The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) Announces New President

NEW YORK, June 16, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) announced today that Mimi Clarke Corcoran has been named as its new President, effective July 11, 2016. Ms. Corcoran will succeed James H. Wendorf.

NCLD is the nation's leading programming, research and advocacy organization focused on the 1 in 5 people with brain-based learning and attention issues related to reading, math, writing, focus, organization and more.

NCLD works to improve the lives of the 1 in 5 by empowering parents and young adults, transforming schools and advocating for equal rights and opportunities.  NCLD operates a variety of programs including Understood.org, a comprehensive, free online resource to support parents of children with learning and attention issues, which NCLD manages on behalf of its 15 founding nonprofit partners. Since its launch in October 2014, Understood.org has supported more than 15 million people. NCLD also manages Friends of Quinn, an online community for young adults, with founder Quinn Bradlee.

Ms. Corcoran brings to NCLD her experience as an innovator and change leader in the education and non-profit sectors. She is currently the Vice President of Talent Development at New Visions for Public Schools, where she has been responsible for overseeing the human capital development portfolio. Prior to that Ms. Corcoran was the President and CEO of ANDRUS, a non-profit focused on helping individuals and families overcome extreme childhood adversity.  Ms. Corcoran spent eight years in a variety of leadership roles for George Soros's Open Society Foundations (OSF), most recently as the Director of the Special Fund for Poverty Alleviation, an investment vehicle established to assist vulnerable populations significantly impacted by the financial crisis.  In her role as Director, Ms. Corcoran partnered with the White House, federal, state and local governments, foundations and community-based organizations, identifying strategies to alleviate poverty through the support of scalable and sustainable programs.

Ms. Corcoran also served eight years as the Executive Director of the Beginning with Children Foundation, a pioneering non-profit that operated two charter schools in Brooklyn, advocated nationally for education reform and played a key role in the establishment of The New York City Charter School Center.  In addition, Ms. Corcoran has a long history of nonprofit board service and currently is on the boards of The Hunt Institute, Civic Builders and ExpandEdSchools. She received her B.A. in English from Yale University and a Masters in Public Administration from New York University.

"After an extensive search, the board unanimously agreed that Mimi's track record of leadership and excellence makes her the ideal choice for NCLD," said NCLD Board Chairman Fred Poses.  "She brings so much to our mission in support of the 1 in 5 — deep experience in the education sector, a passion for making a difference and the talent to successfully lead our organization. On behalf of the entire board, I would also like to thank Jim for his 17 years of commitment and leadership.  NCLD is now poised to make a transformative leap in impact to empower millions more – individuals, families, educators and others who care about learning and attention issues."

"I am thrilled to be joining NCLD as it seeks to expand its already impressive footprint in advocating nationally for programs and policies that best address learning and attention issues," said Ms. Corcoran.  "My new role allows me to build on my career experiences, while affording me a new avenue to pursue a deep personal interest in helping individuals and families overcome obstacles and achieve life changing outcomes."

Mr. Wendorf, who the board named as Executive Director Emeritus in recognition of his 17 years leading NCLD, will take on the role of Senior Advisor with the Poses Family Foundation. "I am delighted to pass the baton to someone as passionate and talented as Mimi and look forward to continued involvement supporting the mission of NCLD and driving impact as advisor to the Poses Family Foundation," he said.

About NCLD:

The mission of NCLD is to improve the lives of the one in five children and adults nationwide with learning and attention issues – by empowering parents and young adults, transforming schools, and advocating for equal rights and opportunities. NCLD is working to create a society in which every individual possesses the academic, social and emotional skills needed to succeed in school, at work and in life. Founded in 1977 by Carrie and Pete Rozelle, who was Commissioner of the National Football League for nearly 30 years, NCLD was subsequently chaired by Anne Ford, great-granddaughter of Henry Ford, and John G. Gantz, Jr., the past President of Argonaut Insurance.  NCLD's current chairman is Fred Poses, former Chairman and CEO of American Standard Companies and current CEO of Ascend Performance Materials LLC. NCLD's Professional Advisory Board is chaired by Dr. David Chard, Dean of the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development at Southern Methodist University and incoming President of Wheelock College in Boston, MA.

About Understood.org:

Winner of the 2015 Webby Award for Best Family/Parenting site, Understood.org is a free comprehensive resource created by 15 nonprofits to empower parents of the 1 in 5 children with learning and attention issues, such as ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia and auditory processing disorder, through daily access to experts, personalized resources, interactive tools and a supportive community of parents. Since its launch in late October 2014, Understood.org has supported more than 15 million people.

SOURCE National Center for Learning Disabilities