Members of PCAR's new board of directors gathered for a photo outside the Nittany Lion Inn Sept. 24 in State College. Front row: (left to right) Pamela Golden, Delilah Rumburg, Prabha Sankaranarayan, Shelia Washington. Second row: Terri Hamrick, Linda Castagna, Janet MacKay, Deb Shivetts, Mary Phan-Gruber Third row: Ralph Riviello, M.D., Theo Kotjarapoglus, Patti Mihalik, Jayne Huston, Bruce Harlan
The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape completed its board restructuring Sept. 24 when PCAR Board of Directors President Mary Onama handed the official gavel to Nominating Chairwoman Lou Ann Williams.
Delegates from 33 rape crisis centers and 14 members of the new board of directors were present as the transition took place at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College.
“PCAR has been fortunate for 35 years to have tremendous support from its board of directors,” PCAR Executive Director Delilah Rumburg said. “They have provided a steady hand in guiding PCAR’s progress and supporting its growth. But there’s still more to accomplish. And PCAR looks forward to continuing to further our mission of ending sexual violence with the new members of the board.”
PCAR’s new board is comprised of 18 members. Below are short bios of each member of the new PCAR Board of Directors
Eileen Behr
Chief of Police
Whitemarsh Township Police Department
Lafayette Hill, PA
Areas of expertise: Law enforcement – exceptionally dedicated civil servant with superior dedication to law enforcement, proactive community policing, and emergency management. Energetic and resourceful leader possessing exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
Linda Castagna
Community Leader
Lancaster, PA
Areas of expertise: Fundraising and special events, nonprofit experience and teaching experience and curriculum development – Linda has served on many boards in the Lancaster community and is well known in nonprofit and philanthropic circles. She is well connected and looked upon as a leader in the Lancaster community.
Pamela Golden
Media Specialist
US Census Bureau
Pittsburgh, PA
Areas of expertise: Communications, public relations and media relations – Pamela served on the Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission for about seven years and was chair of the Commission for more than two years. She worked at Magee-Women’s Hospital, one of the nation’s largest women’s health care centers, as head of the Communications Department for almost six years. She was a member of the Urban League of Pittsburgh Board of Directors for about nine years and chairs the Development Committee.
Mary Phan-Gruber
Deputy Administrator
Allegheny County DHS/Area Agency on Aging
Penn Hills, PA
Areas of expertise: Victim services, nonprofit consulting, aging services, foundations and development – Mary served in key roles at the Center for Victims of Violence and Crime (CVVC) in Allegheny County from 1985-1997. Originally hired as the Victim Compensation Coordinator, being in 1986 she served as the Associate Director. This was an interesting period where she was able to learn from founders who were transitioning from their roles while there was tremendous growth in advocacy, services and capacity in the PA anti-sexual violence movement.
Terri Hamrick
Executive Director, Survivors, Inc.
Gettysburg, PA
Chair of the PCAR Standards Committee and PASAC Representative
Bruce Harlan
Executive Director, Women’s Services, Inc.
Meadville, PA
Western Region Representative and PASAC Representative
Jayne Huston
Director, Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify
Blairsville, PA
Areas of expertise: Management, business and marketing communications – Jayne volunteered to guide Blackburn Center through a name change process in the mid-1990’s, and joined the Board of Directors shortly after that experience. She has stayed involved in multiple ways with the organization (including, but not limited to continuing membership on the agency’s Funds Development/PR Committee; and service on a work group developing strategic messaging).
Denise Johnson, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
Meadville Medical Center
Meadville, PA
Areas of expertise: OB/GYN physician – Dr. Johnson has been a practicing OB/GYN Physician for 14 years, and served on the Family Health Council (Adagio Health) board of directors for five years. Personally she is an advocate for women in all areas. Received numerous awards including the YWCA Tribute to Women in 1998, and the Tempo Award in 2003 for board and community leadership.
