John J. “Ski” Sygielski
President and CEO
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College
As president and CEO of HACC, John Sygielski said his primary responsibility is to provide vision, leadership and direction for the college; ensure a long-term commitment to student access and success; take data-informed risks to frame that commitment; ensure assessments and internal changes produce a result-oriented environment; foster strong internal and external relationships; raise resources from multiple sources; ensure HACC’s fiscal strength; and attract, motivate and retain a high-performing leadership team.
“During the last year, recruitment and retention were among my greatest tests as HACC continued to experience enrollment decline, demographic shifts, financial strains and a pandemic,” he explained. “We developed an aggressive recruitment plan to include nontraditional-age students, individuals of color, veterans and displaced workers. We reviewed services to ensure students get the support they need to make it easier to complete their credential and our course offerings to ensure they meet employers’ needs.”
