Yesterday, the Foundation announced that I am leaving my position as President and CEO, at the end of September, for a new position as Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts at Wayne State University and Executive Vice President of the Wayne State University Foundation.
Since I started in this job three years ago, it has been a career highlight to see the DPS Foundation grow in every respect. We have raised more than $3.8 million in pledges and donations, and have awarded more than $1.8 million in grants for the benefit of thousands of students. In 2011 we expanded our mission to include DPS charter schools and former DPS schools that are part of the Educational Achievement Authority, and we now employ a full-time staff of five professionals.
I have certainly enjoyed the past three years with the DPS Foundation and will always be proud of what we have accomplished. Our success is rooted in the dedication and commitment of the Foundation’s staff and I will always be grateful for their professionalism. But I could not pass up this once-in-a-career opportunity to return to higher education at Wayne State, a place where I have a strong family connection (my late husband, Dr. Arthur Johnson, worked there for 23 years) and the opportunity to continue to work on advancing education in Detroit. I will remain passionate about the Foundation, its mission, and supporting the students of Detroit.
I couldn’t be happier that Dr. Glenda Price, for whom I have so much respect as an educator, community leader and a person of the highest integrity, will succeed me as President of the Foundation.
To the donors, supporters, friends and board of the DPS Foundation, thank you. You are the reason why we are able to support successful programs that benefit students in Detroit. You are the reason why this Foundation will continue to grow. It has been a pleasure to work with you and I look forward to seeing what’s next for this terrific organization, while I’m working just a short drive down Woodward.