Community Forum

Susan “Benay” Berger serves as the Director of Nursing and the Community Connections Program (CCP) at the Bethlehem Health Bureau (BHB). For more than 25 years, she has worked with organizations dedicated to addressing inequities in access to the resources that shape the social determinants of health.

Benay brings more than a decade of experience as a registered nurse in urban emergency rooms and high acuity urgent care settings, where she developed extensive experience working with individuals experiencing acute medical, mental health, and social-emotional crises. In addition, she has served for over six years as a public health nurse with the Bethlehem Health Bureau across multiple programs focused on promoting social justice, resilient neighborhoods, and advancing equitable access to the health, social, emotional, and economic resources people need to live, learn, work, worship, play, and thrive in all communities.

She is currently finishing a Master of Social Work (MSW), further strengthening her interdisciplinary approach to public health, crisis response, and community-based care. Benay is deeply committed to collaboration with the Bethlehem Police Department and other city agencies to help develop, manage, and expand the Community Connections Program, while building strong partnerships with community-based organizations to create a coordinated network of services and supports that enhance the well-being of all Bethlehem community members.

Paul Ramsden is a Sergeant with the Community Services Unit of the City of Bethlehem Police Department, where he brings over a decade of law enforcement experience. Since beginning his career in 2013, he has served in a variety of roles, including Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, and Detective.

As a member of the Detective Bureau, Sergeant Ramsden was assigned to a federal task force focused on violent crime and gang activity across the Lehigh Valley. His investigative work also included cases involving child exploitation and human trafficking. He has additionally served on the Department’s Crisis Negotiations Team and Recruitment Team.

After being promoted to Sergeant, he supervised a patrol platoon before transitioning into his current leadership role in the Community Services Unit.

Sergeant Ramsden holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from DeSales University and a Master’s degree in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego.

Elizabeth Kerns is a dedicated licensed social worker with her certification as a case manager. She obtained her Bachelor of Social Work from Kutztown University and her Master of Social Work from Marywood University. With over 10 years of social work experience, she values building positive relationships with clients and community partners. Elizabeth currently provides case management and employment support services to veterans involved in the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans program at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Lebanon VA Medical Center.

Katelyn Scott is a Marine Veteran dedicated to veteran causes and community building to support those in need. Earning both her Bachelor and Master of Social Work from Kutztown University. Katelyn is a licensed social worker employed with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at the Lebanon VA Medical Center, Health Care for Homeless Veterans program. Through our partnership with Housing Urban Development (HUD), Veteran’s Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), Katelyn provides intensive case management services to formerly homeless Veterans and their families. Katelyn is proud to continue to serve.

Dr. Laura R. Dimino is Assistant Director at the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Previously, she served as Interim Executive Director at the Center. Her responsibilities include oversight and management of the faculty and student research grant programs. She is a member of the Advisory Board for the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center (MATRC), a member of the National Rural Health Association, represents the Center at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Public Water System Technical Assistance Center (TAC) Board meetings, and has served as a member or designee on the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) Board of Directors since 2023.

Laura has a Master’s degree and Ph.D. in political science from the University of Rochester; she grew up in Massachusetts, where she completed her undergraduate work at Clark University. Early in her career, teaching and research interests included democratic theory, American politics, state and local politics, elections, and communication and gender. She previously served as a public affairs program analyst at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) within the state grant and special programs division. She has held several administrative roles in higher education, most recently serving as the associate provost at Central Penn College, a role in which she oversaw assessment, accreditation, mandatory reporting, and compliance.

Zachary L. Adams is the Executive Director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. He joined the Center in 2025 after serving as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Workforce Alignment at the Tennessee Board of Regents, where he led statewide initiatives focused on partnerships, programs, and policies designed to increase student success and strengthen workforce development. In this role, Mr. Adams established the TBR Center for Apprenticeship, developed new articulation agreements between technical and community colleges as well as with university partners, and secured millions in federal, state, and philanthropic funding to advance workforce training in key industry sectors including healthcare, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and information technology.

