Madera County Public Health Assistant Director Stephanie Nathan, seen here engaging on a panel at an equity conference (second from left), has been announced as United Way Fresno and Madera Counties' next president and CEO. Photo contributed

The board at United Way Fresno and Madera Counties announced that after conducting a national search, they have found their next president and CEO in Stephanie Nathan, assistant director for Madera County Public Health since 2018.

Nathan holds a BA in political science from the University of California, Riverside, and a Master of Public Health degree with a specialization in health policy and leadership from Loma Linda University.

This will be her first chief executive position.

 

In her role at Madera County Public Health, Nathan oversees non-clinical programs including Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), health education and quality improvement.

Her leadership has been pivotal in strategic planning, community health improvement and implementing equity-focused initiatives to address health disparities, according to a United Way news release. Her contributions include leading Madera Public Health towards accreditation and implementing performance management and quality improvement systems.

“We have made an excellent choice identifying a dynamic leader who exemplifies the values and future of the United Way and a leader who effectively builds internal systems while sharing our commitment to dismantling barriers to prosperity. This was truly a perfect match,” said United Way board chairman Kirk Haynes.

Nathan also serves as president of Madera NAACP, as a City of Madera Community Development Block Grant Commissioner, as a school site council member and as an adjunct lecturer at University of California, Merced. She has taught in the public health program since 2017. 

Isaiah Green, United Way executive committee member and chair of the search committee, agrees that Nathan has the exact combination of hard skills and a heart for servant leadership that the organization, which just celebrated its centennial anniversary, needs moving into the next era.

“Stephanie has years of experience working to fix disparities amongst different populations,” Green said. “This will be a way for her to continue that work on a larger scale, helping even more working families reach their prosperity goals.

“I see so much potential in Fresno and Madera counties,” said Nathan. “I’m excited to work with the staff, community leaders, and our partners to drive innovation, enhance the services that United Way already offers, and further integrate equity into the mission of the work.”

The CEO role at United Way Fresno and Madera Counties opened when Lindsay Fox stepped down this past spring, after serving the organization for eight years. Kyle B. Rahn is currently appointed as interim president and CEO.

The national search to replace Fox was conducted by Paul Towne of Cooper Coleman LLC, an executive search and consulting firm that specializes in the social sector. Nathan will officially assume the position on Oct. 28.