Shane Henderson

The March 18 event brought together faculty and professionals from across the Greater Pittsburgh region to strengthen curriculum, expand learning opportunities and prepare students for careers in high-demand fields.

McKEESPORT, Pa. — Penn State Greater Allegheny held its first Campus Program Advisory Board meetings on March 18, bringing together faculty and regional industry leaders to guide degree programs on campus. The boards are designed to ensure curriculum remains aligned with workforce needs and that students benefit from relevant, hands-on learning opportunities.

The advisory boards are part of a campus-wide strategy to create multiple pathways for students by connecting programs with professionals from the Greater Pittsburgh region, allowing faculty to design learning experiences that meet regional workforce demands, including class projects with industry partners, job shadowing opportunities, guest speakers, high-quality internships and undergraduate research projects.

“These partnerships help ensure our graduates leave with the skills and confidence to succeed,” said Barrett Scroggs, interim chief academic officer. “I’m deeply appreciative of our faculty for fostering these relationships and of our community partners for their thoughtful guidance.”

The March 18 event began with a shared dinner in the campus Ostermayer Room of the Student Community Center, followed by program-specific breakout sessions where board members provided input on curriculum priorities, emerging trends and professional opportunities for students.

“I love working with the students from Penn State Greater Allegheny for internships, so joining the psychology advisory board just made sense,” said Megan Matejcic, SNAP program manager at Auberle. “Creating intentional relationships with surrounding organizations is a fabulous way for Greater Allegheny students to connect with the workforce and their passions. A student’s recent immersion in academia will also make them sensitive to seeing what isn’t being done well in our communities, what is outdated and what could be done better — and perhaps they will be the ones to identify those gaps and create those opportunities themselves.”

For faculty, the advisory boards provide an opportunity to collaborate directly with industry partners and ensure academic programs remain responsive to workforce needs.

“I love the idea of putting students in touch with industry leaders and connecting them with mentorship, internship and potential employment opportunities,” said Michael Vicaro, associate professor of communications and program coordinator for multidisciplinary studies. “Advisory boards also help keep programs timely by identifying upcoming trends and employment needs.”

Advisory board members represent organizations across healthcare, technology, education, nonprofit leadership, and community development. Community and industry professionals interested in learning more about serving on a Greater Allegheny program advisory board can email bws74@psu.edu.

Current participating organizations by program include:

Biobehavioral health

• Clinical Research Strategies
• University of Pittsburgh
• UPMC

Business/project and supply chain management

• RMP
• UPMC Health Plan

Criminal justice

• Allegheny County
• Auberle
• Center for Victims
• Operation Better Block
• PA Women Work
• Wesley Family Services

Cybersecurity analytics and operations/information technology

• CEEVA
• Echelon Risk & Cyber
• Pittsburgh Technology Council
• Women in Cyber

Multidisciplinary studies

• Next Pittsburgh
• Vibrant Pittsburgh
• Point Park University

Psychology

• Allegheny County
• Auberle
• Community College of Allegheny County
• TCV Community Services

Recreation, park and tourism management

• LaRosa Youth Club
• Kristen Kane Events
• Dragon’s Den
• McKeesport Parks and Recreation

Social work

• Auberle
• Community Care / UPMC
• Passport Academy Charter School
• Upward Bound West

Click here to read the full article at Penn State University’s website.

The Pa. Family Support Alliance and Pa. Department of Human services hosted its outdoor flag painting and annual Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids awards ceremony.

March 25, 2026

On March 20, nonprofit Wesley Family Services held its annual fundraising gala. During the event, the organization honored Tres Whitlock, regional president of global insurance brokerage Gallagher, for his contributions in the community and support of WFS. The event also included a cocktail reception, a photo booth, a silent auction, an awards ceremony celebrating WFS staff with the Quality Whole Person Care Impact Awards, a heads or tails raffle, dinner and an after party.

Click here to read the full article.

Sewickley resident Tres Whitlock, Western Pennsylvania area president of Gallagher, was this year’s honoree at the Wesley Family Services 2026 Gala, held March 20.

“I am thrilled and humbled by this nomination,” Whitlock said. “Wesley Family Services’ commitment to a Quality Whole Person Care approach — seeing and supporting the entire individual — is an urgent, powerful mission that resonates deeply with me. It is a privilege to stand alongside an organization whose CEO, Doug Muentzel, embodies the conviction that ‘where there is help, there is always hope,’ driving this critical work with unmatched energy and compassion.”

A Pittsburgh native who grew up in Fox Chapel, Whitlock’s professional journey spans two decades in the commercial insurance sector.

Whitlock was selected as this year’s gala honoree in recognition of his philanthropy and dedication to the community. His leadership and commitment have made a meaningful impact and inspired others to make a difference. Over the years, Whitlock has demonstrated a consistent passion for helping families through programming, donation drives and volunteer efforts.

Read more at TribLive.

