Rachelle Hopsicker
Executive Director
📧 rhopsicker@huntingdonuw.org
Rachelle Hopsicker was appointed as Executive Director of the Huntingdon County United Way in November 2023. She brings an extensive background in nonprofit management, event coordination, volunteer engagement, and community leadership.
Since assuming leadership, Rachelle has led a strategic rebranding initiative aligning with United Way Worldwide’s refreshed “United is the Way” identity. Under her direction, Huntingdon County United Way has expanded its visibility, strengthened agency partnerships, and significantly increased fundraising to support impact in four key areas: Healthy Community, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency.
Rachelle’s leadership experience includes over two decades coordinating Hartslog Heritage Day, Alexandria’s largest and longest-running community festival. She is a lifetime board member of the Hartslog Heritage Museum.
From 2011 to 2020, she was widely known as “Coach Rock,” head coach of the Juniata Valley Lady Hornets Basketball team. During her tenure, the team reached two state finals, won a District 6 Championship, and became a model of student-athlete and community engagement. Rachelle also served as assistant coach at Saint Francis University and Juniata College and founded several youth development programs through basketball.
She previously served as Women’s Heart Health Coordinator at J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital (now Penn Highlands Huntingdon), where she developed community health education initiatives and organized large-scale public health events.
Rachelle’s deep commitment to service has extended into countless local organizations including Alexandria Borough Council, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and the Huntingdon Women’s Softball League. She is a 1996 graduate of Fordham University, where she earned her degree in Spanish Studies and was a four-year letter winner for the Fordham Lady Rams basketball team.
She lives in Alexandria, Pennsylvania with her husband, Peter M. Hopsicker, PhD, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. Their daughter Kathryn lives in Forest Grove, Oregon, attending Pacific University College of Optometry. Their younger daughter, Madelyn, attends Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, studying pre-med with plans to become a chiropractor. They share their home with their beloved dog, Bomber, and cat, Finn.