Penn State Lehigh Valley has announced that it has hired Valerie Holt as its new director of continuing education. Holt replaces Kenneth McGeary, who retired in January.

"We are delighted to have Valerie as the new leader of Penn State's continuing education efforts in the region," said Ann Williams, chancellor of the Lehigh Valley campus. "Her energy and extensive work and service experience in the Lehigh Valley are perfect for this position. I anticipate that, with her leadership, Penn State Lehigh Valley will continue to be a dynamic resource for business and industry in our community."

Prior to joining Penn State Lehigh Valley, Holt served as director of the PA e-Learning for Educators Program and director of education and outreach at PBS 39 WLVT. She also was director of administration and special programs with Lehigh University's P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science and the NSF/IGERT program coordinator in Lehigh's Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Holt has held a number of senior administrative positions at other higher education institutions including Pepperdine University, Malibu, Ca.; Columbia University, New York, NY.; and Muhlenberg College.

"Penn State Lehigh Valley has been serving students of all ages in this region for nearly a century," said Holt. "I am thrilled to join the Penn State team and look forward to developing and offering innovative educational programs to our diverse community of learners so that they may achieve their educational goals and enrich our extended communities."

Holt was appointed by the governor of Pennsylvania to serve as an officer on the PA Early Learning Council and participates in a variety of community building collaborations including those with the National Canal Museum, Community Services for Children, Casa Guadalupe, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Career Education Pathways Committee and Friends of Zoellner Arts.

Holt is currently completing a doctoral degree in educational leadership at Lehigh University, where she also earned a master's degree in business and a master’s degree in education in community counseling. She graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in psychology from DeSales University, Center Valley, Pa.