Smart Start of Mecklenburg County is pleased to announce the selection of Nancy Hughes as its new executive director effective July 24, 2017.
Nancy has served as an advocate for young children throughout her career. She is also no stranger to Smart Start, serving as the Executive Director of Smart Start in Johnston County for eight years. Nancy was the founding Executive Director of this partnership in 1998 growing it from a startup organization to annual revenue of $3.5M when she departed in 2006.
Nancy joins Smart Start from The Arc of Mecklenburg County where she has led the organization as Executive Director since February 2016. Prior to this role Nancy spent seven years at CCRI in the role of Senior Vice President of Program Operations. In this role Nancy provided leadership and supervision to a fifty-member child care resource and referral agency staff to deliver cost effective and results-driven programs and initiatives and also worked closely with Smart Start of Mecklenburg County on the various programs SSMC funds.
Nancy's additional experience includes serving as an independent consultant for two years where she worked with Together We Feed (2015), Children's Advocacy and Protection Center (2015) and Foundation for the Carolinas (2014).
Nancy received her Bachelors degree from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and her Masters of Public Administration from North Carolina State University.