Cassie Farrelly has been named senior vice president and chief impact officer at WITF, a Central Pennsylvania public media organization focused on creating and curating enriching content and experiences for NPR, PBS and WITF-original programming. Through education outreach, programming, and recent creation of the Steinman Institute for Civic Engagement, WITF is leading regional efforts to revitalize community-based information sources and local journalism. Cassie will oversee audience development, community engagement and product development. Previously Cassie served as COO and CSO at Penn State University College of Medicine where she assisted the Vice Dean in managing strategic and daily operations related to the College's medical and scientific research portfolio, including federal grants, industry funding, marketing, fundraising, and strategic planning for growth. Cassie's debut novel, The Shepherd’s Calculus, received the Gold Medal for Best Religious Fiction at the Independent Publisher Book Awards in New York City at the end of May. It was a finalist for Best Contemporary Novel for the National Indie Excellence Awards and a finalist for Best Religious Fiction award from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She previously served as Deputy Director of Corporate Services for the British Consulate in New York. Cassie is a 2004 Mitchell Scholar. She received an M.Phil in Irish Theater and Film from Trinity College Dublin. She spent much of her time in the theater getting to know the work of contemporary Irish playwrights, while also researching her thesis which examined the representation of immigrants in Irish film and drama. On her return to the United States she met George Heslin, Artistic Director of Origin Theater Company. Their mutual interest in Irish writing talent led to the creation of New York’s annual Irish Theater Festival, 1st Irish, which has showcased the work of over sixty up and coming writers since 2008. Cassie obtained her undergraduate degree from Fordham University.