Before his tenure at the Tennessee Board of Regents, Mr. Adams held leadership positions at the Tennessee Department of Education, where he supported statewide college and career readiness initiatives and developed AP Access for All that expanded access and participation in AP coursework across the state. He began his career as a science educator and Teach For America corps member, teaching in both Mississippi and Tennessee.

Mr. Adams holds a master’s degree in public policy from Vanderbilt University and is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville studying education policy. A native of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, he is dedicated to expanding opportunity across rural communities in the Commonwealth.

Dr. Fischer served as Grant Manager on the two-year KU-Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services project exploring mental health peer support across PA. She currently serves as an instructor in the KU social work department. 

Rue Ellers is a senior BSW student. 

Teigan Goudy is an MSW student graduating in May 2026 with a focus on macro-level practice.

Brynn Patchell is a senior Communication Design student graduating this May. She is looking to work as a graphic designer in Philadelphia or the Northeast. 

Savannah Spohn is a graduate student in the School Counseling program at KU. After graduation, she plans to work as a school counselor while pursuing licensure as a professional counselor.

Emily Velez is an MSW Student at Kutztown University. She is planning to go into the clinical field following graduation in May 2026.

Quinzelle Bethea El is a father, husband, and community servant dedicated to strengthening families impacted by homelessness, child welfare involvement, and economic instability. His work is shaped by his lived experience navigating early fatherhood and housing instability, along with more than a decade of leadership in housing and family-centered efforts.

Throughout his career, Quinzelle has led teams in raising and managing over $20 million in federal, state, local, and private funding. These resources have supported the development and operation of housing and supportive service programs for DHS involved youth and families, youth and individuals experiencing homelessness, fathers raising children, individuals living with mental health challenges, veterans, and families navigating crisis.

He serves as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Free All Minds, where he oversees operations and financial strategy for mentorship and development programming supporting young men in Camden County. He is also the Strategic Developer of Growing Resilient Communities’ Mental Health Village in Stratford, New Jersey, which provides low-barrier permanent supportive housing for individuals living with mental health challenges and veterans.

Quinzelle is committed to ensuring fathers are recognized as essential members of family life and to building practical solutions that expand stability, dignity, and opportunity in the communities he serves.

Veronne Demesyeux, LMSW, LSW, is the Associate Executive Director at New Bethany in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where she helps drive operational leadership, program quality, and continuous improvement across services supporting individuals and families impacted by homelessness and housing instability. In her role, she oversees program directors and system partners, strengthens performance expectations and staff development, and uses monitoring and analysis to advance effective, outcomes-focused service delivery. She also supports the writing and implementation of grant applications and agreements in collaboration with executive leadership.

Veronne brings a blend of clinical experience and systems thinking, with a background that includes community-based behavioral health and mobile therapy. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from SUNY College at Old Westbury and a Master of Social Work from Stony Brook University, and she is currently pursuing her Doctor of Social Work at Capella University.

Committed to community and professional leadership, she has served with NASW–Pennsylvania in leadership capacities and participates in regional leadership and equity initiatives. Her work has been recognized with Lehigh Valley Business 40 Under 40 (2020), the YWCA Bethlehem Mission Award (2021), and the Lehigh Valley Business Women of Influence Award (2024). Grounded in a values-driven commitment to dignity and equity, Veronne focuses on practical, scalable approaches that help people stabilize and move forward.

Emily Snisky, MSW, LCSW, C-SSWS, serves as the Families in Transition Social Worker for Reading School District. With 8 years of experience in the district, Emily is currently the district homeless and foster care point of contact, overseeing Knights Closet and Knights Keep operations to support students and families in need. She collaborates with a diverse team of over 40 school social workers to develop pathways and provide essential services for students experiencing homelessness. Driven by a commitment to advancing equity and student well-being, Emily works to connect vulnerable youth with resources, stability, and support throughout their educational journeys.