New team members bring skill sets that will propel the evolution of the national nonprofit
INDIANAPOLIS – October 10, 2018 – Simon Youth Foundation (SYF), a national nonprofit dedicated to helping students graduate, is pleased to announce the expansion of its home office staff. Given its goal to nearly triple the number of Simon Youth Academies across the country from 35 to 100 by 2023, the nonprofit saw a need to add professionals to its staff to further support the growth of the organization.
SYF recently welcomed three new professionals in the areas of finance, advancement and communications:
- Jessica Armstrong joins the organization as the Director of Finance. Originally from Ohio, she graduated from Heidelberg College with a degree in Accounting. Armstrong is a CPA and has extensive experience working in the financial industry for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining SYF, Armstrong was most recently a CFO for a local nonprofit in Indianapolis.
- Indianapolis native Kate Miller has been named the Assistant Director of Advancement. Supporting annual campaigns and community engagement, Miller will advance the important work of Simon Youth Academy teachers and students. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Management from IUPUI and a master’s degree in Leadership from Grand Canyon University. Prior to joining SYF, Miller managed annual advancement programs for a national youth leadership organization.
- Molly Linehan joins SYF as the Communications Associate. In her role, Linehan will support strategic communications and raise awareness for the organization’s mission through traditional and digital media platforms. Prior to joining SYF, she spent several years working for public relations firms specializing in media relations, social media and strategic communications campaigns. A New England native, Linehan received her bachelor’s degree in Communication from Merrimack College in Massachusetts.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jessica, Kate and Molly in a period of pivotal growth for our organization,” said Dr. J. Michael Durnil, President and CEO, SYF. “These professionals each bring unique skillsets that are critical to our success. They are dedicated to aiding the expansion of our network of Academies so that we can reach more students, leading to more graduations for young people across the country.”
For more information on Simon Youth Foundation and its staff, please visit syf.org.
About Simon Youth Foundation
Simon Youth Foundation (SYF) is a national nonprofit committed to helping students who are on the verge of dropping out of high school graduate and pursue post-secondary educational opportunities. SYF works toward this mission by partnering with local public school districts to launch Simon Youth Academies, alternative classroom settings located primarily in Simon Malls, and by providing Simon Youth Scholarships to Academy graduates and students who live near Simon Malls. Since its inception, SYF has maintained a 90 percent graduation rate at its 35 Simon Youth Academies in 15 states, helping more than 17,000 students graduate, and has awarded more than $17 million in post-secondary scholarships. Visit syf.org to learn more.
