The Community Service Award

The Community Service Award went to Heather Rodale ’72 of Allentown, PA. The award was established to recognize an alumnus of Harcum College who has, over the years, touched the community through leadership involvement, and/or provided significant impact on their community by virtue of  his/her involvement in local organizations. Rodale is Vice President, Leadership Development for Rodale, Inc. in Emmaus, PA., with responsibility for the company’s training and career development services and onsite child care facility. She also serves on the company’s Board of Directors.  

Before taking this position in 1998, Rodale served as the company’s Director of Human Resources. Rodale also held previous positions of Training Manager and Director of Training and Development at Rodale. Earlier in her career, she was an elementary school teacher in the Northwestern Lehigh School District.

In her volunteer activities, Rodale was a past member of the Boards of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and KidsPeace. She currently serves on the following Board of Directors: Friends of the Lehigh University Libraries (President), Allentown Symphony, VIA, and the Board of Associates of the Allentown Art Museum (Vice President). She is also a member of the following Advisory Boards: Harcum College Alumni National Board, The Wellness Community, and the United Way Women’s Initiative. She is personally involved in resettling and supporting refugees from Kosovo in the United States.

Rodale holds a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Journalism, both from Lehigh University. Prior to entering Lehigh University, Rodale received an Associate Degree in Elementary Education from Harcum College. She was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Harcum College in 2000.