Charles S. McLister

Charles S. McLister is the 9th president of Elwyn, the nation’s oldest and one of the largest non-profit human services organizations, founded in 1852. 

Chuck began his career in human services as a direct support psychiatric technician in his hometown hospital, a role that has shaped his perspective as a mission-driven leader. Over the next 35 years, he has served in leadership positions at both for-profit and non-profit organizations in the behavioral health and human services sectors. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Penn State University in 1990, followed by a Master of Arts in Applied Psychological Research in 2008, also from Penn State, and an MBA with honors from Villanova University in 2010. 

Before joining Elwyn, Chuck served as chair of the board of trustees for Hopeworks in Camden, NJ, and later as a board member and the Chief Operating Officer at one of New Jersey’s largest non-profits serving people with developmental challenges and acquired brain injuries. 

Since his appointment as Elwyn’s president in 2017, Chuck has led the organization through a period of strategic and cultural transformation. Beginning in 2018, he prioritized workforce investment, raising average wages by more than 75% and reducing turnover below industry standards. In 2019, he spearheaded a financial turnaround by restoring the balance sheet, refinancing debt, strengthening the business model, and improving quality of services.  That same year, Elwyn was named Non-Profit of the Year by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, and Chuck received the Penn State Harrisburg Alumni Achievement Award from the School of Behavioral Health and Sciences. 

In 2021, Chuck established Elwyn’s Department of Employee Engagement and Staff Training, including an Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. His leadership continued to be recognized in 2023, when he was honored with the City & State Pennsylvania Impact Award for contributions to human services in the Commonwealth; and in New Jersey, he was appointed to the Rutgers Health Leadership Council.  He was also named a Philadelphia Titan 100 Award recipient, a distinction he earned again in 2024, along with recognition as one of the region’s Most Admired CEOs by the Philadelphia Business Journal. In 2025, he was inducted into the Titan 100 Hall of Fame. 

Most recently, Chuck and the Elwyn board launched the organization’s second five-year strategic plan, featuring a $100 million campus revitalization project, an affiliation-driven growth strategy, and world-class employee and family engagement initiatives. Under this vision, Chuck will help guide Elwyn’s 175th anniversary celebration in 2027. 

Beyond his professional life, Chuck is a dedicated philanthropist and volunteer. He and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Haddonfield, New Jersey.  Most importantly, he is the father of three adult children, all of whom make him very proud.

ExecutiveTeam@elwyn.org