Dave Coplan, MS

    Dave has been with the Human Services Center since 1990 and currently serves as the Executive Director. In 2006, Dave launched a separate nonprofit, Advancing Academics, which assists low-income, high-achieving youth gain entry and financial assistance for college. Dave serves as an adjunct professor in the University of Pittsburgh’s College of General Studies, School of Social Work and Graduate School for Public and International Affairs in subjects such as nonprofit human services management, fundraising, human resources, public policy, and advocacy and lobbying.
   
   In 2019, Dave received the Allegheny Partners for Out of School Time (APOST) Advocacy Award; in 2017, the national Network for Social Work Management recognized Dave with its Exemplar Award for commitment to Leadership and Management Competencies; in 2012, he was honored as the inaugural recipient of the statewide CAAP Sargent Shriver Community Service Award for service to the poor; in 2010, the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work honored Dave as its Outstanding Field Instructor. He has won two student choice awards for his teaching at Pitt (one as recently as 2018). In 2009, the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs honored Dave as one of its inaugural 4 Under 40 recipients, and in 2007, Dave was recognized as one of Pittsburgh’s 40 Under 40 by PUMP and Pittsburgh Magazine.
   
   Dave holds Masters degrees from the University of Pittsburgh in Social Work for Community Organizing as well as Public Administration, along with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management.

Courses taught at Pitt

• Non-Profit Human Resources Mgmt
• Fundraising
• Human Resources
• Public Policy
• Advocacy & Lobbying