Boston-based Fenway Health—one of the nation’s foremost health centers for care and research focused on LGBTQIA+ health and HIV/AIDS—has announced the appointment of a new permanent CEO.
Ellen LaPointe will officially assume the role on March 9, 2020.
In early 2018, M. Jane Powers, Fenway’s director of behavioral health, had taken over as acting CEO, after the previous CEO resigned in the wake of sexual harassment and bullying allegations against the Fenway Institute’s director of education and training. An interim CEO, Darlene Stromstad, was then appointed and served for most of 2018 into January 2019, when Powers temporarily resumed the position. Since early 2018, under Stromstad and Powers, Fenway worked hard to implement new widespread policies throughout the organization and restore the trust of its clients, employees and the community.
And after an arduous national search process, Fenway’s board of directors selected LaPointe.
States a press release:
LaPointe has held numerous leadership roles in the nonprofit and public health sectors, working in social justice, research, LGBTQIA+/HIV activism and advocacy, health policy, law, and equity over the last three decades. She currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Northern California Grantmakers in San Francisco, a nonprofit that brings together Bay Area philanthropy to advance the common good. …
Jonathan Matsui, Chair of the Fenway Health Board of Directors, said, “We are delighted to have found an outstanding leader with a proven track record and tremendous commitment to advancing LGBTQIA+ health, HIV treatment and research, racial equity, and social justice. We are confident Ellen has the character, experience, knowledge, skill, energy, passion, and vision needed to lead Fenway Health successfully into the future, and we look forward to working with her.”
“It is an incredible honor to have been selected to join the Fenway Health team,” said LaPointe. “I am well-familiar with the extraordinary, path-breaking role that Fenway Health has played in the provision and advancement of top-quality healthcare for LGBTQIA+ people. I knew the organization well when I was living in New England, and I have been inspired by the organization’s steady, strategic growth and continued evolution and relevance in the community over time.” …
A native of Maine, LaPointe earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. She currently serves on several nonprofit boards, including the Lambda Literary Foundation, One Justice, and the United Philanthropy Forum.
Dr. Matsui commended the CEO Search Committee and its co-chairs, Diane M. Tucker and Scott Walker, for leading a national search process in partnership with the executive search firm Spencer Stuart. The search yielded widespread interest in the position and a diverse pool of qualified applicants from across the country.
Dr. Matsui, on behalf of the Board and staff, also extended his thanks to M. Jane Powers for her service as Acting CEO.
“Jane Powers has provided Fenway Health with immeasurable leadership and stability, and we are immensely grateful to her,” said Dr. Matsui.
“I am excited about this new chapter for Fenway and look forward to working closely with Ellen to ensure a smooth transition in the coming months,” said Powers.
For more on Fenway, go to Fenway Health’s website.
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