SEATTLE – The Board of Trustees of Casey Family Programs has selected Shelia Evans-Tranumn of New York as its new chair effective April 21, 2011.

Ms. Evans-Tranumn joined the board in 2003 and most recently served as secretary. She succeeds Gary R. Severson, who was chair since 2001 and will remain a member of the board.

Ms. Evans-Tranumn has an extensive background in public education and has brought important perspectives that have influenced the efforts of Casey Family Programs to improve the lives of vulnerable children and their families across the United States.

The career of Ms. Evans-Tranumn has been informed by her strong belief that all children deserve a fair opportunity to succeed.

“I am excited for this new opportunity to provide leadership to Casey Family Programs in our continuing efforts to improve the lives of vulnerable children and families across the nation,” she said. “Our foundation is committed to the goal of all children having safe and stable families, as well as supportive communities.”

Ms. Evans-Tranumn retired last year as associate commissioner of education for the New York State Education Department, Office of New York City School and Community Services. She worked four decades in the education system, including 16 years as a junior and senior high school English teacher and assistant principal in New York City. She also served four years as director of Auxiliary Services for High Schools in New York, the largest alternative high school program in the country.

She currently is executive director of a New York City charter school and consults with the countries of Denmark and Sweden on performance-based management.

Ms. Evans-Tranumn serves on numerous boards and commissions that address education, race and gender issues, and has received more than 100 awards recognizing her contributions. She has all credits toward a Ph.D. in English at New York University and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Medgar Evers College in New York City. She earned a master's degree in English education at Long Island University and a bachelor's degree in English at North Carolina Central University.

“It is a tremendous comfort to me to be able to hand over the role of chair to such a capable person and someone who cares so deeply for all people,” Mr. Severson said. “Children, families and communities all across America are well-served to have Shelia Evans-Tranumn working tirelessly on their behalf.”

Mr. Severson, of Seattle, has been a Casey Family Programs trustee since 1996. He presided over the board during a time that the foundation adopted a broader mission statement “to provide and improve – and ultimately prevent the need for – foster care in the United States.” He was board chair during the formulation and launch of the 2020 Strategy, which aims to safely reduce the number of children in foster care and improve the lives of those currently in the system. He also chaired the board through the hiring of William C. Bell as president and CEO.

In addition to Casey Family Programs, Mr. Severson has served on many other boards and advisory committees – a reflection of his diverse interests. They include: First Interstate Bank of Washington (now Wells Fargo Bank); Pacific Lutheran University; Partners in Public Education; the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle; and the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington.

Mr. Severson led the Casey Family Programs board during an era of change at the foundation that has been marked by innovation. Important projects and initiatives in the past decade have included: the emphasis on systems improvement and hiring of strategic consultants; the formal adoption of permanency as a direct services practice priority; the release of the influential Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study; and facilitating the rise in the use of permanency roundtables across the country.

He is especially proud of having helped expand the influence of the board and the foundation from regional to national, and ushering in more diversity to the board of trustees.

Ms. Evans-Tranumn is the first person of color to chair the Casey Family Programs board of trustees. It also is the first time that all four board officers – chair, vice chair, treasurer and secretary – are women.

“The vision of Gary Severson has helped make Casey Family Programs the highly respected foundation that we are today,” Ms. Evans-Tranumn said. “His thoughtful leadership always struck the right balance between compassion and insistence. He is a man of gentility and excellence, and I’m honored to follow him as chair and glad that I can continue to turn to him on the board for guidance and knowledge.”