Savin took over the dean's position in Lancaster, following the recent retirement of Dr. Mike Klunk who helped open HACC's second regional campus in 1990. That campus has grown from its humble beginnings in a rented business park to the multi-building campus serving more than four thousand Lancaster-area residents.
"I am pleased to be joining HACC's Lancaster Campus and look forward to being part of a great team helping the Lancaster Campus - and the entire college - grow and thrive," Savin said. "I'm also gratified that Dr. Klunk will continue to be available on a consulting basis with the college despite his official retirement.
"I am personally committed to community colleges and I know the great impact they have on the lives of their students," he said. "Our students have many responsibilities but they're determined to pursue their dreams and I look forward to helping them succeed."
Savin started his own college career as a part-time student - working his way through the University of Connecticut for more than five years before becoming a full-time student in 1989 and completing his bachelor's degree in 1991.
Savin then worked in a variety of industries - mostly in training roles - before joining academia as a faculty member at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York, and chair of the automotive program. While at Rockland, he also served as a consultant to a school district and to a technical school.
Savin moved into full-time college administration with South Seattle Community College as dean of instruction in the Technical Education Division.
Most recently, Savin has served as dean of the Mathematics, Manufacturing and Transportation Division for Portland College's Rock Creek Campus - the second largest of three campuses serving nearly 14 thousand students.
During the course of his community college career he didn't neglect his own education - earning his master's degree in education administration from the State University of New York at New Paltz. He is currently finishing his doctorate in education from Oregon State University and is expected to receive his degree in 2007.
In addition to his college responsibilities, Savin has served as an accreditation team member for the Northwest Commission for Colleges and Universities and as a member of many regional and state-wide committees and commissions.
He also holds certification as an ASE Master Technician in both automobiles and trucks, as an Evaluation Team Leader for the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation at both the secondary and college level. He also holds a U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine Officer's Master's License and is a U.S. Sailing certified instructor for sailboats as large as 45 feet.
"We are delighted to have Stuart as our new Lancaster Campus dean," said Dr. Edna Baehre, president of HACC. "His exceptional background - both as a faculty member and an administrator - will serve us well as we continue to grow the Lancaster Campus."
HACC serves more than 18 thousand degree-seeking students in an eight county core service area in Central Pennsylvania. In addition, the college had more than 55 thousand enrollments in its workforce development and community education programs in the last year. The college operates campuses in Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and Gettysburg as well as a Virtual Campus for online classes and a center in York. As Central Pennsylvania's Community College, HACC provides degree and diploma programs in more than 154 fields.