ASHLAND — Carrie Harpster had centered her collegiate career around music.
During her time as an undergraduate music student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, she was required to take additional courses in fields outside her major.
“Gerontology was chosen because it was the only course I could get to fit into my schedule,” Harpster said.
It just so turned out that gerontology — the study of the social, cultural, psychological, cognitive and biological aspects of aging — sparked a passion.
“I actually loved it so much I continued to take the classes as an undergraduate, and then that’s what made me stay on to get my masters,” Harpster said, adding that her focus of study was long-term care administration.
Harpster took over as executive director of LSS Lutheran Village Assisted Living in Ashland on Oct. 29, following the resignation of long-time executive director ShaNa Benner.
LSS Lutheran Village Assisted Living, which is part of the LSS Network of Hope, is a residence that also provides services — such as meals, healthcare and activities — with around-the-clock nursing assistance.
Harpster is a familiar face to senior living communities and Ashland.
She worked at Brethren Care Village Health Care Center — a retirement community also in Ashland — for a little over 14 years as an assistant administrator and, subsequently, administrator. Aside from her background in senior care, Harpster is involved with 4H and the Ashland County Fair.
Rick Davis, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Lutheran Social Services, has been with LSS for roughly 16 years, and regarding Harpster’s hiring said, “it was as strong an interview as I’ve ever done with a candidate for any position.”
Gerontology degrees are not common, Davis said.
“That was one of the things that stood out on her resume when it was first passed on,” Davis said about her gerontological studies.
“She cares so much about older adults and, you know, for a younger person to decide to get into that field and make a career out of it as Carrie has, it just really stuck out.”
With almost two months under her belt, Harpster said her underlying goal is to continue building upon the programming she entered into.
“The thing that had really sold me on (LSS) is it’s very home-like,” she said. “It’s smaller in size.
“Everyone is one big family, and everyone gets to spend time with the residents where in a lot of the other facilities administration doesn’t get a chance to be with the residents.”
Harpster has been learning about the partner programs within the larger LSS network outside of Ashland since she assumed her leadership role, specifically mentioning food pantries, homeless shelters and domestic violence resources.
Citing the aforementioned programs, Harpster said, “there’s always opportunities to grow.”
