BIOGRAPHY OF JOANNE TOSTI-VASEY 

Joanne Tosti-Vasey is a community activist and public servant. She has been a member of the National Organization for Women since 1979. She is currently President of Pennsylvania NOW, Inc. Tosti-Vasey is chair of the National NOW Disability Rights ad hoc committee. She has served as Co-Chair, Chair, or Liaison to the National Board for this committee since 1993.

In addition to her work with NOW, Tosti-Vasey has been appointed and elected to several committees that serve the public. She was an elected member of the PA Democratic State Committee from 1994-2002 and currently serves as an ex-officio member of State Committee as Treasurer of the PA Democratic State Committee Women’s Caucus. She also ran for Bellefonte Borough Council in 2005, losing to two incumbents by 24 votes.

She is an appointed member of the Centre County Advisory Council to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and is one of two people that answers the county-wide hotline on issues of discrimination for this Council.

Dr. Tosti-Vasey is one of 29 Commissioners appointed to the PA Commission for Women by Governor Edward G. Rendell. She was first appointed to the Commission by Governor Rendell in June 2003. She is one of two co-authors of The Status of Women in Pennsylvania Report 2004 that was authorized by the PA Commission for Women.

Tosti-Vasey holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies with a focus on work and family issues. Dr. Tosti-Vasey is married to Joe Vasey and is the proud mother of one son, Kenneth Vasey.

The candidate marches beside her son, Kenneth Vasey, in the Bellefonte Parade, July 5, 2008.