Montgomery County Community College Board of Trustees recently elected new officers for the 2025 calendar year and welcomed three newly appointed trustees.

During a public meeting on Feb. 10, the trustees elected  Donald Lyons as Chair, Eleanor M. Dezzi as Vice Chair, Lisa B. Binder as Treasurer, Dr. Theresa M. Reilly as Secretary, and Katherine D. Carter as Assistant Secretary.

"I am honored to serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Montgomery County Community College," said Donald Lyons. “I look forward to working with the Board, College leadership, employees, and students to continue to expand opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and advance the College’s work for the benefit of students and the communities we serve."

Appointed in 2021, Lyons has been actively engaged on the Board, serving on the Finance and Student Success Committees, as the at-large representative for the Executive Committee, as the Board liaison for the MCCC Foundation, and as one of two trustees on the close out of the College’s 2012-2022 Facilities Master Plan.

Lyons is a seasoned financial professional with over 20 years of experience in wealth management and financial planning. He currently serves as Senior Vice President & Wealth Director for Bryn Mawr Trust, where he leads a team of cross-functional wealth professionals that includes Wealth & Trust Advisors and Investment Advisors.

Lyons received the gavel from Varsovia Fernandez, who has served as Chair since 2022, and previously served as Assistant Secretary in 2021. Appointed by the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners in 2018, Fernandez has two years remaining for her term on the Board.

“I wholeheartedly congratulate the newly elected officers and express my gratitude for everyone’s support, the hard work we’ve done together and everyone’s commitment to the College,” said Fernandez, following the election.

MCCC President Dr. Vicki Bastecki-Perez extended her congratulations to the new officers and appreciation for all trustees and their exceptional work.

“On behalf of the College, I want to extend congratulations to the newly elected officers and give a warm Mustang welcome to the new trustees. We look forward to the leadership, experience, and knowledge you will contribute to these roles,” said Dr. Bastecki-Perez, MCCC President. “I also want to express our deepest appreciation to Varsovia Fernandez for her dedicated service as Chair. We are grateful for her student-centered leadership, passion for purpose, and all she has done to support the advancement of the College’s mission and strategic agenda.”

“In addition, we want to sincerely thank and express our heartfelt gratitude for trustees Margot Clark, Dr. Raj Guttha, Sean Kilkenny, and Rick Taylor who have completed their terms for their invaluable contributions and commitment to the College and all those who we collectively serve,” said Dr. Bastecki-Perez.

The Board also welcomed its newest members, Ayo Patterson, Michael Thevor, and Jamila Winder, who were recently appointed by the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners for six-year terms.

Patterson is a healthcare professional with a strong background in nursing and business administration. He earned his Associate of Science in Nursing from MCCC and completed his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Eastern University. He currently serves as a Staff and Registered Resource Nurse at Waverly Heights in Gladwyne.

Thevar is the founder and President of Omni Health Services since 2007, overseeing operations in both the United States and India. He holds a Master of Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India, and a Bachelor of Social Work from Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work, Mumbai University, India.

Winder currently serves as Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners after serving as Chair in 2024. She has previously served on the East Norriton Township Board of Supervisors and the Norristown Area School Board. Winder holds a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree from Eastern University.

MCCC is governed by the Board of Trustees appointed by the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners to six-year renewable terms. The Board of Trustees establishes the necessary policies for College operations and serves the educational, workforce and cultural needs of all students and Montgomery County communities.

The next Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 18, at 4 p.m. All meetings are open to the public.