Dr. Patrick E. Gerity, who has served as director of the State System of Higher Education’s University Center for Southwest Pennsylvania in downtown Pittsburgh since 1998, has been named director of the System’s Office of Corporate Alliances (OCA).

The OCA works to develop relationships among businesses in Pennsylvania and the state-owned universities that help companies meet both their educational and training needs. As director of the University Center for Southwest Pennsylvania, Gerity worked with business and industry in the region and the System universities on a variety of programs and services in areas such as executive education, policy and planning, technology transfer and workforce development.

“Dr. Gerity brings a wealth of experience to his new position in working with business and industry and the educational community,” said Chancellor James H. McCormick. “He has helped develop much closer relationships among the System universities and the business community in southwestern Pennsylvania. That experience will be invaluable as he takes on the new responsibilities associated with the Office of Corporate Alliances.”

The Office of Corporate Alliances is part of the Educational Resources Group (ERG), which is responsible for coordinating the System’s statewide programming efforts, especially in the area of economic and workforce development. The University Center for Southwest Pennsylvania also is a component of the ERG.

Gerity has an extensive background in job training programs. Prior to joining the State System, he served as director of workforce training and development in the continuing education division of the Community College of Allegheny County. In that position he was responsible for creating, marketing and administering customized training courses and workshops for more than 200 Pittsburgh area businesses and industries.

Gerity earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Pennsylvania State University. His Ph.D. is in workforce education and development, with an emphasis on training and human resources.

“I look forward to taking on this exciting new challenge,” Gerity said. “The Office of Corporate Alliances is an example of the State System’s commitment to the Commonwealth and its desire to play a major role in Pennsylvania’s workforce and economic development.”

With more than 96,000 students, the State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. More than 360,000 System alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and the University Center for Southwest Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.