Jay Wrabel
HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior, Bishop of Harrisburg, and the Board of Directors for Bishop McDevitt High School are pleased to announce that Joseph “Jay” Wrabel, Jr., has been appointed to the position of school President. Wrabel begins this new role effective immediately.
“Jay is a proven leader and proud alumnus of Bishop McDevitt High School, and we look forward to welcoming him as the school’s president,” said Bishop Senior. “His decades of experience in various financial roles will bring a level of expertise to the school that complements the current leadership team. In partnership with school principal Vince Harper, I look forward to witnessing the success of Bishop McDevitt for years to come.”
“I am really pleased to welcome Jay Wrabel as President at McDevitt,” said Daniel Breen, Superintendent of Catholic Schools and Secretary of Education for the Diocese. “Jay is a dedicated McDevitt graduate who has already given back to the school in many ways. His financial acumen, experience, faith, work ethic and people skills will serve McDevitt very well.”
Commenting on his appointment, Wrabel said, “Thank you to Bishop Senior, Mr. Daniel Breen and the Board of Directors for the tremendous opportunity to serve the Bishop McDevitt community. For over a century, our school has advanced the mission of Catholic education and it is an honor to return and join our dedicated faculty, staff and administration, as we carry on in the spirit of Bishop Philip McDevitt, to enhance the development and future of our students.”
The President-Principal model is frequently used in Catholic secondary education, with an estimated 60% of Catholic high schools in the United States using this method, according to the National Catholic Education Association. Four of the six Catholic high schools in the Diocese use this model.
In his role as President, Mr. Wrabel is a partner with the Principal, Dr. Vince Harper. Mr. Wrabel will be specifically responsible for institutional advancement and school facilities operations. He also shares in responsibility for the spiritual life of the school with Dr. Harper. Mr. Wrabel will represent the school before the local community, be the chief spokesperson for the school, be responsible for the advancement operations of the school, maintain oversight of the budget, financial operations and obligations of the school, and collaborate with the Principal in general school operations. Mr. Wrabel will report to the McDevitt School Board and the Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Harrisburg.
Mr. Wrabel graduated from Bishop McDevitt in 1986. He attended Saint Joseph University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. His career has spanned more than three decades, where he has served a number of organizations as a senior accountant, audit manager, controller, director of finance, and chief accounting officer. Mr. Wrabel is a Certified Public Accountant and over the course of his career, he has led the financial and administrative functions, provided leadership to executives and managers, established and maintained internal financial controls, and worked with management teams on organizational strategy and development. Mr. Wrabel and his family are members of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Harrisburg.
Bishop McDevitt High School is a Catholic, college-preparatory coeducational school located within the Diocese of Harrisburg, which serves students of diverse intellectual, socio-economic, and religious backgrounds. The school strives to nurture the whole person by creating a challenging academic environment rooted in Gospel values. The McDevitt community aspires to graduate well-rounded Christian men and women committed to living moral lives of holiness, integrity, justice, and responsible citizenship. More details about Bishop McDevitt High School, including enrollment information, can be found at www.bishopmcdevitt.org.
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The Diocese of Harrisburg was established on March 3, 1868. It has 88 parishes, 6 missions, 2 communities, 33 Catholic schools, and is home to approximately 201,000 registered Catholics throughout its 15 counties. To learn more about the Diocese and its ministries, visit www.hbgdiocese.org.
