Board of Trustees

Alicia McDonald, President - amcdonald@casa-arts.org​

Alicia McDonald recently retired from the Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU) after 34 years of service. She started her career as a teacher of the deaf and moved into various administrative roles in curriculum and supervision, including the last 14 years serving as the Director of Student Services. In that role, she led a staff of over 425 educators and administrators and provided educational and leadership support to the school districts and charter schools in the tri-county area. 

Alicia has served on the Cumberland/Perry ARC Board, the Champions for Children Foundation Board, held an instructor position at Penn State Harrisburg, and led the PA state special education directors for the PA Association of Intermediate Units. She is passionate about service to the educational community and has been connected to CASA through her work in the CAIU as well as through support of community events.

Alicia received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Bloomsburg University as well as post-secondary certificate courses from Penn State University and Millersville University. Alicia, and her wife Shawn Scott, reside in Dauphin County with two standard poodles and her parents have recently moved in to join the household.

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Dr. Michele Balliet, Vice President - mballiet@casa-arts.org​

Dr. Michele Balliet is a visionary and results-driven leader with over 35 years of experience in public education, including nearly two decades in district administration. She retired in 2022 as Superintendent of the Elizabethtown Area School District, where she led with distinction for over a decade. Dr. Balliet is recognized for cultivating future-ready learning environments, steady and compassionate leadership through complex challenges, advancing student achievement, and building sustainable systems that ensure equity, access, and opportunity for all students.

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With a deep background in instructional leadership, professional development, and organizational design, Dr. Balliet has successfully guided large-scale strategic initiatives and led key construction and renovation projects across multiple school facilities. Her commitment to educational excellence is matched by her service to the broader community through previous leadership roles on boards with local and regional Chambers of Commerce, athletics, and advisory boards for career-ready education.

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Dr. Balliet holds a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership and Strategic Management from Drexel University, a Master of Education Degree in Academic Curriculum and Instruction from the Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Kutztown University. Since her retirement from public schools, Dr. Balliet continues to support public education through professional and leadership development, and strategic planning, for school districts/ educational organizations across Pennsylvania through her work as Director of Professional Development at the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. 

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Jennifer Mariacher, Treasurer - jmariacher@casa-arts.org​

Jennifer Mariacher is the Chief Financial Officer at Central Penn College in Summerdale. In this capacity, Jennifer oversees the Business and Financial Aid Office and is responsible for managing the daily financial operations and the strategic planning of the college. She is responsible for overseeing student accounts, payroll, accounts payable, contracts, purchasing card, accounting, financial aid, audit and budgeting. Jennifer has worked in financial operations in higher education for more than 20 years serving as a trusted advisor to the President in developing strategic operations, building successful team environments, serving students and providing the highest level of responsiveness and customer service, and implementing systems and providing training to all campus constituents. Jennifer earned her MBA from Elizabethtown College and holds her Certified Purchasing Professional credentials through the American Purchasing Society.

 

Although Jennifer does not live in the immediate Harrisburg area, she feels it is important to engage with and get to know the community in which you work. She is a recent graduate of Leadership Harrisburg Area which only increased her philosophy of servant leadership. Her passion for supporting our youth to better their lives is evident in her career choice, and the organizations in which she commits her time and support. Jennifer has always been active in the districts in which her daughter attended and is now looking forward to supporting CASA in providing opportunities to youths in the area. Jennifer is also active in the Moose and Women of the Moose in her local community, an organization which is dedicated to caring for young and old, bringing their communities closer together, and celebrating life.

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Jennifer and her partner Tim Flaharty enjoy camping, kayaking, antiquing and traveling. They enjoy getting to know their new neighbors in their new hometown of Middleburg or exploring the local community.

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Emily Klauer Sullivan, Secretary - esullivan@casa-arts.org​

Emily Klauer Sullivan graduated from CASA’s music program in 2008, and she continued her musical education at York College of Pennsylvania, graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Industry and Recording Technology. She says she owes a great deal of her professional success to her time at CASA and hopes to lend a unique perspective on the Board of Trustees as a CASA alumna. 