This designation recognizes his long-standing commitment to supporting the organization’s mission

Pittsburgh, PA (March 16, 2026) – Wesley Family Services, one of the region’s largest behavioral health providers has named Tres Whitlock, Western Pennsylvania Area President of Gallagher, as its 2026 Gala honoree. The gala will be held on March 20 at the Wyndham Grand Downtown Pittsburgh.

“I am thrilled and humbled by this nomination,” says Whitlock. “Wesley Family Services’ commitment to a Quality Whole Person Care approach—seeing and supporting the entire individual—is an urgent, powerful mission that resonates deeply with me. It is a privilege to stand alongside an organization whose CEO, Doug Muentzel, embodies the conviction that ‘where there is help, there is always hope,’ driving this critical work with unmatched energy and compassion.”

A Pittsburgh native who grew up in Fox Chapel, Whitlock’s professional journey spans two decades in the commercial insurance sector. Under his leadership, Gallagher’s Pittsburgh office has consistently been one of the fastest-growing regions for the company nationwide, now boasting a team of over 270 staff members that are dedicated to delivering effective, innovative risk management solutions tailored to the unique needs of their clients.

Whitlock was selected as this year’s gala honoree in recognition of his philanthropy and dedication to the community. His leadership and unwavering commitment have made a meaningful impact and inspired others to make a difference. Over the years, Whitlock has demonstrated a consistent passion for helping families through programming, donation drives, and volunteer efforts.

Wesley Family Services’ annual gala serves as a fundraiser to help support the organization’s programs which provide critical behavioral health and therapeutic support services to children, adults, and families. Each year, Wesley Family Services honors an individual who, outside of the success they’ve achieved in their industry, has helped make a difference in the lives of our region’s children and families.

The emcee for the gala is WTAE’s own, Mike Clark, an award-winning journalist and news anchor. The theme for this year’s gala is “Where flowers bloom, so does hope”. The program and festivities will include a cocktail reception, a photo booth, a silent auction, an awards ceremony celebrating staff with the Quality Whole Person Care Impact Awards, a heads or tails raffle, dinner, and an after party.

About Wesley Family Services

Wesley Family Services is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides a diverse range of quality behavioral health, mental health, and therapeutic support services to more than 20,000 individuals throughout Western Pennsylvania annually. The organization provides more than 50 healthcare and therapeutic programs, has outpatient facilities in five counties, one elementary/middle school in Upper St. Clair Township and one high school in Whitehall Borough, 30 single-family homes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and provides educational services to 50 school districts throughout the region. Its mission is to empower children, adults, and families by providing transformational Quality Whole Person® care. Learn more at: www.wfspa.org.

GROVE CITY — Wesley Education Center, located inside of Hillview Elementary School, is thriving after one semester of operation.

Wesley Education Center, a branch of Wesley Family Services, opened Sept. 2, 2025. They are now at half-capacity with 12 students, Center Director Shawda McGroarty said.

“Our goal is to be at 24 by the end of the year,” she said.

She said among the 12 who currently attend are students from Wilmington Area School District, Sharon City School District, Laurel School District in New Castle, Crawford Central School District, Moniteau School District, Mercer Area School District, Reynolds School District and Grove City Area School District.

McGroarty said the center currently serves kindergarten through third grades, but their goal is to expand.

“For students that aren’t ready to integrate to their regular school by fourth grade, our goal is to, at some point, be a K through 8th school,” she said.

McGroarty said the students being in a public school setting like Hillview benefits the students.

“While our classrooms are inclusive, because we have regular students, they are able to use the library, they are able to go out to the playground with Grove City students, they’re able to see them in hallways,” she said. “It’s providing an environment where they’re in a specialized program but not completely isolated in a separate building. They’re able to use the same gym as well for physical education and will attend assemblies with Grove City students.”

She said Wesley Education Center students also get lunch with Hillview students. McGroarty said the non-profit school provides a variety of services that help prepare students for integration including small class sizes, a high staff to student ratio, educational therapeutic specialists in each classroom, a behavioral consultant for the program and a master’s level mental health therapist. She added they service a variety of students including students with autism, emotional disturbance, learning disabilities, other health impairments and even regular students.

“Our teachers use the Pennsylvania standards to guide their lesson plans but they differentiate instruction because we do have up to three grade levels in a classroom so, not only do we have three grade levels but those students are not always working at their grade level so the teachers do modify the curriculum and provide accommodations,” she said.

She said they also teach students things such as coping skills and social skills through group therapy, social emotional learning and a second-step curriculum.

In addition to services the center provides, they started an ongoing class cupboard for students in need that attend class at the center. McGroarty said the cupboard was started by Wesley Education Center Therapeutic Specialist Ashley Amsler.

She said they are accepting non-perishable foods such as canned goods, rice, beans and dry or powdered milk. She added they are also accepting hygiene items such as deodorant, shampoo and toothpaste as well as monetary donations.

“They’re basic needs have to be met in order for them to be able to learn — when kids are cold, when they don’t have a full stomach in the morning, when they aren’t able to take care of themselves and their hygiene,” McGroarty said. “Not only does it help them learn, but it also gives them a sense of safety at school because they know they can get these things at school.”

Click here to read the full article on Allied News.