The Commonwealth Prevention Alliance (CPA) has four new and nine renewing board members up for election. As a CPA member, your vote is essential in shaping the direction and success of our organization.
- Please take a moment to review the nominations for each candidate below.
- After reviewing, cast your vote for the slate of officers by 12:00 pm on Monday, December 22, 2025.
- Your participation ensures that prevention professionals’ voices continue to drive CPA’s impactful work in our communities.
Thank you for your participation and support of CPA. We look forward to your vote and to continuing our collective work to build healthier communities!
After reviewing the information below:
New Directors: Serve a Two-Year Term (January 2026 to December 2027)
1. Cammie Anderson, D/A Prevention Education Supervisor, Children’s Service Center, Luzerne County
Alignment with CPA: The part of the vision statement that resonates most with me is the prioritization of primary prevention. Education is the key to prevention, and prevention is the key to the success of our youth. We need to see prevention as a three-pronged approach. We need to educate all, regardless of risk. We next need to target those at high risk and increase our prevention efforts at that level. Messaging needs to be consistent. We need to give that message to the community so our children receive the same messages from parents, teachers, coaches, the church, and community leaders.
2. Dr. Maisha Richardson, Prevention Management Analyst, Department of Behavioral health and Intellectual disability services/Prevention and Early Intervention Unit, Philadelphia County
Experience in Prevention: My experience includes teaching in the Philadelphia public school system, serving as a disability advocate, directing non-profits, and overseeing various operations and programs throughout my department, with a focus on collaboration and prioritizing primary prevention with stakeholders, families, communities, and providers. My role has been to monitor prevention providers, collect data, and provide guidance and resources to various networks. Hosting monthly webinars and training sessions for my prevention providers creates space for trust, growth, and meaningful results. To ensure compliance, I am clear, concise, and intentional when conducting audits, gathering data, reviewing charts, conducting site visits, and providing technical training.
3. Kiersten Simon, Executive Director, Prevention Academy, Philadelphia County
Strategic Priorities: Positioning CPA as the Foremost Voice of Prevention in PA most closely aligns with my strengths and current work. As Executive Director of Prevention Academy, which is housed within the School of Education and Human Development at Saint Joseph’s University, I lead a prevention-focused initiative backed by the full resources, credibility, and regional influence of a major academic institution. In our inaugural year, we directly served over 10,000 students in one county and successfully expanded into an adjacent county within just 10 months. This year, we are on track to partner with more than 20 schools in that region alone.
4. Margo Thorwart, Director of the Center for Health Education and Promotion, Millersville University/PASSHE AOD Coalition, Lancaster County
Connections and Networks: Through my leadership in Millersville University’s Center for Health Education and Promotion, I coordinate wellness and prevention initiatives that engage Student Affairs, Counseling, Athletics, and local community agencies such as the YWCA Lancaster and Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County. At the state level, I collaborate with colleagues in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) to advance peer education, wellness coaching, and alcohol prevention programs that reflect CPA’s values of innovation and community connection. I maintain professional affiliations with the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery (HECAOD), NASPA Strategies, and the American College Health Association (ACHA), networks that serve as bridges to national prevention trends and resources.
Renewing Directors, Serve a Two-Year Term (January 2026 to December 2027)
- Kathleen Collier, Prevention Manager, Chester County Drug and Alcohol Services, Chester County
- Johnna Goodridge, Director of Prevention, Family Services of Chester County, Chester County
- Susan Huffman, Program Manager SDoH/SAP, Venango County Human Services, Venango County
- Alicia Kline, Prevention Program Supervisor, Council on Chemical Abuse, Berks County
- Jill Northey, Prevention Director, Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission, Indiana County
- Rithika Padyala, Medical Student, Thomas Jefferson University, Cumberland County
- Tim Phillips, Director, Westmoreland County DHS/Dept. of Community Relations & Prevention/ Drug Overdose Task Force, Westmoreland County
- Lisa Schneller, Director ATOD Prevention, Child Guidance Resource Centers, Delaware County
- Javerta Sims, D&A Prevention Program Specialist, Beaver County Behavioral Health, Beaver County