University adds local financial executive & Bernardine Sisters; honors emeritus members
Alvernia announces updates to its board of trustees for the 2023-24 academic year. President of Pennsylvania Market, Ginger Kunkel, was appointed to the board.
"We appreciate Ginger鈥檚 willingness to join our transformational mission,鈥 said 媚娘直播 President-Elect Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. 鈥淪he brings a wealth of expertise and a shared passion for driving positive change within the community. Her invaluable insights will play a vital role in shaping the future of 媚娘直播."
A career Pennsylvania banker, Kunkel is well-known throughout the financial services community for her commercial, retail, operational, and executive management expertise. She has extensive experience driving a full spectrum of revenue-generating businesses. Most recently, she was SEVP, chief operating officer for Riverview Bank & Riverview Financial Corporation, headquartered in Harrisburg.
鈥淚 am honored to join the board of 媚娘直播 and to help support them as they continue to focus on creating educational pathways with a focus on community-based learning鈥, said Kunkel. 鈥淚 am excited about the impact I can have as a part of this storied university and growing access to quality higher education in our local communities.鈥
Kunkel also serves as a Board Member for the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, Hawk Mountain Council, and St. Joseph Center for Special Learning. She previously served the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, West Brunswick Township Planning Commission, The Fresh Air Fund, Habitat for Humanity of Berks, Eagle Foundation of Blue Mountain School District, Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc.
In September, Sister Mary Sninsky and Sister Mary Joseph Tirpak, OSF, will join the Board. The board of trustees and 媚娘直播 leadership sincerely appreciate the valued service of departing board members Sister Antoinette Keiser and Sister Shaun Kathleen Wilson.
鈥淪ister Antoinette Keiser and Sister Shaun Kathleen Wilson have collectively contributed over 30 years of service to the 媚娘直播 Board of Trustees,鈥 said Fitzgerald. 鈥淚ndividually and collectively, they assumed important roles at a transformational time in 媚娘直播鈥檚 history. They helped build the exceptionally strong foundation we enjoy today.鈥
Retired Investment Banker Angel Helm and Managing Partner at Murphy McCormack Capital Advisors, Robert (Bob) McCormack, were also named Trustee Emeriti.
Alvernia Sister Sninsky
Sister Sninsky is a Bernardine Franciscan Sister and serves as the Director of the Bernardine Franciscan Associates, the congregation that sponsors 媚娘直播. She previously served as the Provincial Minister in the US Province and a Member of the Redemptorist Mission Team. Sister Sninsky was also an Elementary School Principal and teacher at the Diocese of Allentown, Harrisburg & Philadelphia and the Media Specialist for Elementary Schools at the Diocese of Allentown.
She has served on Board for Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News, Va. and a member of the advisory Board for Villa of Our Lady Retreat House in Mount Pocono, Pa. And the Villa Maria Retreat House in Stamford, Ct. Sister Sninsky holds her Master of Education from Temple University and a Bachelor of Arts Education from 媚娘直播.
Alvernia Sister Tirpak
Sister Tirpak has served as the Ongoing Formation Director for the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, Assistant Congregational Minister and served on the Provincial Leadership Team. She has also served on Board of Trustees for Villa Maria School, the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Congregational Leadership Team & Renewal Team, the Cabrini College Educational Council, Middle States Evaluation Visiting Teams and the Council of Religious Teachers for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Sister Tirpak received her Master of Science in Secondary Education from the University of Scranton and received grants from the National Science Foundation at the University of Scranton and Villanova University, the Philadelphia Electric Grant from The Pennsylvania State University. She received her bachelor's degree in biology from 媚娘直播. Sister Tirpak also studied at the University of Scranton鈥檚 Institute for Contemporary Spirituality and St. Louis University鈥檚 Institute of Religious Formation.
Alvernia Helm
Helm serves on the Tower Health and Reading Education Foundation Boards and previously served on the Reading Public Museum, Berks Visiting Nurse Association and the Police Athletic League boards. Additionally, she served as interim executive director for Olivet Boys and Girls Club and Safe Berks. 媚娘直播 has also been a beneficiary of her service to the community. Helm served as co-chair for the PLEX Campaign. She and her husband, Scott, made a significant philanthropic commitment, hosted events, and made several solicitations.
She emerged as a leader from the start of her service in 2012 on the board with her mantra of, 鈥淗ow 媚娘直播 goes, so goes Reading鈥 until the end of her term in 2019, which many current and former trustees have copied. She served on the finance committee and the Philanthropy and Community Engagement committee. Angel was an advocate and donor for the Reading Collegiate Scholars Program, her alma mater's transformational program that benefits Reading High School and Berks County students.
Alvernia McCormack
Since graduating from 媚娘直播 in the spring of 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting, McCormack served as a trustee for three terms and returned for his MBA degree. He chaired the Finance Committee, and he and his wife Theresa, also an 媚娘直播 alumna, were Co-Chairs, along with Kathy Herbein and her late husband Carl, of the Values and Vision campaign, the university鈥檚 first comprehensive campaign that raised over $31 million in support of 媚娘直播 students. During that campaign, the McCormack鈥檚 made a planned giving commitment, joining the St. Clare Society.
In 2000, 媚娘直播 recognized McCormack with the prestigious Ellen Frei Gruber Award, presented to an alumnus who has given outstanding service to his/her alma mater and exemplified continued commitment and support of the mission of 媚娘直播. Since leaving the Board, McCormack has remained involved in teaching as an adjunct professor at the Header School of Business. He and Theresa are also joining other 媚娘直播 alums on a pilgrimage to Camino De Santiago.
