IECA Foundation Announces Change In Director

The IECA Foundation is thrilled to announce that Angela Han has joined the IECA Foundation as its new Executive Director. Angela brings to the organization over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, including experience as a fundraiser and educator. According to Foundation Chair, Michael Spence, "Angela offers an ideal combination of skills and expertise to the Foundation. We are delighted to bring her on board."

Han has spent a number of years working in the arts and education. During her time as Executive Director with the Michigan Philharmonic, the orchestra doubled the number of students reached through its education programs and also started a youth orchestra. She also spent several years as Research Director for the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, a national association of funders. In this role she advised members in their efforts to improve access to the arts and arts education. She began her career as an informal science educator, working primarily with underserved students in the city of Detroit.

Her work developing and managing programs is complemented by her formal education. She holds an MBA in nonprofit management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as degrees in music and physics.

Han is excited to be joining the Foundation and lending her expertise to further its work. She is also currently working on several projects that address the Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards, creating resources to support the shift to the new academic standards.

Angela will join the Foundation on July 1. She can be reached at angela@iecafoundation.org.

At the same time, the Foundation also bids farewell to Darchelle M. Garner, the IECA Foundation's first Executive Director. Garner is stepping down from the position on June 30.

"You have done fabulous work as our Executive Director and have brought us to a new level," said Jean P. Hague, Emeritus Trustee of the IECA Foundation. Garner has been with the Foundation since 2011.

"There has been more energy and new directions for the IECA Foundation over the past three years, and Darchelle has been at the center of that change," said Steve Antonoff, past chair of the IECA Foundation Board of Trustees. He noted that Darchelle's efforts led to the success of the 2011 cookbook fundraiser and last fall's San Diego Zoo fund raising event, and to the awarding of over $150,000 to worthy projects. The development of new marketing materials, a website upgrade, and the creation of the new Foundation video are also directly linked to Darchelle's leadership. He also noted numerous infrastructure improvements during Darchelle's tenure.

Prior to joining the IECA Foundation, Garner worked as Vice President of The CHEST Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American College of Chest Physicians. She also worked at Chicago Children's Museum. She has degrees from Brown University and Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. Darchelle has traveled the world to aid those in need.

When she was hired, Antonoff said, "We want to make more of a difference in the lives of young people who suffer from lack of educational opportunity, lack of support, and lack of optimism about their future." Thanks to Darchelle, the Foundation is well on its way to meeting these goals.

After June, Darchelle can be reached at darchelleg@aol.com.

Listen to Michael Spence, Chairman of IECA Foundation, as he talks about the Foundation's mission and the new Executive Director.

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The IECA Foundation is dedicated to identifying and supporting programs with significant positive impact on students and their educational environments, especially those helping students make sound educational choices.