several organizations, including serving as executive director of the American Business Council Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based 501 (c) (6) educational association. The council promotes free and open trade policies with an emphasis on assisting small American manufacturers to compete in the global economy.

Taylor has been active in Pennsylvania government, business and politics for 35 years. Reared in Bucks County, he coordinated the 1980 George Bush for President campaign in Pennsylvania, and was director of the 1984 Reagan-Bush campaign in the commonwealth. He has also managed several lower profile congressional and state campaigns. He served as treasurer of the Pennsylvania Republican Party and served as a member of the Governor's Transition Team for Gov. Tom Ridge in 1994 and Gov. Tom Corbett in 2010. He has been a delegate and attended various Republican national conventions.

He has served on the boards of several Pennsylvania companies and charitable organizations such as the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors, which oversees the 14 state-owned universities in Pennsylvania. He has been a long-time member of the Slippery Rock University Council of Trustees (chairman, vice chairman, secretary), and served on affiliated boards at the Slippery Rock Foundation Inc., and the Regional Learning Alliance Inc. (secretary). Taylor has also served as chairman of the $33 million "Campaign for Slippery Rock," which successfully raised funds for the improvement and growth of Slippery Rock University.

He has served on the board of directors of Employers' Acquisition Inc., the Pennsylvania Partnership for Economic Education (vice chairman), Southern Homes Services (treasurer), Bucks County NAWC Economic Adjustment Committee (chairman), the Bucks County Housing Development Corp., the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the Trade Task Group Inc. and the internationally recognized Marian Anderson Award board of directors.

Suzanne Vessella

Ms. Suzanne Vessella

Suzanne Vessella's strong commitment to public service has led to a more than 18-year career with the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General's Office. Serving as a former supervisor in the bureau of school audits, Vessella supervised and audited many of the public schools in western Pennsylvania and conducted fiscal and compliance audits. She was also responsible for updating and rewriting portions of the department's training manuals for new auditors. In 2004, she accepted a position with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the operations review department.

Appointed to the council in 2003, and vice-chair in 2005, Vessella enjoys her role as a trustee of Slippery Rock University as it presents a new opportunity to further serve the community. She says, "Our public schools and our commonwealth's System of Higher Education are the foundation on which our future leaders will be built. It is our responsibility to create an open and diverse environment in which growth, education and enrichment can take place." An active member, she was appointed by the president to the planning committee for the Storm Harbor Equestrian Center.

Vessella received a bachelor of arts degree from Duquesne University in 1984. At Duquesne, she was involved with service and social organizations. These experiences made her realize the important roles these types of organizations play in creating a complete educational experience.

Actively involved in the sport of purebred dogs, breeding and showing Keeshonden, Vessella's kennel has produced some of the annual top dogs in the breed as well as producing a top-winning dog in breed history. She is vice president of the Buckeye Keeshonden Club and served as co-chairman of the 2005 National Keeshonden Specialty show.

Dr. Daniel Greenstein - Chancellor

Chancellor Daniel Greenstein Headshot Dr. Daniel Greenstein became the fifth chancellor of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education on September 4, 2018. In that role, he serves as chief executive officer of the State System, which operates Pennsylvania's 14 public universities, serving more than 100,000 students. The chancellor works with the Board of Governors to recommend and develop overall policies for the System.

Greenstein previously led the Postsecondary Success strategy at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where he worked with other higher education leaders across the country on initiatives designed to raise educational-attainment levels and to promote economic mobility, especially among low-income and minority students. He developed and implemented a national strategy for increasing the number of degrees awarded and for reducing the attainment gaps among majority and non-majority students at U.S. colleges and universities.

Before joining the foundation, Greenstein was Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Programs for the University of California (UC) system. In that role, he oversaw system-wide academic planning and programs, including the University of California Press; the California Digital Library; the UC system's Education Abroad Program; internship programs in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento; and UC Online Education.

Greenstein has created and led several internet-based academic information services in the United States and the United Kingdom, and served on boards and acted in strategic consulting roles for educational, cultural heritage, and information organizations. He began his academic career as a senior lecturer in Modern History at Glasgow University in Scotland.

He holds both bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford. An enthusiastic cyclist, Dan and his wife, Melissa, have two children.

Council of Trustees

Council of Trustees

Council of Trustees member profiles

Council of Trustees

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