As luck would have it, older adults have benefited from a choice a young woman made years ago when deciding which summer job she should take.

On the surface, neither choice sounds exciting—bank teller or nursing assistant in a nursing care facility. But in choosing the nursing assistant, Angela Dohrman ’80 tapped into a wellspring of energy fueled by her concern and passion for serving older adults.

Recently honored as the 2005 Distinguished Service Award for Leader of the Year by the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Senior Services, Angela, the executive director of Bethany Village, said, “I was very touched to be nominated for this award, but my winning it says more about all of the associates at Bethany Village than me.”

Co-workers and residents alike disagree, describing her as “a dynamic force of focused energy,” “inspiring,” and “driven by love and respect” for older adults. And this is after more than two decades in the profession!

Angela started as the director of social services, also with Bethany Village, and while there also served as the assistant administrator of the nursing home. Both positions gave her valuable insights into the world of older adults, something she has never forgotten. She left Bethany to take on the challenges of executive director for the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Pennsylvania. In her quest to benefit those with memory challenges, she did not forget their caregivers, adding support services for them.

In 1999, she returned to Bethany Village in time to play a key role in the expansion of facilities and services to seniors as its executive director.

It’s impossible to say how many lives Angela has touched, but as long as she is fueled by her passion for seniors, the number will just keep growing.