"Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges, and Paving Pathways"
2025 Transfer Pathways Summit
Friday, June 6, 2025
8 a.m. – 3 p.m. ET
Alumni Hall 4227 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15260 (View Map)
Are you passionate about supporting community college and transfer students?
The second-annual transfer summit will include higher education practitioners, scholars, and students from across Pennsylvania and surrounding states.
Our goal is to create more transfer-friendly practices for students enrolled in four-year institutions. The event is offered by the Pitt School of Education, Office of the Provost, and Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
Community College Leaders Colloquium:
Dr. Nicholas C. Neupauer, University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Quintin Bullock, Community College of Allegheny County
Dr. Shelly Moore, Community College of Beaver County
Dr. Katie Thomas, Community College of Beaver County
Megan Coval, Butler County Community College
Josh Novak, Butler County Community College
“From Barriers to Bridges: Equity-Minded Transfer Pathways to Student Success”
9:15 – 10:00 a.m. 7th Floor Auditorium
Dr. Frank Harris III
Professor
Co-Director, Community College Equity Assessment Lab
San Diego State University College Education
Dr. Frank Harris III is best known for his expertise in racial equity in postsecondary education and has made important contributions to knowledge about college student development and the social construction of gender and race in college contexts. His work prioritizes populations that have been historically underrepresented and underserved in education, and he has obtained extramural funding for his research including serving as PI or Co-PI on 34 grants and contracts totaling more than $2.5 million.
Dr. Harris’s career in higher education began in 1999. Before joining the faculty at San Diego State, he worked for nearly a decade as a student affairs educator and college administrator in student crisis support and advocacy, new student orientation programs, multicultural student affairs, academic advising, and enrollment services. He also served as an adjunct professor of speech communication at Los Angeles Trade Technical College.
Manny Smith graduated from the US Air Force Academy as a first-generation college student and served as a technical product manager in the US Air Force, developing satellite systems and software. Influenced by his experiences, Manny pursued an MBA at UC Berkeley. where he founded EdVisorly, a platform to uplift community college freshman and sophomores with clear and accessible pathways to complete their bachelor’s degree at 4-year universities.
In addition, Manny serves as a Major in the United States Air Force reserves, supporting high potential students in pursuing their dream of attending the US Air Force Academy.
Transfer Student Panel Session
10:15 – 11:15 a.m. 7th Floor Auditorium
Moderators:
DeLane Crutcher, Associate Director of Transfer Initiatives, University of Pittsburgh Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Dawn Crutcher, Transfer Credit Coordinator, University of Pittsburgh Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Students:
To be announced. Check back soon for updates.
The Transfer Student Voices Panel amplifies the voices of students who have transferred to Pitt from community colleges and other 4-year institutions. The Panel will illuminate the transfer experience through the lens of students, shedding light on their journey and discussing effective strategies to support transfers as they navigate and acclimate to a new campus environment.
Community College Leaders Colloquium
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Connolly Ballroom
“Beyond Articulation”
Community college transfer students are becoming more of a focus for colleges and universities. The Commonwealth recently passed legislation between the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and Pennsylvania’s 15 community colleges to make transfer of credits seamless. However, the focus of this session is to understand what is needed beyond the seamless, 2+2 articulation of community college students into four-year institutions. The panel will focus on the social and emotional variables that must be taken into consideration to help ensure student success in transfer to senior institutions with an emphasis on the University of Pittsburgh, a large, urban university.
Moderator
Dr. Nicholas C. Neupauer
Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice
University of Pittsburgh School of Education
This engaging discussion will be facilitated by Dr. Nicholas C. Neupauer, Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice at the Pitt School of Education. Dr. Neupauer formerly served as President of the Butler County Community College (BC3) for approximately 17 years, overseeing programs and initiatives that grew BC3 into a regional powerhouse, with six campuses in northwestern Pennsylvania. Dr. Neupauer has also served as Vice President of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges.
