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Pittsburgh Technical College

Pittsburgh Technical College

Office of the President

  • Meet the President
  • 2020-2025 Strategic Plan

Office of the President

Alicia B. Harvey-Smith, Ph.D.

Dr. Harvey-Smith has dedicated more than 25 years to higher education in a variety of leadership and administrative roles. Committed to leadership excellence, institutional performance and student success, she is a scholar-practitioner, whose experience in higher education is both diverse and expansive.

Read the Full Biography

Contact Information

Office of the President
(412) 809-5100

Christine Raizin
Executive Assistant
(412) 809-5306
raizin.christine@ptcollege.edu

Visit the Press Release Archive

PTC crest

Presidential Event Series

The purpose of this exciting series is to foster a learning platform to engage the Pittsburgh Technical College community and our stakeholders. The series promises to be a fun, cultural, dynamic, and professional development opportunity to encourage discussion and to build our community.

Please submit your ideas and topics for future Presidential events.

Engage with the President’s Office

Alicia Harvey-Smith, PhD. and President of Pittsburgh Technical College, is a champion of the College’s mission on campus and in the community at-large. Browse this timeline for internal and external communications that reflect her thinking on the topics that affect not only PTC and our students, but on issues that drive education and the impact it has on the success of the Commonwealth.

Presidential Timeline

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A bigger focus on technical education

March 28, 2021

Dr. Harvey-Smith’s letter to the editor in response to the March 21 article “Some Liberal Arts Colleges Add Career, Technical Training” published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Read the Post-Gazette Article

COVID Anniversary

March 12, 2021

Black History Month – Pittsburgh

February 26, 2021

It has been a pleasure to share with you the stories of so many influential African Americans this month. I hope that you have enjoyed them as well, and you’ve taken the time to learn more whether through the links I’ve provided or your own research.

It seems to me that there is no better way to wrap up Black History Month than by spotlighting some of the individuals who have made an impact in their hometown of Pittsburgh and beyond. Please review and see if you can spot the PTC connection. Perhaps someday a PTC employee or graduate will be featured as a leader of significance on a list such as this.

See Pittsburgh Influencers

PTC Featured in Pittsburgh City Paper

February 24, 2021

Business Students and Faculty at Pittsburgh Technical College Make a Smooth Transition to Online–a profile on PTC’s successful shift to online learning featuring student Marita Adams and School of Business Academic Chair Michele Zollner.

Read the Article

PTC Earns Military Friendly Designation 2021-2022

February 22, 2021

Western Pa. colleges, universities received Military Friendly designation. Read the article from Trib Total Media

See our page on militaryfriendly.com

Conversations about change and transformation

February 22, 2021

University Business Logo

How Two Community Colleges Make Equity Transformative–an article on building more inclusive communities in higher education.

Read the article on universitybusiness.com

Black History Month – Leaders

February 19, 2021

I believe that when we think of Black History Month we automatically reflect upon the civil rights leaders of the past. It has been a pleasure the past two weeks to share with you profiles of Black leaders in academia, science, and innovation.

Leaders such as Medger Evers, Marcus Garvey, Stokely Carmichael, W. E. B. Du Bois, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. have made undeniable impacts on the Civil Rights Movement, and I invite you to learn more about them here: https://www.biography.com/people/groups/civil-rights-activists. Today, I want to share with you the background of some individuals who continue to champion civil rights today.

See the Leaders

Black History Month – Inventors

February 12, 2021

Continuing our Black History Month recognition of African Americans who have been influential in their field, I ask that you take some time to learn about and celebrate the accomplishments of the following individuals who have significantly impacted science through their research and inventions.

These are just a few of the great black Americans who have changed our world with their work. Additionally, I hope you’ll take the time to review the following link featuring a list of items that you use, and probably take for granted, every day that you can thank a black inventor for creating: Black Inventors List

See the Inventors

Black History Month – Academics

February 5, 2021

Dear PTC Community,

Since 1976, February has been designated Black History Month and it is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the achievements of so many African Americans in our nation’s history.

One of the Core Values of Pittsburgh Technical College is Diversity and Inclusion, and we are taking great strides in developing a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within our campus, and thereby encouraging our graduates to take this framework with them into the world both personally and professionally.

Each Friday this month I will highlight African Americans who have been influential in various fields. It only seems appropriate to begin with academics. I invite you to learn more about the following five featured individuals as well as so many others who impacted education.

