Click on names for bio information

LOL Class of 2006 Dr. Rodger Summers Mrs. Grace Hackett Kelly Mr. John Nickolas ‘90 Mr. Robb Rehberg ‘91 Mr. Scott Reid ‘96 Ms. Betsy Schmid ‘96 Mr. Rudy Tellez ‘96

LOL Class of 2006 Biographies

Dr. Rodger Summers
Rodger received his B.S. in English, secondary education from Cheyney University in 1968.  He went on to complete a master’s degree in English at the University of Vermont and a doctorate in education from Indiana University.  Rodger began his career as an English teacher at Norristown Area High School.  He went on to serve as a resident director at the University of Vermont where he culminated his tenure there as the assistant dean of students.  In 1981, Rodger’s career took him to North Adams State College as the vice president for student affairs and in 1984, he took the same position at WCU.  In 1991 Rodger moved on to the State University of New York at Binghamton where he currently serves as the vice president for student affairs. 

Rodger has accomplished a great deal in his career which is evidenced by his many awards and honors, including the Robert H. Shaffer Distinguished Alumnus Award from Indiana University Higher Education Doctoral Program which acknowledges outstanding service to the student affairs profession.  He also has an award named after him, the Rodger Summers Service Award, which is presented annually in recognition of outstanding leadership and service to the University of Vermont. Rodger also presented two papers at Oxford University in Oxford, England.

Rodger serves on the board of directors of United Health Services, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Vestal School Board Foundation and the Tri-Cities Opera.  He is a member of Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity, Inc.,  Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., an honorary member of the Friar’s Society and while at WCU, a member of the Frederick Douglass Society.

Rodger enjoys gourmet cooking and holds a certificate from the Culinary Institute of America.  He makes his home in Vestal, NY with his wife, Dr. Pamela Summers, and their daughter, Megan.

back to top

Mrs. Grace Kelly Hackett
Grace has been part of the West Chester University family for almost twenty years.  Prior to coming to WCU, Grace worked for Wyeth Laboratories as an administrative assistant and pharmaceutical data entry operator.  She came to West Chester University in July of 1986 and worked as the secretary’s assistant for Dr. Kenneth Perrin, president of WCU.  She then went on to work for Student Services, Inc. as an administrative assistant for Ms. Mell Josephs, executive director.  For the past fourteen years, Grace has worked as the administrative assistant to Dr. Madeleine Wing Adler, president, and Mr. Lawrence A. Dowdy, executive deputy to the president.

Grace has been the faculty advisor for the Gospel Choir for as long as anyone can remember.  Her work with the students is unmatched.  She received the WCU Advisor of the Year Award in 2002.  She has also been honored by receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the Frederick Douglass Society and named Secretary of the Year by the West Chester Chamber of Commerce.  Grace also works with the Angels of Divinity liturgical dance team, which is part of the Gospel Choir.

In the community of West Chester, Grace is active in St. Paul’s Baptist Church.  She writes the church newsletter that is given to all visitors to the church. She also volunteers her time at the House of His Creation, a home for pregnant teens.  Grace lives in West Chester with her husband, Roy.  Her two children are alumni of WCU, Rhonda ’96 and Ryan ’05.  Her two grandchildren, Justin (3) and Kennedy (6 months) bring her great joy.

back to top

Mr. John Nickolas, Class of 1990
John attained his B.S. in accounting in 1990.  Upon graduating, John worked for KPMG, one of the Big 4 international accounting firms where he served as an audit manager until 1994.  He moved on to Safeguard Scientifics and held the positions of accounting manager, assistant controller and controller.  In 1999, John joined Internet Capital Group as the managing director, finance.  While at ICG, John was the CFO of Logistics.com, headquartered near Boston, as well as ICG Europe, headquartered in London, England.  Since July 2003, John has served as the director, finance and accounting for the Philadelphia Phillies.

John invests a lot in his community and in West Chester University.  He is a trustee of The Fund for WCU and serves as a member of the finance committee and the chairman of the investment subcommittee.  He is a member of Dean Fiorentino’s School of Business & Public Affairs Advisory Council.  He has also led the Friar’s Society Alumni Association and is presently the executive director.  Currently, John is also on the board of Vertical Net, Inc., a publicly traded software and services firm in Malvern, PA.  Finally, John is the head coach of his son’s little league baseball team!

While at WCU, John was an active member of the Friar’s Society, serving as  pledge master and president.  He was a charter member of the Zeta Nu chapter of Pi Kappa Phi.  He was a member of the Accounting Club and was the student accountant for the WCU Alumni Association.  John also was a desk assistant in Killinger Hall.  He received many honors while at WCU including:  Who’s Who Among American College and University Students, Summa Cum Laude graduate, the Swope Scholarship and the Pi Kappa Phi GPA award.

