Penn State Students Help Launch Women Leading Government Pennsylvania Chapter at Municipal Conference

From May 18 to 20, the Association for Pennsylvania Municipal Management held its annual conference in Pittsburgh. Penn State Outreach helped fund the visit for seven students from the School of Public Policy, including undergraduates in the Next Gen Leadership Academy and master’s candidates in the Master of Public Policy program. The goal was to show students the range of professional opportunities in local government and connect them with practitioners across the state.

Jeremy Hoffman, director of undergraduate studies for the School of Public Policy, said students often overlook local government careers and that the conference gave them direct exposure to municipal leaders and a pipeline to meaningful local government jobs. The Women Leading Government Pennsylvania chapter was officially launched during a session on building the pipeline for women in local government. The chapter is led by Amy Farkas (Patton Township manager), Stephanie Mason (Doylestown Township manager), Amy Rockwell (Harrison Township manager), Amanda Serock (Concord Township manager), and Jess Whitley (assistant to the State College borough manager), with Whitley set to head the chapter moving forward.

By attending the conference, the students gained firsthand insight into day‑to‑day municipal work and networking opportunities that could lead to internships or entry‑level positions. The new chapter creates a structured network for women interested in municipal leadership, potentially increasing female representation in Pennsylvania’s local governments. Hoffman’s remarks suggest the university will continue to link classroom learning with practical local‑government experiences.