SOUTH BEND – Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County’s Board of Directors named Kristen Strom, former Director of Program Impact at the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County, as the new Executive Director. Ms. Strom succeeds the Club leadership role previously served by Jory Fitzgerald Kelly.
Ms. Strom is a native of South Bend, with a BS in Education from IU Bloomington and a M.Ed. from The Citadel. Before coming to the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County, Ms. Strom taught high school social studies in Charleston, South Carolina.
As the Director of Program Impact for the past three years, Strom has been responsible for overseeing all five of the Boys & Girls Clubs afterschool program sites and the Compass Club Program, providing before and after school programming to seven schools in School City of Mishawaka. Outside of her new position, Strom was a graduate of Class 41 of the Leadership South Bend/Mishawaka Signature Program. Strom also served her community as a coach for Girls on the Run Michiana, a mentor for South Bend Education Foundation and as a member of the South Bend Tribune’s editorial advisory board.
Board Chair, Regina Emberton: “Kristen’s experience, education and passion for the mission make her an ideal fit for this role and we are all looking forward to her leadership going forward. The Board is confident that she will continue the important work of the Clubs to support the youth in our community by providing quality after-school and summer programming in a safe environment where youth participate in engaging programs.”
For over forty years, Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County (www.bgcsjc.org) has enabled and inspired young people, especially those who need Clubs most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County serve more than 1,100 young people annually at five Club sites in South Bend and Mishawaka. Key programs emphasize leadership development; education and career exploration; community service; technology training; financial literacy; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and family outreach.