Theo Kotjarapoglus
Former Executive Vice President
American Heart Association
Hidden Valley, PA
Areas of expertise: Fundraising, management/administration, nonprofit experience, contacts and networking – Theo currently service on the Vision of Hope Advisory Council and is Chairman of the VOH Development Committee.
Irene “Strong Oak” Lefebvre
Sexual Assault Community Educator
New England learning Center for Women in Transition
Greenfield MA
Areas of expertise: Sexual violence prevention, restorative justice with intertribal indigenous community. Serves on NSVRC Advisory Council
Janet MacKay
Executive Director
Victims Resource Center
Wilkes-Barre PA
Former PCAR President, Eastern Representative and PASAC Representative
Paul Mendofik
National Trainer and Exercise Design & Development Specialist
Public Agency Training Council & Tetra Tech Inc.
Wapwallopen, PA
Areas of expertise: Law enforcement, lethal violence, organization and training – Paul’s professional career has been primarily in law enforcement. He served with the PA State Police retiring in 2004 at the rank of Lieutenant. He has investigated sex related crimes against men, women and children. He led investigative teams in multi-county/multi-state investigations. He made it a priority to maintain a close liaison and working relationship with partners in the volunteer and service organizations.
Patti Mihalik
Executive Director, Haven of Tioga County
Wellsboro, PA
Central Region Representative and PASAC Representative
Judge Jack A. Panella
Judge, Pennsylvania Superior Court
Appellate Court of Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, PA
Areas of expertise: law – Judge Jack A. Panella was elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in November 2003, and sworn into office as an appellate judge on January 9, 2004. He now presides over appeals from civil, criminal and family law cases. He was the statewide Administrative Judge for Wiretap & Electronic Surveillance in Pennsylvania from 2004-2009. Judge Panella’s first book, The Pennsylvania Sexual Violence Benchbook was published in 2007. The book provides judges with a comprehensive understanding of Pennsylvania’s current sexual crimes, violence and abuse. The book has received widespread acclaim from the legal and judicial communities.
Ralph Riviello, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
Drexel University College of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA
Areas of expertise: Sexual assault medical treatment, evidence collection, research, grant writing – prior to Dr. Riviello at Drexel, he was the Director of Sexual Assault Services, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Emergency Room from 2003-2009. He also became a member of the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Advisory Council (PSAAC) in 2003 – and is still a member. He has taken lead in developing new forms for adult and pediatric sexual assault patients; reviewed protocols for Philadelphia Rape Patient care; served on Philadelphia Department of Health HIV Post Exposure work group. Most recently, Dr. Riviello took the lead on developing and writing PSAAC's proposal for the creation of a Mobile SANE Team/Center. The proposal was presented to the Mayor’s Office, the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation and Drexel University. Drexel University has agreed to financially support the project. The Center will be open in January 2011.
Prabha Sankaranarayan
Partner, Snyder & Sankar Associates
Pittsburgh, PA
Areas of expertise: Grant writing, management/administration, nonprofit, teach and curriculum development, contacts and networking – Prabha is a trainer and presenter of over fifty papers related to the impact of sexual assault, family and community violence, conflict resolution, mediation and children’s mental health and has served on Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape’s Statewide Task Force on Traumatic Memory.
Deb Shivetts
YWCA – Wise Options
Williamsport PA 17701
Chair of the PCAR Social Action Committee and PASAC Representative
Sheila Washington
President
Washington Consulting Group
Pittsburgh, PA
Areas of expertise: Organizational development consulting: team building, leadership training, diversity and inclusion, strategic planning – Sheila has served as board chair for the domestic violence shelter in Tulsa, OK. Also, served two-terms on PAAR’s Board. Worked with PAAR to develop a strategic plan. Fifty percent of her consulting practice is focused on diversity and inclusion. She works with corporations, non-profits, and universities. A consistent message is respect, civility, anti-bullying and anti sexual harassment.