Executive Director | Founder and Senior Fellow | Assistant Executive Director | Board of Directors | Former Board Members
Executive Director
Amy C. Morton has served in local, state and national education roles since 1983. In addition to serving as EPLC’s Executive Director, Amy works with Pennsylvania educators and policymakers as a System Design Specialist for the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) and serves as one of their national facilitators.
Amy spent several years working for the PA Department of Education, including Executive Deputy Secretary (Chief of Staff) under Governor Corbett, Deputy Secretary for K-12 Education under Governor Rendell, and Bureau Director for Curriculum under Governor Ridge. Amy led the Capital Area Intermediate Unit as Executive Director after serving as Curriculum Specialist, Director of Education Services, and Assistant Executive Director.
Her career began as a high school social studies teacher after graduating from Dickinson College in Carlisle. She earned her M.S.Ed. from McDaniel College and her Superintendent Letter of Eligibility from Shippensburg University. Amy has taught curriculum courses for Penn State York, York College, Wilkes University and Wilson College as an adjunct professor.
When not working, Amy enjoys hiking in the Fall and Spring; water parks, canoeing, and tubing; and listening to audiobooks downloaded from the public library as she travels throughout the commonwealth. She and her husband, Dale Hockensmith, reside in Enola, PA.
Founder and Senior Fellow
Ron Cowell has been Senior Fellow at The Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC) since January 1, 2023. Ron started EPLC in 1998 and from 1999 to 2022 as president or executive director. He is an experienced policy leader who also is a frequent speaker, writer and advisor concerning public policy and education policy issues.
EPLC an independent, non-partisan and not-for-profit organization based in Harrisburg since 1999.
Prior to starting EPLC, Ron served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for twenty-four years until 1998. While in the Legislature, he served as the majority or minority chair of the House Committee on Education for twelve years. He also served for twelve years as a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education and for twenty years as a board member of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).
Since leaving the Legislature, Ron served as a member of the Board of Visitors for the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education, the boards of directors of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council and Communities in Schools – Pennsylvania, the Education Committee of the Institute of Politics (University of Pittsburgh), and the advisory board for the Office of Child Development at the University of Pittsburgh.
Ron previously was a trustee of Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, Community College of Allegheny County, and the University of Pittsburgh. He also was a member of the Governor’s Commission for Children and Families and the Governor’s Commission on Preparing America’s Teachers. He has been a board member of many organizations including the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, Gateway to the Arts, NEED, and the Family Support Policy Board in Allegheny County.
At the national level, Ron served as a member of the National Education Goals Panel, and held leadership positions with the Education Commission of the States, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the National Association of State Boards of Education. He also served as a board member of the Association of Governing Boards of Trustees of Colleges and Universities (AGB) for nine years and was a member and chair of the Recognition Committee of the Council on Higher Accreditation (CHEA) for several years.
Ron is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and Widener University Law School.
Assistant Executive Director
Dr. Jeff Finch retired in 2025 after 32 years of service as a Pennsylvania public school educator, including a decade as a district superintendent. He began his career as a technology education teacher at the Seneca Valley School District after earning his bachelor’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania. He later completed a master’s degree in education administration and principal certification at Carlow College.
Jeff spent more than 17 years with the Hampton Township School District, serving 15 years as high school principal and two years as assistant superintendent. During this time, he earned his Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from Westminster College and his doctorate in educational leadership and management from Capella University.
He went on to lead the Grove City Area School District as Superintendent for ten years, receiving two commissions during his tenure. From 2024–2025, Jeff was contracted by the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) to help facilitate the Pennsylvania Commission on Education and the Economic Competitiveness. His professional involvement also includes participation in the EPLC Fellowship Program, service on PASA’s Board of Governors, founding member of the NCEE Superintendent’s Alliance and membership in the University of Pittsburgh’s Forum for Superintendents of Western Pennsylvania. In 2025, he received the prestigious PASA Award for Leadership in Public Education.
Fellowship Program Coordinator
Doris C. Hagemann has been a public school educator for 34 years in four different school districts. Starting in the Commonwealth of Virginia with the Norfolk City Public Schools as a middle and high school teacher, Doris then returned home to Pennsylvania to teach one year at Harrisburg School District, followed by seven years with Central Dauphin School District. Since then Doris has been with the Cumberland Valley School District and was a German teacher and Department Chair for World Languages. After 6 years as a Middle School Principal at Good Hope Middle School, Doris transitioned to Director of Student Services. She is honored to lead her staff in weaving together structures that provide students with opportunities to flourish socially, emotionally, physically and academically.
Doris is passionate about training and development, public speaking and advocacy work. Doris is a recognized voice at the state level, having recently joined lawmakers and advocates at the Capitol to champion legislative efforts that reduce barriers for students experiencing homelessness. She has implemented proactive strategies, strengthened community partnerships, and modeled sustainable, compassionate solutions. Whether she’s building systems, training staff, or meeting directly with families in need, Doris leads with empathy, expertise, and an unwavering commitment to educational equity.
Board of Directors
The EPLC Board of Directors includes twenty-one members. Click on a member below to view their profile:
- Sharon Brumbaugh, Chair
- Thomas Gentzel, Vice Chair
- Mark Despotakis, Treasurer
- Colonel Charles D. Allen, USA, Retired
- Judith Bookhamer
- Lee Burket
- Michael Churchill
- Eric Eshbach
- Arnold Fege
- Gretchen Generett
- Jay Hertzog
- Mark Leidy
- Wayne McCullough
- Shileste Overton Morris
- Heidi Ondek
- Mike Posey
- Carol Saylor
- Harris Sokoloff
- Christopher Wakeley
- Desha Williams
Former Board Members
- Bonita Allen
- Jim Buckheit
- Joseph Clapper
- Moe Coleman
- Ronald Cowell
- Jerlean Daniel
- Jackie Dixon
- Mark DiRocco
- Edward Donley
- Sheila Dow Ford
- Joan Duvall Flynn
- Judith Eaton
- Helen Faison
- Michelle Figlar
- Dan Fogarty
- Karl Girton
- Paula Hess
- William Isler
- Terry Madonna
- Roberta Marcus
- Kay McClenney
- Clyde McGeary
- Susan Mukherjee
- Bridget O’Connell
- Rhonda Rabbit
- Herman Reid
- Sue Rohan
- David Sallack
- Peggy Siegel
- Dave Skerpon
- Wendy Etheridge Smith
- Stinson Stroup
- Roy Truby
- Michael Usdan
- Betsey Useem
- Ira Weiss
- Robert Wilburn
- Gerald Zahorchak
- Sandy Zelno