Power moves: Jen Weikert named executive director of Covenant House Pennsylvania

Jen Weikert has been named the new executive director of Covenant House Pennsylvania.

The organization —which provides services for young people experiencing homelessness in the Greater Philadelphia area and York County — made the announcement via email yesterday.

Weikert comes to the position from College Possible Philadelphia, a college access and success nonprofit.

“After a very thorough nationwide search, we believe we have found exactly the right person to lead our efforts,” Bob Mauch, the board chair, said in the announcement.  “At College Possible, Jen worked to make college admission and success possible for low-income students through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support. Her expertise and passion for helping young people will open more doors of opportunity for the resilient young people at Covenant House Pennsylvania.”

Before College Possible, Weikert served as chief development officer for Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI), vice president at MCL Consulting, an adjunct professor at Temple University, and executive director of the YWCA of Philadelphia.

She was a board member and officer of Green Woods Charter School from 2014 to 2018; she currently serves on the boards of Coded by Kids and The Support Site Foundation.

Weikert holds a bachelor’s degree from La Salle University, a master’s from the National University of Ireland, Cork, and a certificate in fundraising from the University of Pennsylvania.

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2. The Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired appoints new chief financial officer and chief program officer.

(Left) Sean McNeeley; (right) Beth Deering. (Courtesy photos)

The Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ASB) recently announced the appointment of Sean McNeeley as the organization’s chief financial officer and Beth Deering as chief program officer.

According to the announcement, “McNeeley’s role is new to ASB and will be key to helping the nonprofit implement its strategic plan, which will include identifying new opportunities for expanding strategic partnerships, programs, and funding.”

Before joining ASB, McNeeley served as practice manager of the Center for Retirement Finance at Public Financial Management, Inc. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ohio State University.

Most recently before becoming the chief program officer, Deering was ASB’s director of outreach and community partnerships. She started her career at ASB in 2017, as a client services specialist.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College and a master’s degree from Temple University.

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3. Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition welcomes Nyamal Tutdeal as policy director.

Nyamal Tutdeal. (Courtesy photo)

Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC) announced in its February newsletter that it has named Nyamal Tutdeal its new policy director.

“Nyamal, also known as Mal (which means peace in the Nuer language), is a former refugee from South Sudan who was resettled in Sioux Falls, SD with her family,” the newsletter states. “Nyamal has worked with various immigrants, migrants, refugees, youth, indigenous communities, and women’s groups both domestically and internationally as a notable international speaker and an advocate for displaced communities.”

Tutdeal is the founder and executive director of the NyaEden Foundation, which provides resources to promote self-sufficiency to women and children throughout Africa. Additionally, before joining PICC, she served as project manager of the African Cultural Alliance of North America; gambling specialist/core service assistant coordinator at the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) of the City Philadelphia; international classroom educator at University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaelogy and Anthropology; and project venture coordinator for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.

She is a member of South Sudan Women United, and a facilitator at The Peace Center.

Tutdeal holds a bachelor’s degree from Doane College and master’s degree from Arcadia University.