Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced his appointments to the new State Board of Higher Education — a crucial component of the higher education reforms the governor signed into law as part of the 2024-25 budget.

Dr. Ann Bieber, president of Lehigh Carbon Community College, and Kenneth Long, president of East Stroudsburg University, have been named to the board.

The new State Board of Higher Education brings together leaders from higher education, the business community, labor, students, legislators and members of the Shapiro administration to craft a strategic plan for higher education, coordinate between higher education institutions and sectors, make higher education more accessible and affordable for students, and ensure the commonwealth’s higher education institutions are training students with the skills and credentials needed to fill critical workforce shortages and power our economy for generations to come.

Additionally, the board will create a new Outcomes-Based Funding Council that will deliver recommendations for how best to fund state-related universities and provide a range of supports to institutions experiencing fiscal instability.

Bieber has served as president of LCCC since July 2014 and contributes to the community as a member of numerous boards and organizations, including the Workforce Board Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, KidsPeace, Manufacturers Resource Center, Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority and Century Promise.

“I am honored to be appointed by the governor to represent community colleges,” Bieber said. “This board will ensure that higher education options for Pennsylvanians remain viable and robust. The fact that community colleges have a seat at the table reflects the value placed on community college education by Gov. Shapiro.”

The 2024-25 budget makes the first significant progress on higher education in three decades and delivers on the governor’s key priorities to give Pennsylvanians the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed.

“Every Pennsylvanian deserves the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed — and that’s exactly what the new State Board of Higher Education will help deliver,” Shapiro said. “The new board builds on my blueprint for higher education and brings together a diverse set of leaders and stakeholders to develop statewide and regional solutions to the challenges we face — tackling workforce shortages head on and improving access and affordability for students.

“I know this group of leaders has the skills, commitment, and experience necessary to help build a higher education system that will serve our Commonwealth well for generations to come.”

The education reform also:

• Invests in public higher education institutions, including a $15.7 million increase — a 6% increase — for community colleges and $35.1 million increase for PASSHE schools — also a 6% increase.

• Allots $120 million in increased funding for scholarships and grants, including $28 million for scholarships to students pursuing a degree in a high-demand field, a $54 million increase to PHEAA student grants, and $5 million for disadvantaged students’ scholarships.

• Doubles funding for student teacher stipends for a total of $20 million to ensure student teachers are compensated for their hard work.