Dory Leahey, of Palmyra, accepted the position of dean of student retention services for Harrisburg Area Community College. Leahey is the former associate dean of academic affairs at HACC's Lebanon Campus, and assumes her new responsibilities at the college's Wildwood Campus in Harrisburg. Leahey was selected after a national search.

Her responsibilities focus on understanding community college students and the challenges of retaining them. Leahey will lead the counseling, career, transfer, tutoring, testing, and disability services areas of the college.

"I am excited about the opportunity to focus on college-wide initiatives to help our students be successful and complete their educational goals at HACC," said Leahey. "Once a student enters one of our buildings, we are committed to providing quality support services in order to make them feel welcome, prepared, and confident."

Of the 15,000 students enrolled at HACC, more than 1,000 attend the Lebanon Campus.

"This is a great move for Dory and for HACC," says Lebanon Campus dean, Tony Filippelli. "HACC's retention efforts are in good hands with Dory, plus she has an understanding of the dynamics of a multi-campus institution. Everyone at Lebanon HACC will certainly miss her but her promotion to her current position presents an opportunity for all of us to further progress with our student service and retention programs."

Leahey has a bachelor's degree in English and master's degree in secondary education/English from Westminster College in New Wilmington. After joining the staff at the Lebanon Campus in 2000, Leahey initiated class sites at Fort Indiantown Gap, South Hills Park and the Lebanon YMCA. She started Lebanon Campus' first College in the High School program, enabling academically strong high school students to complete a number of college credits before graduating high school. Leahey is a Leaders Institute 2004 Presidential Nominee, and participated in Leadership Lebanon Valley in 2001.

Before HACC Leahey was the department chair and instructor for developmental studies at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon and lead instructor in the English department at Cambria County Area Community College in Johnstown.

Leahey has also taught 9th and 12th grade English and 7th and 8th grade gifted courses for the Penns Manor School District in Clymer, Pennsylvania, and 7th grade English and Language Arts for the Lakeview School District in Stoneboro, Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Hickory High School.