Shannah Tharp-Gilliam, Ph.D. is the Director of the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging at the Department of Human Services (DHS-AAA). She graduated from Georgetown University, has a Master of Science and Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, and holds certifications in program evaluation, public policy, and in innovations and social impact in gerontology.

Since her hire at DHS-AAA in 2022, Dr. Gilliam has led the organization to address old challenges in new ways; together, the DHS-AAA’s 130-member team and 80 contracted providers serve over 40,000 people each year. Leveraging an established set of services, DHS-AAA has expanded partnerships and opened millions in funding streams new to our region’s network serving the County’s older adults. She has also brought innovative workforce partnerships to our area that address direct-care workforce issues and in-home care waitlists. Before her hire at DHS-AAA, Dr. Gilliam served as a nonprofit leader in Homewood for over a decade, where she developed and led community-driven advocacy initiatives to equip residents to engage with policy-makers for racial, economic, and social justice. She has spearheaded efforts that elevate equity issues and activate resources. As a behavioral scientist, she values rigorous processes that increase understanding of the systemic implications of public policy and practice at levels from national to the community.  Her previous work experience includes two decades as a director of research and evaluation for the Homewood Children’s Village and as a behavioral scientist at RAND Corporation, where she developed data-based policy recommendations and provided technical assistance for state and local, community, education, and health initiatives. Dr. Gilliam is also the president of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) board of trustees.

Under her leadership, the Allegheny County AAA was awarded the 2024 USAging Achievement Award and the 2024 John A. Hartford Foundation Business Innovation Award. She has been publicly acknowledged for her achievements through other awards such as the 2024 New Pittsburgh Courier Women of Excellence Award, the 2023 Pittsburgh Business Times C-Suite Award, celebrating executives who have demonstrated vital leadership and business savvy to guide their companies to success; SWPPA’s (Southwest Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging), Age-Friendly Leadership, Charles W. Pruitt/Mary Anne Kelly Awards of Excellence (2021); and the University of Pittsburgh, Senior Vice Chancellor for Engagement’s Partnerships of Distinction Award (2019).