The RACC Podcast

On the latest RACC Podcast, Sonia speaks with RACC business student and Founder/Executive Director of Now All Must Evolve (N.A.M.E.), Jermell Mitchell. The N.A.M.E. mission is based on changing the lives of historically underserved youth through transformative arts, athletics, and life skills training. He mentors, educates, and inspires young people to create a culture of positive change empowering them to become community leaders ...

To the Reading community, Goldy Ghuman is a familiar face around the city. A tireless advocate for its residents, Goldy started at RACC with ESL classes, graduated with a degree in criminal justice, then transferred to Kutztown University to graduate with a degree in political science. She did not stop there. Goldy is currently enrolled at Seton Hall University, majoring in diplomacy and international affairs. Do not miss Sonia’s f...

Sarah Guevara graduated from Conrad Weiser High School this year and had been dual enrolled at RACC since 10th grade through the Technical Academy at BCTC for business. A focused, determined and diligent student, she is also a RACC Presidential Scholarship winner. She currently works at Olivet Boys & Girls Club as their community relations coordinator, and plans to obtain an associate degree at RACC this fall; then continue tow...

Today, Sonia welcomes Melissa Hassler, a recent RACC graduate and current membership specialist at the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance. Listen to Melissa’s incredible story about overcoming extreme childhood obstacles, and her journey through early career and life changes; to making the right connections and ultimately finding solid ground in both her personal and professional life. She credits a great deal of her success to the f...

Today on the racc podcast, Sonia welcomes Executive Director at Family Promise of Berks County, and long-time RACC adjunct social work instructor, Bethany Bower. Bethany holds bachelors and masters degrees in social work from Kutztown University, and talks to Sonia about the high level of support, encouragement and direction the RACC faculty and staff provide to their students.

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Anyone who has been on the RACC campus recently is familiar with Sonia’s latest guest. Armando Velazquez Santiago. Featured as a student speaker at the RACC 50th Gala celebration, Armando’s family immigrated to America, to make sure their children had a chance to succeed beyond anything they had done themselves. Soon to graduate from RACC (with several job offers already in hand), then transfer to Kutztown University, and finally o...

A naturally passionate person, Rachael Romig plans and oversees over 100 events annually for the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA) as their senior director of events & special programs. She also directs the initiatives of the Women2Women program, with the mission to develop women leaders by connecting women from diverse backgrounds to learn and share ideas. 

After a full day at the GRCA, she refocuses her efforts to her we...

If you have ever watched Channel 69 News, you have no doubt seen our RACC Podcast guest, reporter, Caitlin Rearden. A Berks County native, Caitlin graduated from RACC, and then transferred to California State University of Los Angeles. After graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism, her career took her and her family all over the United States, from Mississippi to Washington, and back to Berks County. Learn more about Caitl...

Halema Bobby received her Associate in Health Science in May 2021 and is currently completing her Associate in Social Work. “I plan on completing my Bachelor in Social work through the Kutztown and RACC Cohort program offered here on RACC's campus. I am also a recipient of the PTK PASSHE Scholarship, which is a two-year full-ride. I was able to achieve all this while being a full-time student, working two jobs, and having to t...

If you are a tech entrepreneur looking for local inspiration, do not miss the new episode of the RACC podcast with Joe Sinclair. With two undergraduate engineering degrees, multiple 3D-printing startups, a master’s in 3D printing from Penn State, and a full-time director position for a high-tech advanced manufacturing company’s metal additive manufacturing division, Joe has invested thousands of hours studying, using, and investiga...

RACC graduate and current case manager at Family Promise of Berks, assisting homeless youth, Shae-Lynn is also currently enrolled at Edinboro University for her master’s degree in advanced standing program. Her ultimate goal is to become a social worker for the Reading High School. After graduating from RACC in 2018 with her associate degree in social work. At RACC, she was a work study in the advising center, a member of the leade...

Elise Chesson currently serves as the Chief Advancement Officer for YWCA Tri-County Area. She oversees the growing non-profit’s government, foundation, and corporate grant-making, fund development, communications, events and helps facilitate its practices and policies for equity, inclusion, and justice.
Ms. Chesson most recently served as executive director at a local chapter of a leading national non-profit that addresses fami...

Today, Sonia sits down with one of the true champions of the healthcare industry. Learn how Dr. Debra Hermany progressed from receiving a nursing degree at RACC, to becoming an emergency room physician in a Veteran’s Administration Hospital. Dr. Hermany discusses the challenges of a (very) front line worker during the height of the pandemic to discussing the many future opportunities and careers in healthcare. A do not miss episode...

Kristen Taylor was the Student Nurses' Association president and graduated from RACC’s Associate Degree Nursing Program in May of 2020. She is now with Tower Health in the Cardiac Intermediate Care Unit. Prior to nursing school, she obtained her associate degree in health information management, and worked at St. Joseph in medical records. Who better to discuss what it takes to achieve a great career in the health professions,...

After graduating from Lancaster Mennonite High School, Twila Fisher moved to Mexico City and then to Miami before moving back to Pennsylvania and settling in Berks County. At that time, Twila put her education and career on hold to begin a family. When her four daughters were all in school, Twila enrolled in school herself at RACC. “I pursued RACC for myself for the same reason I recommend it to people of all ages: location and aff...

Want to get ahead of the class and get both high school and college credit? The Dual Enrollment program at RACC works with 17 local schools to provide Berks County high school students the opportunity to earn college credit. Dual enrollment allows academically-ready high school students to enroll in RACC college courses taught right at their high school while also completing their high school requirements. 

Sonia welcomes Jodi Corbe...

RACC health professions faculty members Stephanie Herr and Dr. Megan Zerillo are both highly successful young women working in the nursing field. Megan came to RACC from Alabama where she earned her doctorate degree and is now serving as a RACC Student Success Coach. Steph is in her third year of her doctoral program and is an assistant professor in both of our nursing programs. Listen as they discuss the challenges and rewards of ...

Sonia has one of our most inspirational RACC Podcast conversations with Pennsylvania House Representative Manuel Guzman Jr. He is a graduate of Reading High School, Reading Area Community College and Kutztown University. “Manny” comes from a working-class family in Reading, where the family faced struggles with poverty and opportunity. These struggles and lived experiences have stayed with Manny and is the fuel that powers his pass...