Jeanette Jeffrey
HomePorts’ Board of Directors is pleased to announce that it has named Jeanette Jeffrey as Executive Director, following the retirement of Karen Wright who provided 11 years of dedicated service.
Jeffrey first joined HomePorts in January, 2022 when elected Vice President of the Board of Directors. As a professor of public health for 30 years, she focused her research on stress, depression and suicide among older adults and farmers. Most recently, she served as the Rural Health Care Transformation Health Educator with University of Maryland Shore Medical Center Chestertown. As the inaugural Alumni Career Fellow for The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Jeffrey provides career counseling to public health students on a part-time basis.
“I look forward to working with the Board of Directors and HomePorts’ volunteers to provide services that help our older residents gracefully age in place,” Jeffrey said. “I am also excited by the opportunity to create programs that showcase the wisdom, beauty and rich experience of our seasoned residents.”
Jeffrey’s educational credentials include a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health from Towson University, a Master of Science degree in Education and a certificate in Teaching in Higher Education from The Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Public Health and a certificate in Humanitarian Assistance from The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a certificate in International Health: Clinical and Community Care from the University of Arizona, and a Master Certified Health Education Specialist certification through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.
“The Executive Search Committee is excited to welcome Jeanette as our Executive Director,” said Tom Eager, President of the Board of HomePorts. “Jeanette’s impressive professional and educational background, along with her passion and enthusiasm for helping older adults makes her an excellent addition to our team.”
According to the June 2021 AARP Home and Community Preferences Survey aging in place is the goal of 77% of adults 50 and older. Over the next 25 years the U.S. Census Bureau projects the 65 and older age group will double in size. The need for older adult services has already reached a critical point in Kent County whose population of residents age 50+ is currently 48%. With Jeffrey’s leadership, HomePorts will continue to provide and expand services following the Village-to-Village Network model, a national grassroots organization leading best practice for healthy and vibrant aging.
About HomePorts
HomePorts is a 501(c)3 charitable organization serving the needs of greater Kent County residents over the age of 55. Our mission is to identify, monitor and ensure access to a wide range of services that help members to remain safe and live comfortably in their own homes. Founded in 2008 by a group of Kent County residents who were concerned about the availability of services for the aging population in our area. The organization is based on the “villages” model – a membership-driven grass-roots group that coordinates access to services. Through both volunteers and paid staff, HomePorts enables individuals to remain safely in their own home
