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.