Dr. Hoch-Oescher is New AVP for Student Development at Harford Community College

Harford Community College announces the appointment of Dr. Meredith Hoch-Oescher to the position of Associate Vice President, Student Development, effective May 12, 2025. Dr. Hoch-Oescher brings over 20 years of experience in student support in higher education and a passion for the transformational power of education.

Her diverse career started in community colleges. Most recently, she served at Gwynedd Mercy University in Gwynedd Valley, PA as Dean of Student Success. There, she led the reorganization of the Academic Resource Center to a comprehensive and holistic Student Success Center, where she oversaw the Office of Accessibility Services, Office of Advising and Retention, Office of Career Development, Office of First-Year Experience, and Office of Tutoring Services and Placement Assessments. In addition, she has collaborated to develop a holistic academic alert system, programming for undecided and undeclared students, a reimagining of new student orientation, and a program to support first-generation students of color. She also held the position of Director, Academic Resource Center, and served as Interim Director First-Year Experience.

Prior to her time at Gwynedd Mercy, she served at Bucks County Community College as Director for the Tutoring Center. In this role, Dr. Hoch-Oescher oversaw English, reading, mathematics, and accounting tutoring services. She recruited, interviewed, hired, trained, and managed a staff of administrators, student workers, paraprofessionals, classified employees, and part-time faculty for a multiple-campus community college. She also developed and maintained the yearly budget and produced yearly strategic directions, annual assessment plans, and annual reports. Prior to this position, she was a Tutorial Coordinator for Writing.

Dr. Hoch-Oescher earned a bachelor’s degree in English from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in English from The College of New Jersey, and a doctorate in Higher Education from Immaculata University. In addition, she holds several professional certifications in areas such as disability services, academic advising, and Title IX compliance.