Sharon Griest Ballen, MSW, LCSW
Program Coordinator

Sharon Griest Ballen has been the Program Coordinator of Interfaith Prison Partnership for the past eight years.  Having earned a Master’s in Social Work degree from the University of Pennsylvania, she has devoted her life to social justice work.  In addition to her work for IPP, Sharon is the Chair of the Prison Relations Advisory Committee to the Town of Bedford (NY), which is the only municipality in the country to have a committee specifically to advise it on prison issues.  She serves on the Correction’s Advisory Committee to NYS Assemblymember Chris Burdick.  Additionally, Sharon is an Elder at Katonah Presbyterian Church and the Finance Manager of the Katonah Thrift Shop, a 501c3.  She is also a private college counselor.