John Chapin, professor of communications at Penn State Beaver, received one of the Bloomsburg University Alumni Association’s highest honors when he was presented with a 2015 Distinguished Service Award at a ceremony held recently in Bloomsburg’s Kehr Union Ballroom.
A native of Bloomsburg, Chapin earned his bachelor’s in education in 1985 from Bloomsburg and a master’s in communication from Shippensburg University in 1992. In 1998 he completed his doctoral degree at Rutgers University and joined the Penn State Beaver faculty. While attending Bloomsburg, he served as president of three student organizations: the Forensics Team, Pi Kappa Delta and the Commuters’ Association. He was also recognized as the Outstanding Student in Communications. Chapin is a longtime professional and personal advocate for victims of domestic violence whose work has been recognized across Pennsylvania and nationally.
As a child survivor of domestic violence, his professional research and community service has focused on violence prevention. He is president of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Center of Beaver County and is a volunteer at Crisis Center North in Pittsburgh. The Pennsylvania Communication Association recognized Chapin as Speaker of the Year and he is the recipient of The National Office of Victim Assistance (NOVA) Stephen Schafer National Research Award for significant service to victims of violence. He has received citations for his work from both Houses of Congress. Chapin received the 2012 Pennsylvania Governor’s Victim Service Pathfinder Organizational Capacity Building Award and, that same year, Beaver County District Attorney Anthony Berosh presented him with the Outstanding Citizenship Award in recognition of his service to Beaver County law enforcement. In 2009 he received the Penn State Beaver Advisory Board NOVA Chemicals Inc. Faculty Excellence in Service Award.
For more information, contact Chapin at jrc11@psu.edu or 724-773-3877.