Maureen Powers is the recently retired Chief Executive Officer of the YWCA of Lancaster, a position she has held for 28 years. In that capacity, she oversaw a budget of over $3.7 million, a staff of 120, and programs ranging from child care, racial justice, youth and adult services, to sexual assault counseling and prevention, and a 50 bed residence. On a regional level, Maureen chaired the YWCA of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council, comprised of 40 YWCAs from eight states and the District of Columbia. She also served in various capacities at the YWCA national and international levels.
Prior to joining the YWCA staff in 1985, Maureen was a Lancaster City Planner, specializing in human services and environmental planning.
Maureen Powers graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Francis College with a B.A. in Spanish, and received her Master’s Degree in Psychosocial Science from Penn State University.
In addition to serving on the United Disability Services Board of Directors for six years, Maureen has served the community by chairing the Lancaster Day Care Center Board, the Lancaster Integrated Specialized Transportation Systems (LISTS) Board, and the Lancaster County Coalition for the Prevention of Teen Pregnancy. She is a former member of the Chamber of Commerce Foundation Board and the Chamber’s Diversity Task Force. She is also a past Treasurer of the Community Action Program, Co-Chair of the County of Lancaster’s Business Diversity Committee, the advisory group of Millersville University’s Nonprofit Resource Network and serves on the Career and Technology Center’s New Choices/New Options Advisory Board.
Recognition for Maureen Powers’ work on behalf of the community includes the Harry C. Robinson, Sr. Humanitarian Award from the Lancaster City-County Human Relations Commission, the Jean Royer Kohr Award from the Women’s Alliance, and the Kit Howell Progressive Voice Award from the Alliance for Tolerance and Freedom. Under her leadership, YWCA Lancaster received the first Racial Justice Award from the YWCA of the Mid-Atlantic Region and the first Champions of Diversity Award given jointly by the Urban League of Lancaster County and the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
