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Wilkes University President Patrick F. Leahy Appointed to Pennsylvania Tuition Account Program Advisory Board

Wilkes is the only private university in the state to be represented on the board

Wilkes-Barre, PA (08/14/2018) — Wilkes University President Patrick F. Leahy has been appointed to serve on Pennsylvania's Tuition Account Program Advisory Board. Leahy is the only president of more than 90 private institutions in the state to be selected for the board, which includes 19 members. Leahy was appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. Other members include State Treasurer Joseph M. Torsella and State Representative Michael Peifer.

The board advises on the work of the Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program, which provides families with a tax-advantaged way to help save for their children's higher education. Since its inception in 1993, more than 100,000 students have utilized the Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program, which has paid over $3.1 billion to cover qualified higher education expenses.

"I am honored to serve the Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program, an organization dedicated to higher education planning and access," said Leahy. "The organization's mission perfectly aligns with that of Wilkes University, which is to provide educational opportunity to all who show potential. With nearly 51 percent of our students being the first in their family to attend college, and nearly 35 percent of them Pell Grant eligible, we are proud to be a private university with a public purpose. I look forward to working with leaders from across the state to help make college more affordable and attainable to families of all economic means."

About Wilkes University: Wilkes University is an independent institution of higher education dedicated to academic and intellectual excellence through mentoring in the liberal arts, sciences and professional programs. Founded in 1933, the university is on a mission to create one of the great small universities, offering all of the programs, activities and opportunities of a large, research university in the intimate, caring and mentoring environment of a small, liberal arts college, at a cost that is increasingly competitive with public universities. The Economist named Wilkes 25th in the nation for the value of its education for graduates. In addition to 47 bachelor's degree programs, Wilkes offers 25 master's degree programs and five doctoral/terminal degree programs, including the doctor of philosophy in nursing, doctor of nursing practice, doctor of education, doctor of pharmacy, and master of fine arts in creative writing. Learn more at www.wilkes.edu.

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