Three Young Alumni Champion Civic Engagement on Constitution Day
For Constitution Day on Tuesday, September 17, three young WCU alumni who are building
careers in public service will return to campus to talk about becoming successfully
engaged in their communities. From 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Sykes Student Union Theater,
these graduates of the University’s political science department will talk about pathways
to public service, the importance of local civic engagement, and voting.
The panelists are Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell ’08, Leonard B. Altieri, III ’12, and Kamryn Davis ’23.
Political science professor Dr. Peter Loedel, who will moderate the panel, said, “Three successful WCU Political Science alumni share their diverse backgrounds and experiences, from their time as a WCU student leader to professional, on how to make positive difference in their respective communities – whether that be in public service, local government, or activism. Constitution Day reminds us of our nation’s commitment to public service. Josh, Kamryn, and Leonard represent the highest levels of what it means to be an engaged citizen.”
Josh Maxwell ’08 is Chair of the Chester County Board of Commissioners and has served on the board since 2020. Before he was elected to the board, he served 10 years as mayor of Downingtown. Among his priorities: utilizing the county government to foster economic growth; improving access to accessible and affordable housing; making government more efficient; and preserving open space.
Maxwell also serves as chair of the Chester County Board of Elections; the Chester County Prison Board of Inspectors; and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) Board of Directors. He serves on the boards of the Chester County Conservation District (CCCD), Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC), Pennsylvania Convention Center, West Chester Business Improvement District Authority (BID), Ideas x Innovation Network (i2N), and the Alliance for Health Equity.
Leonard B. Altieri, III ’12 is chair of the board of supervisors for Newtown Township, Delaware County, and an associate in real estate and finance/zoning and land use at the Philadelphia law firm Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP.
Prior to his election to the Board of Supervisors in 2019, he served on the Marple Newtown Board of School Directors from 2013 to 2019, holding various leadership positions on the school board. Altieri also served on the Newtown Township Planning Commission from 2013 to 2018, serving as its secretary from 2015 to 2018. He is also treasurer for the Delaware County Redevelopment Authority.
While at WCU, Altieri was the student representative to the Board of Governors for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) from 2010 to 2012.
Kamryn Davis ’23, a West Philadelphia native, is a passionate youth advocate dedicated to empowering her peers through civic engagement.
During her time at WCU, Davis served as president of the Black Student Union, earned the 1871 award in 2023, and spearheaded initiatives to mobilize young voters in partnership with campus and community organizations.
Now as PA Youth Vote’s Philadelphia regional director in transition to become programs director, she continues coordinating events that inspire students to become active citizens. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and has gained a significant social media following with her TikTok series “Black History Facts You’ll Never Learn in School.”
The program for Constitution Day and National Voter Registration Day was developed in partnership with WCU’s RUCCAS (Rustin Urban Community Change AxiS), the department of political science, and the Center for Civic Engagement and Social Impact.
Learn more about Constitution Day from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.