Priscilla Scalf

Grant Development

Priscilla Scalf attended Great Lakes Bible College in Lansing, Michigan where she received an Associate’s Degree in Education.  She then moved to Evansville, IN to develop a children’s program for His Place, an outreach center for inner city families.  While there, she attended the University of Southern Indiana studying Psychology. 

Priscilla has resided in Columbus, Indiana for 32 years.  She worked for the Bartholomew County Democratic Party under the leadership of John Rumple as office manager and volunteer coordinator.  She then worked for ABC Stewart Montessori School as a teacher in the Two’s More or Less class and moved on to work as the Assistant to the School Director and assisted in the Middle School.  While at ABC she developed an Afterschool Program that is still running today. 

After 13 years at ABC -Stewart, Priscilla became the Executive Director of Eastside Community Center where she developed programs, sought funding through grant writing and fund development, oversaw all staff and worked with the Board of Directors.  Under her leadership the Center grew from a neighborhood recreational organization to one of Columbus’ most vibrant and versatile service agencies, offering a range of personal financial development programs tailored to the needs of the community, including a foreclosure prevention and asset development program.

In 2007, Priscilla was elected to represent the First District in the Columbus City Council - the lone Democrat to win election to the Council. In her time on the Council, she established a reputation for careful consideration of the issues, and creative approaches to community problems. She became an advocate for the people of her district and throughout the city who opposed a flat tax on public trash collection – and who support curbside recycling pickup. She supported and built momentum to achieve the mayor’s plan for long overdue raises for city workers, and was proud to support strong, sensible partnerships with businesses that bring jobs to Columbus.

Following an unsuccessful run for Mayor, Priscilla was elected as Chair of the Bartholomew County Democratic Party.  During her term she worked to raise the level of activity and engagement in the local Party, and in her final year saw two Democrats elected to the Columbus City Council, where none had won election since her retirement.

An active member of her community, Priscilla is currently serving as the President of Columbus' Sunrise Rotary Club, and has served as a member of the Board of Directors for Leadership Bartholomew County, where she herself is a graduate. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Housing Partnerships, Inc., and as a member of the United Way Agency Administrators Coalition, the Bartholomew County Long Term Recovery Board, and was appointed City Liaison to the Columbus Housing Authority and the Columbus Human Rights Commission. Other memberships and activities include Columbus Moose Lodge # 398, the Columbus Area Multi-Ethnic Organization, Kiwanis and the NAACP.