See the Academics

Reimagining the Future of Higher Education

February 3, 2021

reimagine promotional slide

Thank you to all who attended our Inaugural Webinar Series, Reimagining the Future of Higher Education. It was an honor to have Dr. Harvey-Smith and our featured panelists provide their unique insights for how they reimagine the higher education learning, teaching, and support landscape evolving in the coming years. A recording of the webinar is available on the event page.

Watch the Recording

Diversity Workshop

January 28, 2021

The Value of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Learning Enviornments

Power52 Foundation and Pittsburgh Technical College

January 27, 2021

Pittsburgh Technical College (PTC) has partnered with Power52 Foundation, a 501(c)3 non- profit foundation dedicated to providing employment training for at-risk and underserved individuals in the city of Baltimore, Md., and surrounding counties to prepare them for careers in the solar industry. The partnership will provide Power52 students with an opportunity to receive entry in a college program and course credits in pursuit of a PTC certificate or degree.

To celebrate the partnership, PTC and Power52 conducted a virtual contract signing event. Watch below.

Read the Press Release

AAC&U-Cengage Inclusion Scholarship

January 22, 2021

Thank you Association of American Colleges and Universities, Cengage, and the committee of peers that selected Dr. Harvey-Smith, PTC President and CEO, as a recipient of the AAC&U/Cengage Inclusion Scholarship. Dr. Harvey-Smith will join a diverse community of leaders united by their shared commitment to promoting quality, equity, and innovation in education through institutional transformation and public advocacy.

AAC&U Scholarship awarded to Dr. Harvey-Smith

See the 2021 Scholarship Recipients

In Memory of Dr. King

January 19, 2021

Today we celebrate the birth and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This past Friday, Dr. King would have turned 92 years old. He did not live to see his 40th birthday. Yet in his short 39 years, he became one of the most recognizable and memorable figures of the Civil Rights Movement.

Read the Letter

2021 New Year Presidential Address

January 12, 2021

Read the Transcript

We Will Rise!

January 7, 2021

Dear Students:

I thought it important to reach out to all of you after yesterday’s disturbing events in our nation’s Capitol.

Democracy is a living, breathing, and sometimes messy form of government that requires constant attention and care by American citizens and our nation’s leaders; it’s defined by the collective voices, vision, and votes of all Americans. It’s rarely perfect except in its belief of governing based on the will and good intentions of the people, by the people, for the people.

Read the full letter

Workforce Development in the Era of COVID

December 17, 2020

Dr. Harvey-Smith, PTC President and CEO, was at the table to discuss workforce development in the era of COVID and what is being done from a regional workforce development perspective to prepare workers for the jobs of the future. This topic is important now more than ever as PTC is committed to rebuilding the Commonwealth post COVID-19. Thank you Pittsburgh Business Times for the opportunity.

Dr. Harvey-Smith being introduced on the virtual webinar A panel of speakers in the webinar

Greater Pittsburgh Higher Education Diversity Consortium

December 4, 2020

Dr. Alicia Harvey-Smith, PTC President and CEO, served and participated in the presidential panel held by Greater Pittsburgh Higher Education Diversity Consortium to discuss topics that are impacting all of us on all levels.

Thank you message

Beyond the Rankings: Regional Colleges’ Impact on Their Communities

November 20, 2020
Beyond the Rankings: Regional Colleges’ Impact on Their Communities

Read the article at evollution.com

Important January 2021 Quarter Information

November 19, 2020

Read the January Announcement

Pittsburgh Technology Council’s 2020 CEO of the Year

November 13, 2020

Congratulations to Pittsburgh Technology Council‘s 2020 CEO of the Year, Barb VanKirk from IQ Inc., and to all top-notch finalists. We are honored to have Dr. Alicia B. Harvey-Smith, PTC President and CEO, selected as a finalist and surrounded by all of the outstanding leadership.

Pittsburgh Technology Council

A Special Election Message

November 2, 2020

Dear PTC Faculty, Staff and Students,

On Tuesday, millions of Americans will go to the polls to exercise their sacred right to vote in federal, state, and local elections. This will be the culmination of an unprecedented election season, one in which more than 92 million votes have already been cast. This election is historic, as all elections are. Voting is an opportunity to dream of the possibilities of America.

Read the full letter

October Commencement Address

October 7, 2020

Watch the Full Commencement Ceremony

A Message of Encouragement

October 5, 2020

2020 Women in Leadership Symposium

October 2, 2020

Dr. Alicia Harvey-Smith, Pittsburgh Technical College President and CEO, will be a panelist and presenter at today’s 2020 Women in Leadership Symposium. Once again the Pennsylvania Diversity Council has brought together a diverse mix of successful women leaders who, through the discussion of topics relevant to today’s issues, will educate, inspire, and encourage women to reflect on their own goals and status.

