Commissioner Bio

Dr. Kyle C. Kopko is the executive director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. He joined the Center in July 2020. Prior to joining the Center, Dr. Kopko served as Associate Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, Research, and Planning, and Associate Professor of Political Science at Elizabethtown College. Dr. Kopko holds a law degree from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, a Ph.D. and M.A. in political science from The Ohio State University, and a B.A. in political science from Elizabethtown College. Dr. Kopko has authored or co-authored more than 50 publications, including two university press books. His research has received national and international media attention in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and Fox News Channel.

Ms. Lisa Davis serves as the Director of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health and is an Outreach Associate Professor of Health Policy and Administration at Penn State University Park. As the Director, she ensures that the state office exceeds its mission of being a source of networking, coordination, and technical assistance to advance rural health care delivery. On national, state, and university levels, Ms. Davis serves on a wide range of boards of directors, advisory committees, and task forces focused on rural health policy, rural health research, economic development, outreach and education, health disparities, and vulnerable populations. She earned a graduate degree in health administration with a focus on public health from Penn State. Ms. Davis is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, the Health Equity Champion Award from the Office of Health Equity in the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Calico Quality Leadership Award from the Federal Office of Rual Health Policy, and the Distinguished Award for Rural Life from the Rural Sociological Society. The Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health received the Award of Merit and the Award of Excellence from the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health.

Dr. Karen Riley became the 18th president of Slippery Rock University on July 1, 2023. As president she leads a faculty and staff of 1,000 with a total student enrollment of nearly 9,000 students across five colleges to advance the vision for providing an accessible, inclusive and engaging community, centered on student learning, positively shaping the future of the region, through the lives of our graduates. Under her leadership, Slippery Rock has launched a new strategic plan - Slippery Rock University, the First Choice, which builds on the University's legacy of excellence, while setting high metric driven expectations and charting a course for success into the future. The four foundational pillars of the plan articulate SRU's commitment to: a robust, supportive, and inclusive culture; academic discovery and growth; community impact and collaboration; and financial sustainability and resource stewardship. Previously she served as Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Before joining Regis in 2021, Dr. Riley was dean of the Morgridge College of Education (MCE) at the University of Denver for seven years. She also served as the university's strategic director for health initiatives, an effort to nurture signature research programs. During her tenure as dean, MCE thrived, increasing enrollment while increasing selectivity, increasing research productivity and sponsored research, and securing over $27 million in philanthropic giving. These metrics helped to advance the reputation of MCE to national prominence. Dr. Riley holds an MA in Early Childhood Special Education and a PhD in Educational Psychology from the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver and a BS in Psychology from Colorado State University. Dr. Riley was the recipient of the FRAXA Post-Doctoral Fellowship at The Children's Hospital in Denver. Dr. Riley has received numerous teaching and service awards including National Fragile X Foundation Clinical Award for Translational Research (2018) the National Fragile X Foundation Outstanding Service Award (2010), and the DU Academic Spotlight Honoree (2012). Dr. Riley's prior research focused on educational and behavioral interventions and outcome measures related to targeted treatments. She has authored or co-authored more than 50 book chapters, clinical guidelines, and journal articles and has over 150 national and international conference presentations.

Mr. Mark Critz, Western Regional Director and Executive Director of the Rural Development Council is a former U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, having served from a special election in May 2010 until January 2013. Mr. Critz, a Westmoreland County native, spent several years on Congressman John Murtha's staff serving as District Director from 1995-2010. Following his tenure in Congress, Mr. Critz went on to work for the campaign of Governor Tom Wolf, his Agriculture transition team, and in 2015 was appointed as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Rural Development Council/Governor's Advisory Council on Rural Affairs. In 2019, Mr. Critz accepted the additional role of Western Regional Director for the PA Dept. of Agriculture. Mr. Critz is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, earning a B.S. in Management Information Systems, and currently resides with his family in Johnstown, PA.

Mr. Jordan Grady is the President of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce and the Program Administrator for Leadership Butler County. During his first five plus years, membership has grown by nearly 50 percent, programming has increased substantially, and the chamber has transformed itself into a community organization. He serves on the following boards: Butler County Growth Collaborative Advisory Board, Butler County Youth Leadership, Slippery Rock Business Association, Butler County Young Professionals, Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA, Butler County Humane Society, The Butler AM Rotary, and the Slippery Rock University College of Business advisory board. He just recently began his third year as a member of the government affairs committee for the Pennsylvania State Chamber of Business and Industry and is an active member of the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association. He has recently been appointed to serve on the Pennsylvania Rural Population Revitalization Commission by Governor Josh Shapiro. A two-time graduate of Slippery Rock University, he received his Master's in Business Administration in 2016. He is a graduate of Leadership Butler County.

