Denise Herr McCann

Denise Herr McCann is a seasoned nonprofit leader with more than three decades of experience in human services. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Centre Helps in State College, Pennsylvania, where she oversees programs focused on crisis support, mental health, and community well-being. Known for her steady leadership and collaborative approach, she has built a career centered on strengthening community-based services and expanding access to care for individuals in need. Throughout her career, Denise has accumulated extensive experience in nonprofit management, program development, grant writing, and behavioral health services, including drug and alcohol support and mental health programming. She spent approximately 30 years with a human service organization in Centre County, advancing from case manager to Vice President of Programs before transitioning into her current executive role. That hands-on experience has shaped the way Denise leads — including one of her most notable professional achievements. When Centre Helps needed more space to grow, she saw an opportunity where others might have seen an obstacle. By forging partnerships with the State College Redevelopment Authority and key community collaborators, she led the transformation of a vacant fraternity house into a purpose-built home for the organization. She worked directly with the architect, upgraded technology, managed the move while keeping operations running 24/7, and negotiated a lease three times the size of the previous space at the same rent. She created a warm, professional environment where staff have the tools to do their jobs and clients feel genuinely welcome — giving Centre Helps the foundation it needs to save lives. A graduate of Dickinson College with a degree in English and American Studies, Denise brings both academic grounding and deep practical experience to her work. She is widely recognized for her ability to build relationships, develop new programs, and lead teams of staff, interns, and volunteers. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she values family time, travel, and fostering orphaned kittens, and she remains committed to community service through volunteering and support for local nonprofits and public service initiatives.