News & Media

SCRANTON, Pa. – Aug. 23, 2022 – Jennifer Passenti knows the importance of community partnerships.

As center director for Lackawanna College’s Lake Region center, Passenti works to ensure that the College and local community leaders are able to work together to create a better community.

Now, Passenti is looking to use those skills in her new position as the president of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce.

“We’re proud of Jennifer’s hard work in growing Lackawanna College’s partnerships in the Lake Region area,” said Lackawanna College President Dr. Jill Murray. “We are the community’s college, which means we want to continue to cultivate these important partnerships to ensure we meet the demands of the local communities. Jennifer will now use those skills to make an immediate impact as the new chamber president in Pike County.”

Passenti currently lives in Pike County, where she has her finger on the pulse of the local business community and its various wants and needs.

“In my role as center director, I know how important partnerships are in helping grow programs and meet the needs of the local community,” Passenti said. “As chamber president, I will use my experience and knowledge as well as my connections within the community to ensure that we continue to grow and help our members with training, expansion and sustainability.”

Originally from New York, Passenti moved with her family to Pike County, where she graduated from Wallenpaupack Area High School.

She has worked in education since 2000. She worked for the New York City Board of Education continuing on to Lackawanna College as an adjunct faculty member transitioning in the enrollment specialist position in 2013 and then finally to the position of center director in 2017.

Additionally, Passenti has volunteered and held several leadership roles with different local organizations over the years. They include: Economic Development Authority Pike County; Friends of Wallenpaupack Football (Booster) as vice president; Hemlock Farms Community Association Board of Directors; Recreation Committee as chair, vice chair and member; Perkins/LAC/339 Planning Advisory Committees for Wallenpaupack Area School District, Wayne Highland School District and Western Wayne School District and Delaware Valley School District; Pike County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as president, first vice president, Women in Business and Business Education chair; Pike County Reentry Coalition; Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance Board of Directors; Wayne County School to Work Committee; and Wayne Tomorrow Committee.

Passenti is working toward her Doctorate in Higher Education from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. She has a Master’s in Science in Elementary Education from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York; and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Speech Communications & Public Relations from Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pennsylvania.