The Lehigh Carbon Community College Board of Trustees has named Orefield resident and longtime Lehigh Valley native, Dr. Ann D. Bieber, as the college's next president, effective July 1.

"Following a comprehensive, national search conducted by Florida-based executive search firm, Greenwood-Asher and Associates, and an exhaustive interview process with candidates, including on-campus personal interviews with four finalists with multiple college community groups, the Lehigh Carbon Community College Board of Trustees is extremely confident that Dr. Bieber provides the best combination of skills, experiences and leadership abilities to lead LCCC through its next phase of evolution," said Kenneth H. Mohr, Jr., chair of the Lehigh Carbon Community College Board of Trustees, with members of the college's Board of Trustees, the Presidential Search committee, union leaders, students, faculty and staff at his side.

"Dr. Bieber's expertise in administration, in higher education and her student-centric approach to leadership will help guide Lehigh Carbon Community College to new levels of academic success," Mohr said at a May 19 press conference held at the LCCC main campus, Schnecksville, North Whitehall Township.

The LCCC Board of Trustees is expected to formally approve the appointment of Bieber as the college's fifth president at its June 5 public meeting.

In a process that began with the December 2013 retirement of former Lehigh Carbon president, Dr. Donald W. Snyder, the college's Board of Trustees worked with Greenwood-Asher and a 16-member, board-appointed search committee composed of eight trustees and Lehigh Carbon faculty, administrators, staff and community representatives to assemble a pool of qualified applicants.

Bieber, 57, has served in various roles at the college since 1981, including most recently as interim president.

In her role as president, Bieber is responsible for the academic guidance of the college, allocation of resources for the college's $35-million budget, fostering positive academic environments for students and staff on the college's main campus in Schnecksville, and off-campus sites in Tamaqua, Jim Thorpe, Allentown and at Lehigh Valley International Airport; outreach to stakeholders, thought leaders and constituents; and leadership and advocacy of the college's mission and goals through the implementation of the strategic plan.

With more than 30 years of experience, Bieber has developed programs, promoted economic development, delivered cost and efficiency improvements, cultivated donors, acquired alternative funding and achieved record-setting revenue growth and profits.

Prior to her appointment as interim president, Bieber was senior vice president of administrative services, overseeing more than 40 staffers and an $8-million operational budget and was responsible for the departments of information technology, workforce and community development, human resources, planning and assessment, institutional research, college relations, and the college foundation.

As interim president, Bieber spearheaded the development of "Many Voices, One Vision: LCCC 2014 - 2017," the college's three-year rolling strategic plan; strengthened LCCC's partnerships with military, businesses, nonprofits and educational institutions and coordinated the Middle States Periodic Review Report, which resulted in accreditation and commendation.

Under her leadership, the college's advanced information technologies, including administrative and academic resources and student and staff portals, have been upgraded and improved. She is credited with creating partnerships with more than 60 business and industry leaders, community organizations and economic development authorities and leading new initiatives which resulted in programs totaling more than $3.5 million to assist businesses in maintaining a skilled workforce.

While serving as vice president of Administrative Services and Workforce-Community Development, a position she held for almost 10 years, Bieber took the helm at the college's foundation office. Bieber's guidance has resulted in the college securing more than $11 million in resources for scholarships, grants and other financial resources. Lehigh Carbon Community College Foundation is in the Top 100 of community college foundations nationwide in assets and annual income. She was also instrumental in the development of a $7-million off-campus site, and is well-known around the Lehigh Valley for her passionate advocacy for the establishment of full scholarships for students. LCCC students are awarded more than $250,000 in scholarship funds every year.

She is a member of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation's legislative and government relations committee, is on the executive board and finance board of the Workforce Investment Board of the Lehigh Valley and is on the Council of Presidents with the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges.

Bieber received a bachelor's degree from Cedar Crest College, a master's from Kutztown University, and a doctorate from Capella University. She lives in Orefield, North Whitehall-South Whitehall Township, with her husband, Matt. They have two grown children, Natalie and Matt.