Harrisburg, PA —The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) today announced that Dr. Raquel Yiengst, Vice-Chair of the Commission and Chair of the Education Equity Committee, has resigned following more than four decades of service to the Commonwealth. Dr. Yiengst was appointed to the PHRC in 1978, becoming one of the Commission’s longest-serving members.
“While we are saddened to see Dr. Yiengst step away from the Commission, we celebrate the enormous impact of her career,” said PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW. “Working alongside Dr. Yiengst these past eight years has been a privilege. She has been one of the strongest champions of our social justice vision and the initiatives we have pursued to advance equity across the Commonwealth. Her wisdom, courage, and steadfast belief in the work have inspired me personally and strengthened this Commission exponentially. She consistently reminded us that the pursuit of equity is ongoing work. Her contributions will continue to guide the PHRC well into the future.”
Before joining the Commission, Dr. Yiengst served the Reading School District for 35 years as Director of Bilingual Education. In that role, she designed and implemented the district’s transitional bilingual program for non‑English‑speaking students. At the time of her retirement, the program enrolled more than 1,200 students representing Spanish and more than ten additional languages.
“Pennsylvania is a better and more just Commonwealth because of the extraordinary leadership of Dr. Raquel Yiengst, a proud daughter of Puerto Rico,” said Norman Bristol Colón, Pennsylvania Latino Convention. “Her lifelong commitment to education has transformed countless lives, including my own, through her mentorship, service, and unwavering example. Her 48 years of service on the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission make her the longest‑serving Latina in a government‑appointed role in our state’s history. Dr. Yiengst embodies the very essence of civil rights—our shared humanity, dignity, and hope. She will forever stand as one of our most powerful champions for justice.”
Her deep concern for the lack of support and representation for Latino communities in Reading and Berks County led her to join with other local leaders to form the Spanish-Speaking Council, where she remains actively involved. She also served for many years on the board of the Centro Hispano Daniel Torres, even stepping in voluntarily as interim director in 1998 when the organization faced closure.
I joined the PHRC with the knowledge that Dr. Yiengst, one of my inspirations and moral leaders, was part of the commission,” said PHRC Investigator Rick Olmos. “Dr. Yiengst’s leadership has been an inspiration, and her multitude of contributions to not just this organization, but all that she is part of, have been invaluable, and I am a better individual for having been part of her sphere of influence. I am confident in saying that Dr. Yiengst’s human relations legacy will endure for generations within the PHRC, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
In recognition of her lifetime commitment to equity and civil rights, Dr. Yiengst received the PHRC Homer C. Floyd Award in 2019. She has been honored with numerous additional distinctions, including the Lifetime Achievement Amigo Award from the Hispanic Center of Reading and Berks County (2004) and the Take the Lead Award from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania.
PHRC extends its deepest gratitude to Dr. Yiengst for her decades of leadership, service, and unwavering advocacy on behalf of marginalized communities across Pennsylvania.
With Yiengst’s departure, the PHRC will have five seated commissioners out of a possible eleven. This creates the possibility that the Commission may be unable to convene a quorum which requires a majority to be in attendance. Such a situation could delay or halt the Commission’s ability to advance specific guidance, like the Personal Care Assistant Accommodation guidance currently up for consideration; hear cases; and deliver justice to the people it serves.
About the PHRC:
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission enforces state laws that prohibit discrimination and promote equal opportunity for all people. The PHRC investigates complaints of discrimination in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations. Anyone who has experienced discrimination is urged to file a complaint by calling 717-787-4410. Information and resources are also available on the PHRC website.
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