Senior Officers

Kent Trachte, Ph.D.

President

Trachte became Lycoming College’s 15th president on July 1, 2013. He has spent more than 30 years in higher education as a faculty member and senior administrator, most recently serving as dean of the college at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. Read more

Jeff Bennett '94

Acting Vice President for Finance and Administration

Bennett has been Lycoming’s controller and chief financial officer/treasurer since August 2012. As acting vice president for finance and administration, he oversees human resources, the campus store, mail services, print shop, food services and the operations of the physical plant, along with his responsibilities as controller and treasurer. He came to the college from ParenteBeard LLC, Williamsport, where he was a certified public accountant from 1994-2012. Bennett earned a bachelor’s degree in financial accounting from Lycoming in 1994.

Chip Edmonds '98

Vice President for College Advancement

Edmonds returned to Lycoming in August 2009 as vice president for college advancement. He previously served as a development officer at Yale University. Prior to Yale, Edmonds served as a major gifts officer at Lycoming for nearly two years. His background includes working at the Duke University Divinity School as director of the annual fund and a development associate with the Duke Youth Academy. From 1998-02, he worked at Lycoming as the assistant director of admissions and development assistant. Edmonds earned a master’s degree from the Duke University Divinity School and a bachelor’s degree in history and music from Lycoming.

Daniel Miller, Ed.D.

Vice President for Student Life 

Miller joined the Lycoming administration in 2005. He previously was the vice president for student services and planning at Ferrum College in Virginia. He began his career as director of admissions for Mississippi University for Women and served as director of enrollment management and vice president for college relations at Alvernia College in Reading, Pa. Miller earned an Ed.D. in higher education leadership from Widener University, a master’s in higher education administration from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s in business management from St. John Fisher College.

James Spencer

Vice President of Admissions and Financial Aid

Spencer arrived at Lycoming as vice president for admissions in 1989. He has guided the college to records in number of applicants, academic measures of entering classes such as SAT scores and high school class rank, and the percentage of students from out of state. Prior to Lycoming, Spencer previously served as the director of admissions at Rocky Mountain College in Montana and as assistant director of admissions at his alma mater, Concordia College in Minnesota, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1975.

Philip Sprunger, Ph.D.

Provost and Dean of the College, Associate Professor of Economics

Sprunger was promoted to provost and dean of the College in November 2011. Sprunger arrived at Lycoming in 1993 as assistant professor of economics and was promoted to associate professor in 2004. He was presented with the college’s Constance Cupp Plankenhorn Alumni Award for Faculty Excellence in 2004. In addition to teaching both microeconomics and macroeconomics, he teaches International Trade and Game Theory and various micro-based public economics courses. Sprunger earned a Ph.D. and master’s degree in economics from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree from Bethel College in Kansas.

The following individuals, plus the six Senior Officers, comprise the Senior Staff:

Jackie Bilger

Director of Human Resources and Risk Management

Bilger has been the director of human resources and risk management at Lycoming since 2004. She manages recruitment and staffing, compensation and benefits and is the Title IX coordinator and chief risk officer. She also oversees mail and print services. Bilger has more than 25 years of experience in HR generalist roles within higher education, health care and the manufacturing and service industries. She has been a Development Dimensions International-certified leadership training facilitator since 1998. Bilger earned a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Dave Heffner

Associate Dean and Chief Information Officer

Heffner has been Lycoming’s chief information officer since 1994. He provides technical, financial and planning leadership for all aspects of information and technology resources. He oversees academic and administrative computing for classrooms and offices along with Internet, mobile, network, telecommunications, web development, multimedia and cable TV services. Heffner earned a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree from Bloomsburg University. He is a 2013 Fellow of the Educause Leading Change Institute.

Jerry Rashid

Director of College Relations

Rashid was appointed director of college relations at Lycoming in December 2007. He manages the college's advertising, public relations, marketing, media relations, publications, sports information and social media efforts. He also serves as editor of Lycoming Magazine and oversees portions of the web site. His professional background comprises 25 years in higher education public relations, including five years as assistant vice president for college relations at Olivet College in Michigan. Rashid earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Michigan State University in 1988.