Lehigh Carbon Community College honored its fifth president, Dr. Ann Bieber, with an investiture ceremony Oct. 24 in Berrier Hall at the college in Schnecksville.

During her address to faculty, alumni, trustees, students, community leaders and state legislators, Bieber said she was honored and humbled to accept the Lehigh Carbon Community College Presidential Medallion.

"As we gather here on this day filled with the promise of new beginnings, I thank you for the opportunity to lead Lehigh Carbon Community College as its fifth president," Bieber said. "It is an honor and privilege to stand before you and I thank you for your confidence and trust.

"It allows me to begin the transformation of today's promises into tomorrow's accomplishments."

Bieber said as LCCC is about to enter its 50th year, she is humbled to stand upon the shoulders of Drs. John Berrier, Robert Barthlow, James Davis and Donald Snyder.

"It is their collective body of work that has provided a firm foundation for the college and a springboard to whatever the next 50 years has in store," Bieber said. "As your new president, today's ceremony provides a context for my role in the institution.

"I pledge my deepest commitment to lead this institution."

Bieber said the college's growth, from its founding to today, reflects its critical mission "to serve the community by providing high quality education that is affordable and accessible."

"I pledge to use the best of my experience, talents and abilities to accept everyone, to educate people from all different backgrounds with many different abilities and needs," Bieber said. "We will accomplish this through the excellence of our trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, community partners and foundation board members."

Bieber pledged to support LCCC as an economic growth engine, igniting in the students the enthusiasm that entrepreneurship can instill - providing opportunities for students to develop the requisite skills and to increase the availability of scholarships at LCCC to ensure all individuals have the opportunity for an education.

"I pledge to work to expand meaningful collaboration for the betterment of our students and the communities we serve," Bieber said.

Bieber said she is thankful for the extraordinary partnerships LCCC has formed with school districts, career and technical institutes and four-year colleges and universities.

She pledged to continue to strengthen and expand LCCC's partnerships.

"I pledge our students will always be the center of all that we do," she said. "Because of you, without a doubt, I have the best job in the world."

Board of Trustees member Matthew T. Korp presided as the master of ceremonies.

Guest speakers included Audrey L. Larvey, chair of the board of trustees member; Ellen-Millard Kern, LCCC Foundation chair; Jeremiah Wilhite, LCCC Student Government Association president; Heather Mullen, alumni association member; Daniel Nagy, president of LCCC Education Support Professionals ESP/PSEA; and Dr. John Hefner president of LCCC Faculty Association PSEA/NEA.

The featured speaker was Dr. Nicholas Neupauer, president of Butler County Community College, a colleague and friend of Bieber.

Parkland High School String Ensemble entertained LCCC faculty, alumni and delegates from the Pennsylvania Commission of Community Colleges and presidents from surrounding and out-of-state universities and colleges and guest prior to the investiture of Dr. Bieber.

Louis E. Dieruff High School Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps provided the color guard and Jim Thorpe High School Jazz Ensemble and Choral Quintet provided the music at the reception.

Bieber brings with her more than 30 years of progressive experience and proven ability to lead teams, and she has developed programs, promoted economic development, delivered cost and efficiency improvements, cultivated donors, acquired alternative funding and achieved record-setting revenue growth and profits.

As president, Bieber is responsible for the academic guidance of the college, allocation of resources, fostering positive academic environments for students and staff on the college's main campus in Schnecksville, and off-campus sites in Tamaqua, Jim Thorpe and Allentown; outreach to stakeholders, through leaders and constituents; and leadership and advocacy of the college's mission and goals through the implementation of the strategic plan.

Prior to becoming president, Bieber was senior vice president of administrative services where she was responsible for overseeing the departments of information technology, workforce and community development, human resources, planning and assessment, institutional research, college relations and the college foundation.

Bieber earned her Bachelor's degree from Cedar Crest College, her Master's from Kutztown University, and Doctorate from Capella University.

She and her husband, Matt, live in Orefield.

They are the parents of two grown children, Natalie and Matthew.