United Way names new executive director

The United Way of Gloucester County (UWGC) has announced the hiring of new Executive Director Dr. Dan Jurman.

Jurman is a Clayton native who has a degree in English literature and creative writing from Rowan University. As a teen, he worked as a camp counselor for the Gloucester County Girl Scouts’ Vantastic mobile summer camp. After college, he was program director for the summer camp at The Arc Gloucester.

Jurman moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1998 to attend a theological seminary, earning a master’s in religion in 2003 and a doctorate of ministry in 2021. He went on to work in health care and led a Community Development Corporation in the state, a Community Action Agency and the Office of Advocacy and Reform.

Most recently, Jurman led one of late actor Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang camps in Florida for children with serious illnesses. He also preaches at the First Presbyterian Church of Clayton.

Throughout Jurman’s career serving vulnerable populations, he has had several major accomplishments, including winning multiple community service awards and earning a National Conference of Mayors Community WINS Award for innovation. He co-authored and helped implement a plan that cut poverty by 9% in the Lancaster in one year and addressed Congress’ Subcommittee on Education and the Workforce about innovation in eliminating poverty.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be the new leader of United Way of Gloucester County,” Jurman said. “I can’t tell you what it means to me to have the opportunity to serve the community where I was born, where my mother received support to try and raise her children as a single mother living in poverty, and where I live with my wife and children today.

“I intend to bring all of my experiences to the table to help Gloucester County’s most vulnerable children and families reach the lives they want for themselves.”

Jurman replaces former executive director Michael Gower, who served the United Way for 11 years.