LEAD Girls of NC, a non-profit organization based in Winston-Salem for at-risk middle-school girls, announces five new appointments to its Board of Directors. “At LEAD, we focus on providing young girls in Forsyth County with the tools and resources they need to become productive citizens and active leaders in their communities,” said Joy Nelson Thomas, founder and executive director of LEAD Girls. “Through their own professional and community experiences, our board members are a dynamic expression of leadership at work. We are so grateful that they are choosing to invest their time, talents and energy in our organization.”
Dr. Victoria Burgos serves as a Talent and Development Consultant to Forsyth County focusing on professional growth and organizational excellence. Previously, she was Dean of Students of her alma mater, Salem College. Previously, she was Dean of Students of her alma mater, Salem College. Dr. Burgos received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the College of St. Mary in Omaha. Her lived experiences as a daughter of immigrants and first-generation college student have infused her professional pursuits with a passion for flattening barriers to educational access. “Throughout my professional life and volunteer work, I’ve had the opportunity to serve students in a variety of settings and age groups from kindergarten to adulthood,” said Dr. Burgos. “I’m excited to support the impactful work of LEAD Girls in our community as a member of its board.”
Camille Davenport is a Regional HR Business Partner for CompassOne Healthcare providing strategic HR support for the organization’s more than 7,500 associates across 18 states. Davenport has more than 20 years of experience in Human Resources and leadership development. “I look forward to supporting the work of LEAD Girls as a board member and ensuring that girls of all ages come to know who they are and to discover the beauty and power that they possess,” she said.
Lucia Higgins is the Director, Philanthropy and Public Relations for Family Services, Inc. Prior to joining Family Services, she worked for 17 years in the Admissions Office of Salem Academy. Higgins serves on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Triad Chapter and has been a volunteer with LEAD for several years. “I began my volunteer work with LEAD through the Marketing Committee and event planning for LEAD’s annual Soiree event,” she said. “I look forward to being more involved with the mission and work of LEAD through the Board of Directors.”
Jasmine Pitt is an attorney with Akerman LLP specializing in commercial litigation in state and federal courts. She is the Vice President of the Forsyth County Bar Association/31st Judicial Bar and serves on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. Jasmine also is on the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Piedmont Triad and the Rose Council at Wake Forest School of Law, her alma mater. Jasmine is a Winston-Salem native and West Forsyth High School graduate. “I enjoy serving my community and actively engaging and participating in leadership development programs,” said Pitt. “I’m excited to join the Board of Directors for LEAD Girls and support the impressive work they do for young girls in Forsyth County.”
Masonne Sawyer is Vice President of College & Career Readiness & Holistic Success Services at Forsyth Technical Community College with a focus on developing and implementing programs that directly relate to improving student success, persistence and retention. Sawyer completed her college transfer degree at Forsyth Tech before obtaining her bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Gardner-Webb University and her Master of Science in Psychology from Capella University. Her community volunteer work includes serving on the Board of Directors for Experiment in Self- Reliance, The Trinity Center and the North Carolina American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network. She is Chair of the Education Day Committee for Leadership Winston-Salem and very involved with her church. “I look forward to being more involved with LEAD Girls of NC,” she said. “Through my professional work and volunteer service, I’ve always been strongly committed to mentoring and coaching young women to be strong, bold and courageous leaders.”
Founded in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 2015, LEAD Girls of NC is dedicated to providing the tools and resources that low-income/at-risk preteen girls must have to become productive citizens and active leaders in their communities. LEAD (Learning Everyday Accomplishing Dreams) uses an evidence-based curriculum in partnership with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and through community-based programs to encourage and mentor girls to aspire and achieve greatness academically, emotionally and creatively. LEAD envisions a world where every girl has the confidence, social skills and leadership ability she needs to become an independent, financially stable woman. Change a girl. Change a community. Change the world. Learn more at Leadgirls.org.
