Kristina Scott, executive director of the statewide poverty nonprofit Alabama Possible, is leaving her position on Sept. 4, the organization announced Friday. Scott is headed to Dayton, Ohio to take on the role of chief executive officer of Learn to Earn Dayton, an education advocacy organization. Scott had been at Alabama Possible since August 2008.
Under Scott’s leadership, the Alabama nonprofit Alabama worked with state and local education agencies, two- and four-year colleges, community-based organizations, students, and families to increase Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion, according to a press release from the organization. The 2019-20 campaign resulted in more than $66 million in Pell Grants for high schoolers to continue their education after graduation.
Scott also convened the Alabama College Attainment Network to increase college readiness, access and completion in support of the state’s Success Plus educational attainment goal to add 500,000 highly-skilled workers to Alabama’s workforce by 2025.
“Kristina has been a terrific champion for prosperity for all Alabamians, and her work has benefitted the citizens of our state,” said Virginia Patterson, chair of the Alabama Possible board of directors, in a statement. “Although we are sad that Kristina is leaving, we are grateful for her leadership and proud of what she and our terrific staff have accomplished during her tenure. She has positioned this organization for even greater future success.”
“The last 12 years have been the most challenging and rewarding in my career. I am proud of the work that Alabama Possible’s staff, board members, donors, volunteers, and partners have done to transform how people think and talk about economic opportunity and educational attainment in Alabama. I will carry the lessons I learned here for the rest of my life, and I cannot wait to see what’s next for Alabama and Alabama Possible,” Scott said in a statement.
A transition team made up of members of Alabama Possible’s Board of Directors is in place to begin the search for a new executive director.
