OFFICERS
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Our officers and directors are dedicated volunteers committed to preserving, interpreting, and sharing African American history throughout South Central Pennsylvania.

President
Nelson Polite
Nelson is a current board member of Lancaster History.org, Conductor for the Society's Heritage Walking tours, a Re-enactor for “Living the Experience” Underground Railroad at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. A recently retired State of Pennsylvania employee, his research interests include local community history.

Vice President / Archivist
Shianne Hargrove
Shianne is the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for LancasterHistory. Her interest in local African American history started in high school and extended into college, where she minored in African American Studies.

Treasurer
Daniel K. Ness
Daniel serves as Treasurer of the African American Historical Society of South Central Pennsylvania. A dedicated historian and published author, Daniel’s research brings forward the often-overlooked stories of African American resilience and activism in our region. His commitment to preservation informs his financial stewardship, helping the Society sustain projects that educate, honor, and uplift the community.

Secretary
Maxine Cook
Maxine's involvement with AAHSSCPA was prompted by her desire to preserve the family histories of those interred at the Mount Pisgah Cemetery in Wrightsville, PA, which dates back to the 1850s, and is where her paternal great-grandparents are buried. Her efforts to ensure that all who are laid to rest at Pisgah are identified by grave markers, and to have a comprehensive website created as an online archival site, are rooted in her belief that cemeteries are more than resting places; they are repositories of stories and memories and are a tangible link to our shared past. She intends to continue the work of identifying locations of burial sites and procuring eco-friendly markers for burial sites not otherwise distinguished of African Americans throughout Lancaster County, helping the Society to preserve historical facts of African Americans in south-central region of the state. Email: secretary1@aahsscpa.org

Historian
Dr. Leroy Hopkins
Since his retirement, Dr. Hopkins has remained active as a writer and lecturer, including the Free Black participation in the Underground Railroad. He is a Fellow and member of the Board of Lancaster History. His scholarly research centered for many years on multicultural German studies but now focuses only local Black History from the Colonial times to the present.

Tour Coordinator
Sylvia Cavanaugh
As Tour Coordinator, Sylvia supports the Society’s walking tours and educational programs, helping ensure that local African American history is shared with the community through engaging, place-based learning.

Programs Committee Chair
Celeste Leslie
Celeste is a descendant of people of color in Columbia, PA where her 5th great grandfather, Cesar Watson, was enslaved. Her interest in family history led to becoming a board member at the Columbia Historic Preservation Society, where she researches families of color that resided in town, to including the historic Tow Hill section, where many freedom seekers settled. Celeste is also a member of the Zion Hill Cemetery Restoration Project, which maintains a historical black cemetery and features stories of the area’s Black population during the 1800s. She also is a board member of the future UGRR Museum of Pennsylvania.

Genealogist
Neicy DeShields-Moulton
Neicy DeShields-Moulton has nearly three decades of experience in genealogy. She is a member of the African American Historical Society of Lancaster, Pa., and a board member for the History Center. Beyond her professional achievements, Neicy is deeply passionate about genealogy and family history. She has delivered engaging presentations at various organizations and educational institutions across South Central Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Newsletter Coordinator
Bernice Johnson
Bernice serves as Newsletter Coordinator, helping share the Society’s work, events, and stories through its regular newsletter and supporting communication with members and the broader community.

Membership Coordinator
Tina Charles
Tina is a lifelong York County resident, historian, and passionate genealogist dedicated to uncovering and preserving overlooked stories of African American history. She is the co-founder and past president of Friends of Lebanon Cemetery, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to the research, documentation, and education of those interred in African American cemeteries. She is the author of two publications, Lebanon Cemetery: 150th Commemorative Booklet and On a Bed of Oyster Shells I Stand. Tina’s research and preservation work have been featured on WITF, USA Today, and in a CNN article by Eliott C. McLaughlin. With more than 25 years of experience in genealogical research, Tina is an active member of the York County History Center, where she has presented her research, and a member and presenter with the Pennsylvania Historical Association. She is the creator of Carving Out History, a storytelling platform dedicated to bringing the past to life through research-driven writing and community connection. Through her work, Tina continues to explore the people, places, and moments that time almost forgot—ensuring they are documented, shared, and remembered.
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