Congressional Hunger Center names Shannon Maynard Executive Director

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The board of directors of the Congressional Hunger Center today announced that Shannon Maynard, an accomplished leader in the movement for social change, will become the organization's next Executive Director, effective September.

Maynard succeeds Ed Cooney who will retire later this summer after nearly 15 years of service. Cooney announced his retirement in December.

"The Congressional Hunger Center, the anti-hunger community, and policy makers at all levels of government will miss Ed Cooney's leadership, knowledge, and wisdom when he retires in September. As the Chair of the Board of Directors and as a Member of Congress, Ed's leadership and advice has been invaluable to me. Words cannot fully express what he has brought to our fight to end hunger in America and around the world.

"I am pleased that Shannon Maynard will be the next Executive Director of the Congressional Hunger Center. As a former Congressional Hunger Center intern and Emerson Fellow, Shannon brings a unique passion for the Congressional Hunger Center and the leaders it helps to train each year. I am looking forward to working with Shannon in her new role as she helps us ensure the Congressional Hunger Center continues to lead in the fight to end hunger," said Rep. Jim McGovern, Congressman from Massachusetts and Chair of the Congressional Hunger Center Board of Directors.

Maynard comes to the Congressional Hunger Center from the Grameen Foundation where she has served as the Chief Talent and Knowledge Officer; and a leader in the Foundation's Bankers Without Borders global initiative, harnessing the skills and services of the world's brightest minds and institutions to accelerate the progress of social entrepreneurs connecting the poor to their potential.

Maynard began her career in the social sector as an intern with the Congressional Hunger Center in 1993 and completed the Hunger Fellows program in 1998.

"I am honored to lead the Congressional Hunger Center's important work in developing leaders in all facets of society who are committed to living in a world where our citizens' most basic human needs are met.  My own fellowship experience with the Hunger Center had a tremendous influence on my career so it is indeed a privilege to come full circle and now lead this terrific organization," said Maynard upon accepting the offer.

Before joining Grameen Foundation, Maynard served as the Executive Director of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation under the George W. Bush Administration and led strategic initiatives for the federal agency the Corporation for National and Community Service, where she spent almost nine years designing and implementing national service policies and programs.  In 2008, she spearheaded the creation of A Billion and Change, a national campaign to mobilize $1 billion of pro bono and skills-based service to address core issues our communities face. Previously, Shannon held various leadership positions managing AmeriCorps programs for local and national nonprofits focused on hunger relief and food security, civic participation, and youth empowerment.

Maynard received an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. in journalism and political science from the University of Richmond. She has served as adjunct faculty for the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy teaching nonprofit leadership and management.

Click here to view a high-resolution image of Shannon Maynard.

The Congressional Hunger Center (CHC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that works to make issues of domestic and international hunger a priority to policymakers in the U.S. government, and to raise a new generation of leaders to fight against hunger and poverty. More information can be found at www.HungerCenter.org. 

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SOURCE Congressional Hunger Center

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http://www.HungerCenter.org