U.S. News & World Report

September 23, 2020

Best Colleges

For the first time, Pittsburgh Technical College has been ranked with other colleges and universities by “U.S. News & World Report” and has been recognized in four categories.

Read the What’s New(s) Article

Women of influence: Alicia Harvey-Smith charting a new course for Pittsburgh Technical College

September 16, 2020
Women of influence: Alicia Harvey-Smith charting a new course for Pittsburgh Technical College

A newcomer to Pittsburgh, Alicia Harvey-Smith became president of Pittsburgh Technical College last year after serving in leadership roles at several colleges throughout the country. Since taking on her current role, she has worked to develop a number of programs that enhance and promote technical career education. She’s also in the midst of developing a new strategic plan for the school, which recently switched from being a for-profit institute to a nonprofit college.

Read the article by By Richard Cerilli – Special Projects Editor, Pittsburgh Business Times

Pittsburgh Business Times Women of Influence

September 14, 2020

This afternoon we celebrate the region’s most influential business women at for-profit companies, nonprofits, and government entities. Congrats Dr. Alicia Harvey-Smith and all the women named this year.

Women of Influence

Pittsburgh Technology Council – Business as Usual

September 2, 2020

Dr. Harvey-Smith, President and CEO of Pittsburgh Technical College will be joining Pittsburgh Technology Council to re-introduce the Pittsburgh Tech Community to the mission of Pittsburgh Technical College, and to discuss colleges going back to class amid COVID-19.

Business as Usual

The Nation takes a Collective Breath – Pittsburgh Technical College President’s Statement on Social Injustice

June 10, 2020

“It is only when we acknowledge, respect and welcome diversity of experience, of backgrounds, of perspective, that we truly grow, individually and as a college community. It is through diversity that we gain better approaches, better solutions, better lives.”

Read the Article

Leading Higher Education’s Emergence Post COVID-19: A Call to Action

May 27, 2020
Leading Higher Education’s Emergence Post COVID-19: A Call to Action

Read the Article

A letter to the Class of 2020

May 5, 2020

“Today, I write to you and your families on behalf of our faculty and staff, to honor each and every one of you for the expression of fortitude during such an unprecedented time in our world’s history.”

Read the Letter

The Student Above All: An Introduction

April 12, 2020

Visits to PTC

March 9, 2020

President Harvey-Smith briefed Jennifer Beahm, Editor Pittsburgh Business Times, on the progress, changes, and advantages of Pittsburgh Technical College. Editor Beahm had the opportunity to tour the 180 acre campus, explore high-tech equipment / simulations and applied curriculum offered to PTC students.

Family Night Out

March 7, 2020

Pittsburgh Technical College’s first Family Night Out at Pastoli’s in Squirrel Hill. The audience was treated to the sounds of PTC’s Faculty Band: King Crab & Company with Eric Joesph, Frank Schurter and Cyrus Anderson, and original poems from Dr. Harvey-Smith’s book Eclectic Insights.

PTC Staff and Faculty at the event
PTC Faculty members playing in the band

Presidential Event Series: African-American Legacy Celebration – Through Music and Literature

February 21, 2020



a very special evening of music, poetry, literature, presentations and community learning

Learn more about the event and see the photos

Visits to PTC

February 19, 2020

Charlene Newkirk, Southeast Campuses President at CCAC visits PTC

Visits to PTC

February 18, 2020

Dr. Neupauer, Butler County Community College, tours Pittsburgh Technical College

WA+PTC: A Dual Enrollment Opportunity

February 13, 2020

We’re partnering with West Allegheny School District (WASD) to launch five healthcare-based, dual-enrollment programs to address the growing need for professionals in the region. Through this workforce-driven program, students in the WASD can earn college credits while simultaneously completing their high school diploma.

Read About the Partnership

Visits to PTC

February 10, 2020

Karina Chavez, Executive Director of Pittsburgh Council of Higher Education, visits Pittsburgh Technical College

PTC launches a COVID-19 Communication Center

January 29, 2020

COVID website

See All COVID Communications

Visits to PTC

January 28, 2020

Valerie Gaydos, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, with Dr. Alicia Harvey Smith

Visits to PTC

January 14, 2020

Pittsburgh Technical College hosted members of the Allegheny County Airport Authority for a partnership discussion.

Pittsburgh Technical College, 1111 McKee Road, Oakdale, PA 15071 | (412) 809-5100 | ptcollege.edu

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