News Story
August 09, 2021
La Roche University Board of Trustees Elects Alumnae as Officers
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 9, 2021 — The Board of Trustees at La Roche University recently elected Ernestine Harris ’03, M.S. ’10 as board chair and Dione Graswick ’93 as vice chair.
“I am humbly honored to have been elected as the Board of Trustees Chair,” Mrs. Harris said. “I look forward to partnering with Sister Candace Introcaso, the executive team and the Board of Trustees to support La Roche’s ongoing excellence in higher education for our students. It is a blessing to serve.”
Mrs. Harris is a human resources leader and coach with a broad-based business perspective anchored in partnering with business leaders to align the people strategy to business objectives. She is known for driving results through a consultative, participative leadership style with high integrity and a positive teaming approach. Throughout her career Mrs. Harris has worked successfully in multiple businesses such as: PPG Industries, Carnegie Mellon University, Digital Equipment Corporation, PNC and GlaxoSmithKline.
As a former human resources director for GlaxoSmithKline, Mrs. Harris led the delivery of HR interventions for research and development, both in England and the U.S. She also led the learning and training delivery services team across all client groups in England and the U.S., as well as the delivery of employee relations across all business segments in the U.S.
Previously Mrs. Harris was board president of the Pennsylvania Organization of Women in Early Recovery (POWER); vice chair of Goodwill Industries board of directors Southwestern Pennsylvania; board member of the African American Chamber of Commerce Foundation; on the National Adoption Center board of directors; and chair of the trustee board at St. Paul’s Baptist Church.
Mrs. Harris was named the Health Care Business Women’s Rising Star and a Woman of Excellence by the Pittsburgh Courier. She has received four Multicultural Marketing Diversity Awards throughout her tenure at GlaxoSmithKline. Mrs. Harris also received the Distinguished Alumni Circle Award from La Roche.
She has a Bachelor of Science in business management, Magna Cum Laude, and a Master of Science in human resources management from La Roche.
Mrs. Harris joined the La Roche Board of Trustees in October 2016. She was elected vice chair in May 2019 and served one term, before being elected board chair in May 2021.
Ms. Graswick is an Assurance Partner for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) with more than 25 years of experience, serving several multinational SEC registrants and privately held companies in the consumer products, industrial products, metals and chemicals industries. Currently she works in PwC’s National Office within Auditing Services, Methodology and Tools Practice, where she works on PwC’s audit policies and practices, provides tools and guidance to engagement teams for executing audits, and assists engagement teams with addressing complex auditing matters. Previously she led the Assurance Practice in Pittsburgh, served as the Assurance Diversity Leader for the market and led the Pittsburgh Office’s Women’s Inclusion Circle.
Ms. Graswick also serves on the Executive Committee for the Pittsburgh Technology Council, and she Chairs the Audit Committee for the organization. She is a member of the Women’s Leadership Council of the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Ms. Graswick has a Bachelor of Science in accounting from La Roche and is a Certified Public Accountant. In 2016 she received the Distinguished Alumni Circle Award from La Roche.
Ms. Graswick was elected to the Board of Trustees in October 2018. She was elected vice chair in May 2021 and has been a member of the University’s Executive Committee since 2020.
About La Roche University: A private liberal arts university in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers 66 undergraduate programs of study, six master’s degrees and one doctoral degree, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, and health and medical sciences as well as interior design and graphic design. This residential university provides a vibrant campus community for nearly 1,300 men and women enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.
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