First organized in 2017, Affordable Learning Pennsylvania (ALPA) is a community of practice for academic libraries and higher education partners to advance textbook affordability for our students through education, collaboration, and advocacy at the state level to support open education in Pennsylvania. ALPA leads programs that create awareness, build expertise for community-led OER initiatives, and promote best practices and collaboration throughout the community.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is composed of a chair, a vice-chair, the chairs of each ALPA Working Group, and two Members-at-Large, to be appointed from the currently participating Campus Partners. 

Steering Committee Members

Steven Bell - Temple University - Co-Chair

John Shank - Penn State University - Co-Chair

Marnie Hampton - University of Pittsburgh - Co-Vice-Chair

Kerry Walton - West Chester University - Co-Vice-Chair

Christina Riehman-Murphy - Penn State University - Advocacy & Outreach

Misti Smith - Saint Francis University - Advocacy & Outreach

Michael LaMagna - Delaware County Community College - Annual Summit

Tonya Otto - PennWest University Clarion - Communications

Rocco Cremonese - Slippery Rock University - Communications

Elizabeth Nelson - Penn State University - Education & Training

Jalyn Warren - Community College of Pennsylvania - Member-at-large

Tina Hertel - Muhlenberg College - Member-at-large 

Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)

This project was originally made possible by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and administered by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, Department of Education, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, Governor.