Michael H. Reese ’86

Michael Reese graduated from Albright’s evening degree program. Since his graduation, Reese has spent countless hours giving of his time and talent in order to further the success of Albright’s students and alumni family. Most significantly, he served on the Alumni Association Board from 1992-1997, and from 2003-2009. During those years, Reese was always available to assist with student and alumni activities on campus, especially the Move-In Day picnics that welcomed new freshmen and their families to Albright. He has continued to attend those picnics, even though he is no longer officially a member of the Alumni Board. In addition to his board service, Reese has also served as a member of the Task Force on Alumni Programs for the Commission on the Future of Albright College, as a member of the Class of 1986’s reunion planning committees, and as the president of the Black Alumni Society.

Beyond all he has given and continues to give to Albright, Reese is a certified recovery specialist (CRS), with certification from Pennsylvania’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs in the areas of relapse prevention, the spirituality of recovery, screening and assessment, trauma and addiction, and women and addiction. Additionally, Reese is an avid volunteer within the Berks County community. He is president of the Million Youth Chess Club, vice chairman of the Berks Community Action Program (BCAP), past chairman of the Berks Community Health Center (BCHC), and past board member of the United Way of Berks County and the Caron Foundation. In 2014, he received the United Way of Berks County’s Live United Champion Award, as well as the Distinguished Northeasterner Award from the Northeast Middle School.

Reese retired from a 30-year career as a public servant for the City of Reading in December 2011. In 2012, he was honored as the Grand Marshal of Reading’s Labor Day Parade. His career as a union activist began in 1982 when he joined AFSCME #2763 at the City of Reading as a mailroom clerk. He began volunteering immediately for various committees including four negotiating teams and holding most of the locals’ elected offices including executive board member, trea­surer, trustee and president. As a local union training instructor for more than 15 years, Reese trained dozens of AFSCME officers and stewards and is proud to have served as a steward for years. Prior to serving as Grand Marshal, Reese had walked in every Labor Day parade in Reading since the first one in 1988 with AFSCME’s award-winning floats.