John lives in Newtown Square, PA with his wife, Pamela, who is a 1990 alumna (nursing) of WCU.  They have two sons, John (12) and Michael (9).

back to top

Mr. Scott Reid, Esquire, Class of 1996
Scott graduated from West Chester University with a B.S. in business management.  When he left WCU, he worked as a program writer for Vis Align, a computer company.  After graduating from Widener School of Law in 2002, he was hired by Cozen O’Connor law firm in Philadelphia.  Scott is a fourth year associate in the product liability and complex litigation department.

Scott volunteers his time for the Barristers Association of Philadelphia by participating on the scholarship committee and the annual turkey drive.  He also volunteers with the law firm mentorship program, Philadelphia Diversity LawGroup, Upward Bound and various pro bono activities.   He serves on the board of directors for Delaware’s ACLU and the Lexis Nexis law firm advisory board.

During Scott’s time at WCU, he was involved in many activities.  He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.  He also served as the president of the Black Greek Council, Black Student Union and a member of the SSI finance committee.  He is also a member of Gamma Sigma Alpha honor fraternity.  While in law school, Scott was honored with the Outstanding Student Service Award.  He was a representative on the Student Bar Association and the president of the Black Law Students Association.

Scott currently lives in Wyncote, Pennsylvania with his wife, Kimberly Pogue Reid.

back to top

Ms. Betsy Schmid, Class of 1996
Betsy attained her B.A. in political science, international relations with a minor in Spanish from West Chester University.  She went on to receive her master’s degree in national security studies in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in August of 2000.  Currently, Betsy is a professional staff member of the State Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense. Her current portfolio includes oversight of the defense departments’ procurement, research and development, and intelligence accounts.  Prior to her joining the Appropriations Committee, Betsy was a presidential management fellow in the office of the Secretary of Defense. She also has worked as a research associate for the U.S. Commission on National Security and as a program/research assistant at the Nixon Center, a bi-partisan foreign policy think-tank.

While at WCU, Betsy was a member of the gymnastics team, the Abbe Society and  served as a new student orientation leader.  She was president of the Student Government Association from 1994-1995 as well as president of the class of 1996. Betsy was a member of the Board of Governors for the PA State System of Higher Education and also interned in Washington, DC at the Canadian embassy.  She received the Outstanding Junior and Outstanding Graduating Senior Awards in the Department of Political Science.  She also received the Lewis Marshall Award from the Association of Chester County Township Officials for a distinguished senior in the School of Business and Public Affairs.

Betsy resides in Maryland with her husband, Paul Courtney, and a new baby daughter, Reese Ellen.

back to top

Dr. Robb Rehberg, Class of 1991
Robb graduated from West Chester University with a B.S. in athletic training and sports medicine and a minor in health science.  He received his master’s degree in sports science with an emphasis in management from the United States Sports Academy in 1999.  He then completed his Ph.D. in health sciences with an emphasis in international health education and research at Touro University International in Cypress, California in 2003.

Currently, Robb is an assistant professor and coordinator of clinical education at William Patterson University of New Jersey.  He is also the chief of emergency services and coordinator of office emergency management at Montclair University.  Robb has worked as the health athletic trainer for Westwood Regional School District and as the chief athletic trainer at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Inc. as well as other positions at HEALTHSOUND and MARC Physical Therapy/Sports Medicine.  He is currently the president-elect of the Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey and is the chairman of the National Safety Council Emergency Care Advisory Committee.  He also served as an athletic trainer in the 1996 summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

While at WCU, Robb was a desk assistant and resident assistant in Tyson Hall.  He was the president of the Athletic Training Club and a founding member of Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity.  He was the president/chief of operations for the WCU EMS.  Robb was also involved with RHA and OCSA and is currently a member of the Student Affairs Endowment Fund Advisory Board.

Robb lives in New Jersey with his wife, Joelle, and their two daughters, Anna (4) and Joey (18 months).

back to top

Mr. Rudy Tellez, Class of 1996
Rudy received his B.A. degree in communication studies from West Chester University.  He continued his educational career and earned a master’s degree in higher education at Kutztown University in 1999.  Even prior to completing his graduate work, Rudy accepted a position as a resident director at WCU and returned to his “home away from home.”  Rudy has worked as a resident director in Killinger Hall and currently serves the new housing complex on South Campus, The Village.

As an undergraduate, Rudy was very involved in many student organizations as well as co-curricular activities.  He held a number of paraprofessional positions including orientation leader, judicial hearing officer, and conference assistant.  He was an SGA senator and served as the vice president during the 1995-96 academic year.  He was the president of WCU TV-4, president of the Media Advisory Board, and a member of LASO and RHA.  He is a member of the Friar’s Society as well.

Currently, Rudy is just as busy as he was as an undergraduate.  Over his eight years as a WCU employee, Rudy has advised the Asian American Organization, WCU TV, Killinger RHA, and the Banana Day Committee.  He has been the webmaster for Killinger Hall and The Village and Miss WCU.  Rudy was also responsible for helping to secure the live ram, Rameses, who is seen at every home football game!

Rudy makes his home on the West Chester University campus with his wife Colleen (Krumm) and their son, Nicolas, who will be 1 year old on the 4^th of July!

back to top