30 Jan New Supervisor Appointed – Welcome, Charlene Briggs!
On December 12, 2024, Charlene Briggs was appointed West Vincent Township Supervisor by Supervisors Dana Alan and Bernie Couris. Sara Shick’s resignation in early December had created an open seat on the three-member board.
Charlene recently moved to West Vincent following her retirement from Temple University. Charlene has a BS in Agronomy/Soil and Water Conservation and a MAEd in Environmental Education. In addition to Temple University, she has held teaching positions at West Chester University, DASD, Longwood Gardens, and Green Valleys Association.
Charlene’s experience with government includes water quality assessment for the US EPA, stormwater management for Montgomery County MD, Sediment and Erosion Control with the State of Maryland, Executive Director of Chester County’s Agricultural Land Preservation Program and Agricultural Development Council and member of the Uwchlan Township Planning Commission.
Her work in the private sector includes satellite data analysis for NASA, Conservation Easement Monitoring for the Brandywine Conservancy and Executive Director of the Land Trust of Bucks County.
Most recently Charlene was an Associate Adjunct Professor at Temple University where she taught Environmental Science and created Sustainable Community Design and Botanical Traditions curricula.
Charlene has experience in the small business world as former co-owner of the Lionville Natural Pharmacy. She holds several certificates in Herbalism and is President of the American Herbalists Guild Eastern PA Chapter and teaches ethical foraging.
Charlene has a long history of volunteer and civic participation, particularly in environmental education and the design of Outdoor Classrooms for school districts to promote ecological literacy.
Upon moving to West Vincent, Charlene volunteered for the Environmental Advisory Council. Her most recent contribution as a member of the council has been the creation of a Botanical Sanctuary of Native Medicinal Plants at Opalanie Park, where she plans to conduct workshops on at-risk native woodland plant identification and propagation. To save taxpayer money on the garden, Charlene sought and received a grant from United Plant Savers.
Although she had planned on a quiet retirement in her gardens, Charlene is excited to serve the West Vincent community as Supervisor. She is looking forward to using the experience she has gained through her years of education, business ownership, government, private sector work, and volunteerism to enhance West Vincent’s high quality of life and protect our natural resources in a fiscally responsible way.