For over 25 years, higher education has been an industry where Bradford native Sue Gleason has thrived.
Her own journey as a college student was non-traditional, but is one that makes her relatable to many students in her role of director of financial aid at Northern Pennsylvania Regional College.
Gleason began college after high school before putting education on pause to enter the workforce. She worked in banking at Northwest, and later went to work at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
Gleason spent nearly 23 years in various roles at Pitt-Bradford including time in admissions, financial aid, academic advising, teaching first-year seminar and in the business department, and as an interim assistant dean of academic affairs for student support in her final role with the institution.
In 2022, she joined the team at Northern Pennsylvania Regional College as the institution’s first director of financial aid. “There are so many pieces that go into being a college student,” Gleason said. “I enjoy being able to positively influence the lives of students and provide support to those needing someone to believe in them and assist them.”
Gleason earned a business management and accounting degree in 2006 from Pitt-Bradford while balancing a great deal in her personal life. “I worked full time and was enrolled in nine credits each term year-round,” noted Gleason. “If my kids had a sports practice or game, I was the mom in the bleachers studying and doing homework. It was hard, but the way I was raised, if you wanted something extra, you had to go out there and earn it by working.”
Just a few years later, Gleason added a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from Edinboro University. It helped her advance her career and understand the higher education industry in more depth.
In addition to her impressive career in higher education, she is also an accountant and an entrepreneur. Gleason previously served as a family business accountant part-time in the water treatment industry and today is a small business owner in the restaurant industry. Gleason recently surpassed nine years of co-owning and helping operate Pizza Napoli & Restaurant in her hometown of Bradford.
“My husband and I say working here is our downtime,” she said. “I usually work in the evenings and on weekends. Few people will understand the relaxation of stretching a pizza by hand or washing dishes after a long day. Working here can be very therapeutic for me.”
In her two-plus years at NPRC, Gleason has been synonymous with helping NPRC develop important processes and procedures and work towards receiving state and federal aid for students. Her role has allowed the institution to implement both immediate improvement and strategies that will continue to better serve students in the future. She stated, “I think NPRC is going to continue to grow and do great things. The region we serve truly needs the education model we provide. It’s been interesting to see how we grow in our offerings and as a business. I’m thankful for this great opportunity that I have here at NPRC and for the difference I can make for our students in need of support.”
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