HSC Hires Volunteer Executive Director

The Fayette County Human Service Council now has two part-time staff to help the HSC Board and Committees in their work. Effective January 1, 2018 John Rapano, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of the Council. John is an Associate Teaching Professor Emeritus in Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, and is celebrating his fortieth year with the HSC. John joins Cheryl DeCarlo, HSC Administrative Assistant on the staff of the Council.

Upon retiring last year, he saw the opportunity to upgrade his level of participation with the Council. John earned a Ph.D. at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the Administration and Leadership Studies for Nonprofits program in 2010. His Ph.D. Dissertation on community based participatory action research remains crucial to his commitment to effective human services. He has been involved in a variety of roles in community development, childcare, mental health, and aging throughout his career. Prior to his employment at Penn State, John was the Fayette County Supervisor for the S.W. Pa. Area Agency on Aging and directed the Geriatric Partial Hospitalization program at Highlands Hospital, prior to his first jobs as a Supervisor of the Outreach to Children and Families program at Chestnut Ridge Counseling Service and as a direct service worker in children’s daycare at ECHO Child Development.

John has served on numerous nonprofit boards and committees, with a focus on collaborative efforts and faith-based initiatives. Currently John serves on the Board of Directors of the Community Health Improvement Partnership, Inc., the Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Fayette County, Inc., Communities that Care of Fayette County, and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging. He is looking forward to bringing that experience to bear to help the HSC accomplish its mission.