Outgoing DCCC President Honored By Delco Officials

MARPLE, PA –For 40 years, Delaware County Community College was under the leadership of Jerome "Jerry" Parker, Ph.D. Parker arrived in the county in 1977 with a vision that community colleges should offer the same advantages and opportunities of highly-selective universities to a wider audience.

Four decades later, the college has grown significantly and now serves 27,000 students on the Marple campus and at various satellites, including a newer branch in Upper Darby Township.

At the a recently weekly meeting, the Delaware County Council recognized Parker on his four decades of service and his retirement, which becomes official on June 30. At the meeting, he was presented with a resolution, and joined by his wife Sue Parker, their son Zachary Parker, along with members of his staff.

Parker came to Delaware County from Poughkeepsie, New York, where he worked at Vassar College. He started at Delaware County Community College (DCCC), in 1977 as assistant to the vice president for administration.

During his tenure at DCCC, Parker also served as Executive Assistant to the President and Dean of Management Systems, Planning and Enrollment Management, and Vice President for Community and Corporate Education.

As a result of Parker’s vision, DCCC transformed into a modern, state-of-the-art college which opened the STEM Center in 2010. The STEM Center features modern classrooms, advanced laboratories, and offers hands-on learning in the latest technologies. It is also a green building with energy-efficient systems, recycled materials and daylight harvesting. There is also an Advance Technology Center that providing training in carpentry, automotive, electronics, heating, air conditioning, plumbing, welding, and robotics.

Additionally, officials acknowledged Parker on his instrumental role in helping the college secure a $100,000 grant from Sunoco Logistics to help fund training programs for careers in the process control technology, which will help DCCC students secure jobs in manufacturing.

"Dr. Parker has served as a member of the Delaware County Workforce Development Board for many years and Council has been privileged to collaborate with him and DCCC to offer a wide variety of training programs that benefit those seeking employment and the employers looking for workers as well," Council Chairman Mario J. Civera Jr. said. "His efforts help Delaware County as a community create and sustain a highly skilled workforce."

Parker’s dedication to diversity was also acknowledged as he established a campus where the admissions door was open to everyone, whether it was a future engineer or nurse, a young person who has a GED, a mother returning to the workforce, a senior citizen looking to learn about computers, a veteran returning to civilian life, or working people who want to advance their training and education.

"Delaware County and its residents have benefited greatly from Dr. Parker’s four decades of leadership at DCCC," Civera said. "He will be missed and we wish him and his family well in his well-deserved retirement."

Congratulations on retiring, Jerry!

Pictured above, in the middle, are Zachary, Sue, and Dr. Jerry Parker, Chairman Mario J. Civera Jr. and Karen Kozachyn, Dean, DCCC Workforce Development and Community Education Division. In back from left are Deputy Director of Delaware County Workforce Development John Daly, Councilman Mike Culp, Vice Chairman Colleen Morrone, and Councilman Dave White.

Image via Delaware County