Wanda J. Willis, M.A. has been selected for the newly-created position of Vice President, Civic Leadership for The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.
Willis has a long, local career in development and community leadership, most recently as Director of Community Engagement and Inclusion for the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. Prior to that, she held several leadership positions at Edward Waters College (now University) including Assistant Vice President of Institutional Advancement. She was also the Director of Development for Major Gifts for Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Foundation. When she joins The Community Foundation on April 19, she will be part of the executive team, with primary responsibilities for the organization’s current and prospective civic leadership initiatives.
Willis serves on the steering committee of the Women’s Giving Alliance, an initiative of The Community Foundation. She is president of the Bold City Chapter of the Links, Incorporated; serves on the steering committee of Elevate Women; and is a member of the Jacksonville Women’s Network Class of 2022. She is currently on the local board of directors for Teach for America and the American Cancer Society. Previous board participation includes Jr. League of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Country Day School, Mal Washington Kids Foundation, WJCT, Association for Fundraising Professionals and The Bridge of Northeast Florida. She is a graduate of the 2002 Leadership Jacksonville class. She has been recognized with the Pam Paul Community Service Award by the Jr. League of Jacksonville (1999-2000), the Distinguished Couple Award by the Women of Color Cultural Foundation, Inc. (2012), and the Minority Professional Woman of the Year by the Jax Chamber (2018).
Willis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Augusta State University in Augusta, GA and a Master’s degree in Management from St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota. She and her husband live in Jacksonville.