Joel Giovannetti
2017 HDFS Outstanding Alumni Award Recipient: Joel Giovanetti
One of our greatest privileges as a department is identifying outstanding alumni to acknowledge with our alumni award. Initiated in 2012, the Department of Human Development and Family Science Outstanding Alumni Award is designed to recognize HDFS and FCSE alumni who demonstrate significant professional leadership and a legacy of distinguished contributions to the service of individuals and families. We are pleased to announce that Joel Giovanetti (HDFS ’98) is the 2017 HDFS Outstanding Alumni.
Upon graduating from Messiah College in 1998, Joel accepted a position at Philhaven Hospital as a residential counselor for children and teens at a day hospital for children and teens and as a case counselor at two different schools (high school and an elementary school) in York. In 2002, Joel transitioned to a post at New Hope Ministries where he remains today. From 2002 to 2010, Joel worked in Dillsburg coordinating an after school program for teens and children. In 2010, New Hope Ministries named Joel After School Program Manager. In this role, he initiated five new after school programs and increased program days from two days per week to five days a week.
As After School Program Manager for New Hope Ministries, Joel oversees eight elementary after school programs, one in New Cumberland, Lemoyne, Mechanicsburg, Wellsville, Dillsburg, Dover and two in Enola. He manages part time staff that coordinate these programs that provide snack, prayer, homework help, reading skills, educational enrichment activities, life skill lessons, Bible/Jesus lessons, fitness, teambuilding activities, healthy lifestyle choices and monthly parent meetings. His programs enroll anywhere from 10 to 25 elementary aged children at each location. Joel also networks with local school districts, churches, businesses, local municipalities, Messiah College, The United Way, and recruits volunteers. He tracks outcomes that measure attendance, poverty level, life skills learned, job skills taught, service projects, character development, academic performance and passing to the next grade.
Joel is married to Marcelle Giovannetti, who works at Messiah College's Engle Center as a counselor. They have a 9 year old son who loves baseball and karate. Their other "child" is a 140 lb Bernese mountain dog named Vader. Vader has made a few guest appearances on campus himself in the last couple of years! Joel has lived in the local area ever since his graduation from Messiah. Congratulations to Joel for his committed service to children and their families.