The state Senate has confirmed the president of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania’s Community Government Association to serve on the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).

Nathan R. Conroy of Nescopeck, a secondary education major at Bloomsburg, joins Mark Collins Jr. of Easton (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) and Allison Peitz of Henryville (East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania) as student representatives on the 20-member Board. Ms. Peitz also was just confirmed by the Senate.

The Board of Governors has overall responsibility for planning and coordinating the development and operation of PASSHE. It establishes broad fiscal, personnel and educational policies under which the PASSHE universities operate. The three student members on the Board have full voting rights.

“Our student members bring an important perspective to the Board of Governors,” said Board Chairman Kenneth M. Jarin. “They represent the views of our nearly 106,000 students across the entire State System, providing valuable input into all of our discussions and playing an integral role in the decision-making process.”

Mr. Conroy was elected president of Bloomsburg University’s student government organization in Spring 2005. He also is president of Honeysuckle Student Holdings, LLC, which supervised the construction of a $17 million student apartment complex adjacent to the campus; is chair of the Kehr Union Governing Board; and is a member of the Bloomsburg University Foundation, where he represents students as a member of the Constituent Relations Committee and has worked to increase student and parent donor contributions.

He was sophomore class president and junior class treasurer and, since April 2003, has been an orientation workshop leader, giving tours to prospective students and parents, facilitating group workshops for freshmen and serving as a mentor to freshmen students. He has volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the American Youth Soccer Organization, serving as an assistant coach for two years.

Student members of the Board of Governors are selected from among students serving as university student government presidents at the time a vacancy occurs. Once nominated and confirmed, they may serve on the Board until their graduation.

The governor appoints the majority of the other Board members, who also must be confirmed by the Senate. The Board also includes the governor or his designee, the secretary of education or his designee and four legislators.

Other members of the Board of Governors are Mr. Jarin of Newtown; Kim E. Lyttle of Indiana and C.R. “Chuck” Pennoni of Bryn Mawr, vice chairs; Rep. Matthew E. Baker, Wellsboro; Marie Conley Lammando, Steelton; Paul S. Dlugolecki, Mechanicsburg; Daniel P. Elby, York; Rep. Michael K. Hanna, Lock Haven; David P. Holveck, Malvern; Sen. Vincent Hughes, Philadelphia; Guido M. Pichini, Wyomissing; Christine Toretti Olson, Indiana; Gov. Edward G. Rendell; Sen. James J. Rhoades, Mahanoy City; Aaron A. Walton, Allison Park; and Secretary of Education-designate Gerald L. Zahorchak. There is one vacancy.

With nearly 106,000 students, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. The 14 PASSHE universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study.More than 405,000 PASSHE 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. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.