Two Albright College administrators, Denise Shorey, MLS, and Patrick Blaine, Ph.D., have been named participants in the 2023-24 cohort of Leadership Berks — a leadership and community development program hosted by the United Way of Berks County. The cohort meet monthly for a variety of activities, including site visits, presentations, and workshops, from September 2023 to June 2024.
For nearly 40 years, the mission of Leadership Berks has been to train and develop individuals to serve in non-profit leadership roles within Berks County.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to learn more about the Berks community and find ways to contribute to it,” said Blaine, who joined the college in July 2023 as associate provost for academic programs, planning and assessment. “My hope is that this feeds into my work at Albright, strengthening our position as an anchor institution in the region.”
“Albright College has a strong sense of its role in the community, said Shorey, Albright’s director of library services. I want to play my part in forging connections with others so as to make positive difference in the Berks community.”
Blaine has a long history of involvement in non-profit work and community development. He was most recently employed by Lane Community College in Eugene, Ore., where he was the associate vice president for academic affairs and Institutional Effectiveness.
With more than 30 years of experience in academic libraries, Shorey has a deep understanding of the value of collaboration. She came to Albright in 2022 from Franklin College in central Indiana where she helped to establish a wrap-around academic support system for students in the library. Earlier, she worked in cities such as South Bend, Indiana, Evanston, Illinois, and Walla Walla, Washington.
Named a top national college by Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education, Albright College, Reading, Pa., (founded 1856) is home to engaging faculty who believe that the best academic moments are when students feel inspired and ready to take action. The college’s distinctive co-major program enables students to cross or combine different areas of study, without taking longer to graduate. Study alongside undergraduate students, adult learners and graduate students, and ignite your SPARK at Albright College.
