WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County has appointed veteran diplomat and election administration professional Michele DiCaprio as director of the Department of Voter Services, placing her in charge of overseeing elections and voter services operations in one of Pennsylvania’s largest counties.
According to Chester County officials, DiCaprio will assume the role on July 20, succeeding Karen Barsoum, who departed the position earlier this month.
The appointment comes as counties across Pennsylvania continue navigating increasingly complex election administration responsibilities, including voter services, election security, regulatory compliance and public engagement.
Most recently, DiCaprio served as a senior U.S. diplomat in Mozambique, where she oversaw $70 million in federal assistance programs focused on governance, democratization, and human rights initiatives.
County officials cited her experience managing large-scale public programs, operational planning, staff development, data oversight, and stakeholder engagement as key factors in the selection.
“As a foreign service officer, Michele has spent her career leading complex international operations in fast-paced environments while ensuring federal compliance,” County Administrator Erik Walschburger said. He added that her background includes election operations and counterterrorism program evaluation, as well as building teams and managing public-facing services.
Deputy County Administrator Megan Moser pointed to DiCaprio’s experience overseeing large government programs and analyzing performance metrics, noting that those skills align with the demands of modern election administration.
“I am honored to join Chester County,” DiCaprio said. “I look forward to working with the Voter Services team to ensure secure, accurate, and efficient elections for every voter in Chester County.”
DiCaprio holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Indiana University and a master’s degree in law and diplomacy from Tufts University.
She resides in West Chester with her husband and daughter.
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