Noreen Shanfelter, a veteran communications leader and long-time University City resident, has been named executive director of the University City Arts League, the community arts and education center. She is the immediate past president of the board.

Shanfelter has had the top communications position for more than 20 years at various not for profit organizations in the Philadelphia area, including Girl Scouts of Eastern Pa and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA).

She was also the vice president of communications for the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), and was involved in major projects during the Goode, Rendell and Street administrations, including the Avenue of the Arts. Shanfelter has also headed communications at the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania and was part of the team that created the donor option program. She also led media relations at the Housing Association of Delaware Valley.

The University City Arts League, created in the 1960s offers 70 classes for toddlers to seniors in most arms areas of the visual arts including: drawing, painting, digital photography and pottery. A successful arts program for children from local schools is the Arts League’s fastest growing program and a summer arts camp is a recent addition. A special relationship with the Penn Alexander School provides art during the school day with highly skilled instructors. Dance and fitness classes include Argentine Tango, ballet, modern dance and the saucy salsa and bongo. Art, karate and creative movement classes are offered for the pre-k client. Fitness classes range from pilates to yoga, cardio kickboxing and capoeira to asian arts such as tai chi.

Shanfelter, a former reporter for the Associated Press, says her strengths include building relationships to advance an organization’s goals, leading during times of change and issues management.

Locally, she has been on the board of Gwendolyn Bye Dance where her youngest daughter began her dance career, and is a literacy volunteer at the IHM literacy center of St. Francis de Sales School, where she attended school as a girl.

She and her husband, Richard Freeman, a lawyer in private practice, have lived in University City for more than 30 years. Their three children, Zoe, Joseph and Sophie, attended local elementary schools here.