Jevelyn Bonner-Reed Selected as Executive Director at The Belk Foundation

Jevelyn Bonner-Reed Selected as Executive Director at The Belk Foundation

6/30/2022

Charlotte, NC June 29, 2022 – The Belk Foundation announced the selection of Jevelyn Bonner-Reed, as its next executive director to lead the foundation’s investments in public education in North Carolina. Bonner-Reed succeeds inaugural executive director Johanna Anderson and will build upon progress in early literacy and excellent teaching and leadership.

 

Bonner-Reed brings varied experience, qualifications, and skills to the Foundation, through roles in both the business and public education fields. Bonner-Reed began her career as a manufacturing engineer for 3M Company in 1993. She has also held a variety of roles at different companies in the corporate arena such as Goldman Sachs and Co. and Ford Motor Company. She has also spent nine years in public education in the state of North Carolina. Most recently, she was the Chief Human Resources Officer for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools from 2019- 2021. She has also worked in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as both the Director of Grant Innovation and the Director of Human Resources Strategic Initiatives. In this role, Bonner-Reed managed $7.5 million in a seven-year grant from the Wallace Foundation for the Principal Pipeline Initiative resulting in nearly 400 trained aspiring school leaders and over 300 assistant principal and principal hires.

She received her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in mechanical engineering. Bonner-Reed also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of California at Berkeley. She has also attended the Broad Center for the Management of School Systems and successfully completed the Accredited Master of Education in Educational Leadership program.

“Jevelyn brings great experience and energy to the work, and indeed, this marks an important point in The Belk Foundation’s nearly 95-year history,” said Belk Foundation Board Chair John R. Belk. “We are looking forward to her leadership and the work and impact ahead for students across Charlotte and the state.”

The Foundation continues its dedication to promoting evidence-based approaches to improving early literacy in Charlotte and across North Carolina, a focal point of the Foundation’s investments since 2013. Additionally, the Foundation’s five-year strategic issue of equitable access to effective educators remains a commitment through 2024.

“The Belk Foundation’s bold vision, intentional focus, and positive impact in education are why I am so honored to serve as their next executive director. I am excited to bring my experience working in grant development and management as well as educator and leadership pipeline development in North Carolina school districts,” said Jevelyn Bonner-Reed.

Bonner-Reed will begin officially on August 1, 2022, and will prioritize developing relationships with the Foundation’s current partners. More information about the Foundation’s funding priorities and process can be found on the Foundation’s website, www.belkfoundation.org.

About The Belk Foundation: The Belk Foundation is a Charlotte-based family foundation that supports public education by strengthening teachers and school leaders, and ensuring that students are achieving on or above grade level by the third grade. Now in its fourth generation of family leadership, The Belk Foundation serves as the public expression of gratitude and commitment shown by the family that created the Belk department store organization. The Foundation considers grant inquires on a rolling basis through its Letter of Inquiry process on its website, www.belkfoundation.org, and extends final applications twice annually by invitation only. Those interested in learning more about the Foundation’s grantmaking priorities and strategic issues may read more in its Five-Year Impact Plan on its website. Since 2000, The Belk Foundation has invested more than $53 million in our community. More information is available at www.belkfoundation.org.

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