Panelists
Dr. Quintin B. Bullock President, Community College of Allegheny County
Dr. Quintin B. Bullock is the ninth president of the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), a multi-campus institution serving approximately 30,000 credit and noncredit students. He has been in this role since 2014. Dr. Bullock is a seasoned educator and community leader with a diverse professional background in higher education. Before joining CCAC, he served as president of Schenectady County Community College in New York and as provost at Tidewater Community College in Virginia.
Dr. Shelly Moore Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost,
Community College of Beaver County
Dr. Shelly Moore has been Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost at the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) since July 1, 2019. Dr. Moore is responsible for overseeing all credit and non-credit instructional programs and works closely with deans, faculty, and students to support a learning environment that values student achievement and degree completion. Before her current role, Dr. Moore served as the Dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health at CCBC.
Dr. Katie Thomas Dean of School of Professions and Transfer Studies
Community College of Beaver County
Dr. Katie Thomas is the Dean of the School of Professions and Transfer Studies at the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC). She has a strong background in community college education, having started her academic journey at a community college herself. Dr. Thomas holds degrees from Butler County Community College, Edinboro University, Slippery Rock University, and the University of Pittsburgh. Before becoming a dean, Dr. Thomas was an English faculty member at CCBC.
Megan Coval President, Butler County Community College
The former Executive Director of the Butler County Community College Education Foundation and External Relations, Ms. Coval is the ninth President of BC3. She was instrumental in raising nearly $7 million in private contributions toward construction of the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building. President Coval served as Vice President for Policy and Federal Relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and as Director of Government Relations for the U.S. Department of Education’s Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
Josh Novak Vice President, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Butler County Community College
Dr. Novak oversees various departments, including academic counseling, admissions, advising, athletics, financial aid, registration, and student life. Prior to this role, he was Dean of Students at BC3 for 12 years. He holds a bachelor’s in communication and media studies from PennWest Edinboro, a master’s in college student personnel administration from James Madison University, and an education doctorate from the Pitt School of Education.
Engagement and Action Planning Session
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Connolly Ballroom
Facilitators:
Dr. Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher, Professor and Renée and Richard Goldman Dean, University of Pittsburgh School of Education
Raina Dyer-Barr, Director for Community College Research and Engagement, University of Pittsburgh School of Education, Community College Research, Practice, and Leadership
Jason Keist, Adult & Learning Workforce Research Manager, University of Pittsburgh School of Education, Community College Research, Practice, and Leadership
Brett Visger, Senior Director of Pathways Research and Strategy, University of Pittsburgh School of Education, Community College Research, Practice, and Leadership
Therese Grimes, Director of Transfer Initiatives, University of Pittsburgh Office of Admissions
Frequently Asked Questions
The Transfer Pathways Summit is free to all participants. Advance registration is requested to help with planning purposes.
Paid parking is available at the University’s Solider & Sailors Garage at 4390 Bigelow Boulevard, Pittsburgh PA, 15213. The garage is located a block away from the venue.
Additional paid parking is available on metered spaces on Fifth Avenue and the surrounding streets.
Three hotels are located within walking distance to the venue:
Visitors to the University of Pittsburgh participating in the summit have two options for guest Wi-Fi access:
Eduroam Guest Wi-Fi is the best option for visitors from UPMC and other Eduroam-affiliated institutions. No time limits or additional device configuration required.
Pitt Guest Wi-Fi (Anyroam) provides access for alumni, parents, and others who do not have an Eduroam affiliation for up to one year. One-time device configuration is required after you arrive on campus.
The Transfer Pathways Summit was created by Dr. Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher, Professor and Renée and Richard Goldman Dean of the Pitt School of Education. It is a partnership among the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education, Office of the Provost, and Pitt Admissions.
There were more than 125 attendees at the 2024 Transfer Pathways Summit. Among them were:
Higher education officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Education
Leaders from community colleges in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Warren, and Westmoreland counties
Representatives from Pitt’s central admissions office, the Provost’s Office, and academic schools across the University.
The Transfer Pathway Summit will provide the following food options:
Complimentary continental breakfast from 8 – 9 a.m.
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Dr. Quintin B. Bullock
Dr. Shelly Moore
Dr. Katie Thomas
Megan Coval
Josh Novak