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She has been with the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation since 2015, where she is currently the Director of Development, and she considers herself to be a health care “lifer”. In her role, she has the privilege of interfacing with grateful patients, talented frontline caregivers, and other non-profits throughout the region, which makes her job especially rewarding.  

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Emily has recently returned to York College of Pennsylvania as a graduate student, pursuing a Master of Business Administration Degree. Emily resides in York with her husband and daughter, a dog, and two cats. In her free time, she enjoys live music, hiking, and spending as much time in the great outdoors with her family as possible. ​

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Christopher Healy - chealy@casa-arts.org​

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Elizabeth Mullaugh - emullaugh@casa-arts.org​

Elizabeth P. Mullaugh, known as Bebe, is an attorney with McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Her professional practice focuses on estate and tax planning for families and individuals, succession planning for closely held businesses, and trust and estate administration.

 

Long interested in supporting the arts and young artists in the Harrisburg region, Bebe was a member of the Board of CASA Charter School at its founding in 2013, and currently serves as Treasurer for the CASA Charter School Foundation.

 

Bebe has served on several non-profit boards over the years, including as board president of Harrisburg Young Professionals, Harrisburg Parks Partnership, the LGBT Center of Central Pennsylvania, and Concertante. She is currently a member of the board of the Harrisburg Symphony Association and a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities. Bebe lives in Harrisburg with her partner Jeff Lynch and two Standard Poodles.

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Christine Pavlakovich, SHRM-SCP - cpavlakovich@casa-arts.org​

Christine Pavlakovich (Christy) is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Centric Bank. In this capacity, Christy is responsible for managing the day to day and strategic operations of a multi-faceted HR department and as an ambassador of the Bank’s culture. Christy has worked as a human resource professional for more than 25 years developing and executing corporate strategies, building highly effective teams, driving sustainable programs that inspire a diverse workforce, and leading and influencing corporate-wide projects. Christy earned her Senior Certified Professional credential through the Society for Human Resource Management.  

 

Christy’s passion for people is not only evident in her career choice, but in her commitment to serving her community by volunteering her time and expertise to organizations who make an impact on the lives of our neighbors and youth. She values the importance of schools like CASA that support opportunities for youth to experience arts programs that are not commonly available in public schools. Christy also serves on the board of Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania.  

 

As part of the team of female executives at Centric Bank, Christy has been recognized two times with a national “Top Team” award in banking by American Banker, through their Most Powerful Women in Banking program, and is a recipient of the YWCA Greater Harrisburg Tribute to Women of Excellence Award 2018.   .

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Elizabeth Reusswig- ereusswig@casa-arts.org

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Dr. Cheryl Rudawski - crudawski@casa-arts.org

A lifelong learner and educator, Dr. Rudawski is personally committed to providing all students with high-quality instruction, equitable educational opportunities, and a safe, vibrant, and welcoming learning environment that fosters the success of every child. As the former principal at CASA, she has firsthand experience that CASA provides this educational atmosphere where students thrive through collaboration, innovation, and creativity.

                 

Dr. Rudawski has 39 years of experience in education as a classroom teacher, consultant, supervisor, principal, and college professor.  She holds a Doctoral Degree in K-12 Educational Leadership from Widener University, a Master’s Degree in School Administration from Shippensburg University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from Lock Haven University. Since retiring from the Capital Area Intermediate Unit, Dr. Rudawski has served as a Regional Program Lead for the Pennsylvania Inspired Leadership Program (PIL), which provides a professional education program for school systems leaders and is an Adjunct Professor at Widener University, teaching Instructional Leadership.  She was honored to be a recipient of the Champion of Arts Education Award in 2014.

 

Cheryl and her husband Michael are proud parents of three remarkable boys.

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