Mr. Drew Popish is a dedicated public servant with a passion for serving rural communities in Pennsylvania. Recently appointed to the Pennsylvania Rural Population Revitalization Commission by Governor Josh Shapiro, Mr. Popish has a strong commitment to seeing rural areas flourish. Currently serving as the Northeast Regional Director for the Office of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Mr. Popish oversees the 18 counties of the Northeast region, the majority of which are rural. His focus on rural development and community empowerment drives his work on the Commission. Prior to his current role, Mr. Popish served as the Chief of Staff to State Representative Bridget Malloy Kosierowski of the PA 114 House District. His experience also includes serving as the Organizing Director for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, as well as working as a Field Director for Secretary Hillary Clinton. With his legislative background and experience managing various local, statewide, and national campaigns, Mr. Popish brings a unique perspective and knowledge to his current position in the Governor's office. Born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Mr. Popish is a 2007 graduate of West Scranton High School. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Penn State University, Mr. Popish is dedicated to furthering his education while balancing his professional responsibilities.

Commissioner Betsy McClure is a dedicated public servant currently serving as a County Commissioner for Greene County, Pennsylvania. Her commitment to the community is evident in her proactive approach to county governance, focusing on improving economic development, public safety, and overall quality of life for residents. Commissioner McClure has a strong background in leadership and public administration, leveraging her experience to drive initiatives that support local businesses, infrastructure development, and community well-being. Her efforts are centered on fostering a collaborative environment where the needs of Greene County citizens are prioritized and addressed effectively.

Commissioner Albert "Chip" Abramovic is serving his third term as a Venango County Commissioner. He is the past President and current Board Chair of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. In addition, he serves as Board Chair of the Northwest Commission and Northwest Workforce Development. Commissioner Abramovic is also the Vice Chair of Economic Development and the Rural Action Caucus for the National Association of Counties. He serves as the Board Chair of the University of Pittsburgh's Institute of Politics Economic Development Committee and the Innovation Institute for Tomorrow/PA Rural Robotics. Additionally, he is a Special Advisor to Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Institute. Commissioner Abramovic is a graduate of Penn State's Rural-Urban Leadership Program, "RULE." Before his tenure as a county commissioner, he was the President of PennNorth Investments, a boutique investment firm, and continues to be involved with Sleepy Hollow Golf Course, which is owned and operated by his family.

Mr. William desRosiers is the Manager of External Affairs for Coterra Energy, leading public relations, government affairs, and community engagement efforts across Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. He also oversees Coterra's philanthropic endeavors, focusing on expanding STEM and energy education investments. Additionally, he manages the company's endowment at Lackawanna College's School of Petroleum & Natural Gas and educational investments at Pennsylvania College of Technology. His journey to his current role at Coterra began in 2012 when he joined Coterra's precursor, Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation. His wealth of experience was honed during his tenure at FTI Consulting, where he played a pivotal role in advocating for natural gas development in the Marcellus Shale region of New York and Pennsylvania. His effective engagement and education of stakeholders in this role have been instrumental in his career. Mr. desRosiers holds a Bachelor of Science in Management, a Bachelor of Arts in History with a pre-law specialization, and an MBA from Misericordia University. He is pursuing a Master of Science in Business Analytics at the University of Scranton, complemented by additional graduate coursework in corporate finance. Mr. desRosiers resides in Dallas, Pennsylvania, with his wife Jamie, daughter Callie Rose, and their dog Remy.

Mr. Nathan Lesh currently serves as the State Vice President of the Pennsylvania Future Farmers of America (FFA) Association and is an honors student at Susquehanna University. Active in his home county of Perry, he is deeply involved in various community service organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Historical Society of Perry County, a Commissioner of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, and a Committee Member of the Perry County Economic Development Authority. Additionally, he is an Ambassador for the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, an active volunteer for Millerstown Community Success Incorporated, a member of the Perry Valley Grange #1804, and a member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. Mr. Lesh advises local officials on rural issues and has managed several county-wide governmental campaigns, utilizing his Parliamentary Accreditation from the National Society of Agricultural Parliamentarians to conduct meetings effectively. In recognition of his dedication to community service, he was awarded the 2024 Community Service Award by the Perry County Chamber of Commerce, where he is also an active member.