NEW LEADERSHIP FOR WADE EDWARDS FOUNDATION AND LEARNING LAB
March 2012
Betsey McFarland has been hired as the new Executive Director of the Wade Edwards Foundation and Learning Lab. A search committee of board members and key stakeholders from the community interviewed candidates and then invited finalists to spend part of a day meeting staff and seeing the technology and tutoring lab in action. “Ms. McFarland was selected from a very experienced field of candidates,” said Walt Sherlin, Search Committee Chair. “She brings with her a strong nonprofit background, a dedication to young people, and a commitment to community involvement.”
Betsey McFarland spent 20 years in Florida working for several nonprofits including two hospitals, the Executive Service Corps of Tampa Bay, Kid City – The Children’s Museum of Tampa, the Humane Society of Pinellas and most recently Pathfinder Outdoor Education. She has a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from the University of Tampa, FL. She has held leadership positions with various community groups: the League of Women Voters, A Brighter Community Preschool and Family Support Center, South Tampa Ecumenical Ministries, and both the local Hillsborough County and Florida State Foster/Adoptive Parent Associations.
The Wade Edwards Foundation and Learning Lab (WELL) offers afterschool tutoring, homework management and technology access to high school students in the community. The WELL is a safe, welcoming environment providing the student community with opportunities for achievement, enrichment and service in preparation for personal and academic success. Its popular intergenerational Link2Learn program encourages residents from Raleigh senior housing to learn the basics of email, texting and Facebook under the tutelage of Broughton HS business technology students. The WELL also offers community forums and summer programs for area high school and rising 8th grade youth (www.wade.org). Other community partners use the WELL’s technology resources for programs as well.