Elizabeth Anderson Named Director of North Carolina Center for After School Programs

RALEIGH, NC (December, 14 2022)– The Public School Forum of North Carolina has named Elizabeth Anderson the new Director of the North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs. Anderson brings with her vast nonprofit and out-of-school time experience.  

“I am extremely excited to be coming on board as Director of NC CAP, especially now, at what I consider to be a moment full of potential. NC CAP has a strong, 20-year history of amazing work across North Carolina to lean on as we look ahead at how we can best respond to the urgent needs afterschool professionals have expressed over the past few years,” said Anderson. “I think we have a great opportunity right now to improve our education systems as a whole and look forward to doing my part for afterschool and out-of-school time programs in this new role.”

In the role of Director, Anderson will head the NC CAP’s current initiatives and annual events while continuing to expand the Center’s efforts to connect afterschool programs across NC; provide afterschool programs with information and support to help strengthen and grow them; provide the public with access to and information about afterschool and out-of-school time opportunities; advocate for policies at the local, state and federal level that recognize the importance of afterschool/out-of-school time learning; and infuse STEM learning into afterschool programs.

NC CAP is part of a 50-State Afterschool Network focused on improving education and out-of-school time opportunities. Anderson will also lead her team in continuing to further the network’s goals of creating a sustainable structure of partnerships focused on supporting policy development at all levels, supporting the development and growth of statewide policies that will secure the resources that are needed to sustain new and existing school-based/school-linked afterschool programs, and supporting statewide systems and partnerships to ensure programs are of high quality. 

Throughout her career Anderson has demonstrated a commitment to social equity and justice. In her most recent role as a program director at Chatham County Partnership for Children, she led several programs aimed at improving and providing better access to early childhood care and education. She’s also held positions at various other nonprofit organizations including UNC Refugee Mental Health and Wellness Initiative, Communities in Schools of New Mexico, Fine Arts for Children & Teens and Girls Incorporated. 

“We’re thrilled to have Elizabeth Anderson join us to lead NC CAP. I am excited to see her and her team build upon the prior work of NC CAP, and her experience and passion for out-of-school time experiences will certainly help the network and programs across NC flourish,” said Dr. Mary Ann Wolf, President and Executive Director of the Public School Forum of North Carolina. “She has demonstrated that she is a strong leader and education advocate who will lead her team and work with the larger Forum team to continue striving for the best possible education for the children of North Carolina.”