Barbara
Stewart Begins Tenure as CEO at Federal Volunteer Agency Home to AmeriCorps and
Senior Corps
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Barbara
Stewart set a tone of stability and optimism on her first day as CEO of the
Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency
responsible for service and volunteering programs. Stewart was confirmed by the
U.S. Senate on February 7 after being nominated by President Donald J. Trump in
November of 2017.
"It
is a privilege and honor to represent national service programs and the
millions of volunteers that make up the backbone of this nation as CEO of the
Corporation for National and Community Service,” said Stewart. “After decades of volunteering and leading a small foundation, I recognize the importance and
extraordinary impact of nonprofits and volunteers to make a difference in the
lives of Americans. Our small but mighty agency has an important responsibility
to support the success of the American people, and I am excited to be at CNCS
to help strengthen service and volunteerism throughout our country."
A federal
agency, the Corporation for National and Community Service administers
AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs and leads the nation’s volunteering and
service initiatives, such as the Martin Luther King and 9/11 Days of Service.
CNCS engages millions of Americans in service each year and operates programs
in 50,000 locations across the nation that are preparing today’s students for
tomorrow’s jobs, reducing crime and reviving cities, connecting returning
veterans to jobs, fighting the opioid epidemic, supporting seniors to live
independently, making college more accessible and affordable, and helping
Americans rebuild their lives following disasters.
In the
coming days and months, Stewart will meet with AmeriCorps and Senior Corps
programs, witness national service members in action, and engage staff and
service groups in conversations about the current state of service.
“Throughout
her career, Barbara has built strong teams, managed budgets with fiscal
responsibility, and created and led programs to deliver results,” said Shamina
Singh, Chair of the CNCS Board of Directors. “She will bring her business-like
focus to CNCS, leading the agency and the thousands of outstanding
organizations it supports to higher levels of impact, effectiveness, and
accountability. The Board thanks Kim Mansaray for her outstanding
leadership as Acting CEO over the past year and looks forward to working
alongside Barbara as she takes the helm.”
“Barbara
Stewart has a great opportunity to expand the spirit of community service
throughout the country. I’m pleased she has been confirmed to lead an
organization with programs like the National Civilian Community Corps campus in
Vicksburg that can provide valuable support for improving schools,
neighborhoods, and towns,” said U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, chairman of the Senate
Appropriations Committee and co-chair of the National Service Caucus.
“I’m
pleased that Barbara Stewart was confirmed to lead the Corporation for National
and Community Service,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons, co-chair of the National
Service Caucus. “National service has the ability to address our nation’s most-pressing challenges,
and I greatly look forward to working with Mrs. Stewart to promote
national service and expand its impact in communities across our country.
As co-chair of the National Service Caucus with Senator Cochran, it is my hope
that we can continue to build support for national service
programs among colleagues on the Hill and expand service opportunities for
all.”
Stewart
has emphasized her commitment to service, a passion ingrained in her by her
parents. She aims to create an environment at CNCS that encourages creativity,
innovation, and inclusiveness, and is dedicated to developing and strengthening
partnerships and relationships to allow the agency to engage more Americans in
service and solve more challenges in communities across the country.
Ms.
Stewart brings more than 25 years of experience in the private, public, and
nonprofit sectors to CNCS, including high-level corporate and government
leadership roles. As a consultant, board member, and volunteer, Barbara has
spent many years helping nonprofits strengthen their governance, operations,
and sustainability so they can better pursue their missions and achieve community
impact.
Ms.
Stewart retired from JPMorgan Chase as a Senior Vice President in the firm’s
Global Government Relations Group. Previously, she served in policy and
management roles in Illinois state government, and led the Chicago public
affairs practice of Fleishman-Hillard. She holds a B.A. and an M.B.A. from
Northwestern University, and co-founded the Bowe-Stewart Foundation. Ms.
Stewart has also served as a Trustee of the Adler Planetarium and the Civic
Federation of Chicago, and sat on the Boards of Christopher House, the
Baltimore Urban Debate League, and the Center for Urban Families.
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