Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC), the Commonwealth’s oldest grassroots environmental organization, has appointed Sarah Alessio Shea as executive director following the recent announcement by Darren Spielman that he will depart from this role by year’s end. Shea will coordinate with Spielman as she transitions into this new role over the next several months.
The appointment establishes Shea – who possesses two decades of experience with PRC and currently serves as its deputy director – as leader of the statewide nonprofit organization nationally recognized for its expertise in recycling and waste reduction.
As executive director of PRC, Shea will oversee statewide public and private partnerships focused on education, material collection/recycling, watershed protection, and litter prevention, and she will supervise staff members based in regional offices in Allegheny County and Delaware County.
During her 20 year tenure, Shea has coordinated PRC’s hard-to-recycle and household chemical collections, managing more than 70 events that have served 35,000+ residents and diverted 3.4 million pounds of material from landfills. She also led the development of PRC’s Act 101 White Paper, published in 2021, advancing statewide recycling policy.
Since assuming the deputy director position in 2021, Shea has overseen PRC’s staff and programs across Pennsylvania, ensuring effective implementation of environmental initiatives. She has secured grant funding from government agencies and private foundations, building lasting relationships that have strengthened PRC’s capacity and expanded programs in recycling, waste diversion, and environmental education.
Published April 2026
