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Steven Fairley
Steve has served as the Academy's Executive Director since its' genesis. He has overseen the establishment and growth of the programming and services the Academy has developed and delivered. Steve has served on numerous state and regional committees designed to improve services for families and children. He is a lifelong resident of West Virginia and a graduate of North Marion High School. Steve earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fairmont State University and a Master of Social Work degree from West Virginia University. He has served as an adjunct faculty member at FSU. Steve has worked as a Regional Director, Director of Quality Assurance and Utilization Management, Clinical Team Leader, Program Supervisor and Family Service Coordinator for other agencies in West Virginia. Steve is blindly loyal to and, a defender of the faith, regarding WVU football
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Scott Radman
Scott has been on the Board of Directors of the Youth Academy since 2003 He is a 1997 graduate of the West Virginia University School of Law after receiving his undergraduate degree from WVU in 1992. He is an attorney in private practice in Morgantown. Scott is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aberdeen Holdings, L.L.C. He is a native of Morgantown and currently resides there
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Gia Serafini Deasy
Gia joined the Youth Academy Board of Directors in 2007. She possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience regarding children with special needs. Currently she is the Special Services Director for the Marion County School system. She has been a special education consultant for more than a dozen other school districts across West Virginia and the nation. Additionally she has been an adjunct professor at West Virginia University where she obtained her Master's Degree in Special Education. She earned her undergraduate degree from Fairmont State University. Gia has nearly 25 years of professional experience in the area of Special Education. She currently resides in Fairmont.
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Dr. Doreen Larson
Doreen is the President of Pierpont Community & Technical College.She has been on the Youth Academy Board of Directors since 2010
Just prior to coming to Pierpont, she served as Vice President of Student Affairs at Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
Dr. Larson also worked for more than ten years at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, Ohio, as a faculty member, then Dean, and finally as Assistant Vice President for Student Access and Services.
Dr. Larson's doctoral research at Kent State University yielded a unique model of career development for adults with disabilities based upon supportive technology and career exploration. Dr. Larson earned a full-time faculty appointment at Kent State and has experience in teaching courses in educational statistics, research methods, career development, and ethics at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Committed to community service, Dr. Larson was elected as the Ward 4 Councilwoman in Richmond Heights, Ohio and served as the Vice Chair of the Community Development Advisory Committee for the town of South Hadley in Massachusetts.
Dr. Larson holds a Ph.D. in Special Education from Kent State University, a Masters in Education from John Carroll University, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor's in Special Education. Dr. Larson is proud to note that her three sons all began their higher education in a community college, as did her spouse, Leonard Larson.
She is an avid distance runner, is teaching herself to knit, and her favorite food is potato chips.
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Terry Collins
Terry is the Director of Operations at the Academy and is the most recent addition to the leadership team at the company. Terry has more than 15 years experience is youth residential programming and is a Teacher/Counselor at his core. He was worked as a Program Supervisor and Coordinator of Residential Services while also spending seven years in the training and staff development realm. Terry earned a Bachelor's degree from Glenville State College in Criminal Justice and Psychology. Terry later earned a Master's degree in Social Work from West Virginia University. Terry is a native of Webster Springs and currently resides in Shinnston with his wife and children. Among Terry's hobbies are hunting, fishing, camping and golf. Terry is eagerly awaiting for snow to fall in July because that is when his beloved Notre Dame Fighting Irish will win their next national title.
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Patrick Varah
Pat is the Director of Public Relations at the Academy. He has been with the Academy since 2004. Pat graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Shepherd College and with a Master's degree from Marshall University in Journalism and Mass Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations. Pat resided for five years in the Outer Banks of North Carolina where he served as the Projects Director at Outer Banks Hotline in Manteo. Pat resides with his family in Lewis County. Pat is a graduate of Grafton High School. Among Pat's hobbies are running, reading, incessantly eating chocolate, telling unfunny jokes and watching his Washington Redskins humiliate themselves and their fan base each Sunday during autumn.
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