Gulf Coast Community Foundation Announces Promotion and Growth

March 23, 2022 – Venice

Gulf Coast Community Foundation has announced the promotion of Jennifer Johnston to Director of Community Leadership, and welcomes Dr. Kameron Partridge Hodgens as she joins the community leadership team to serve side by side with Johnston as a Director of Community Leadership. The move reinforces Gulf Coast’s leadership position to serve the community and advance its mission. In their new roles they will focus on developing and stewarding strategic initiatives that create long-term systemic improvements and regional transformation. 

“Jennifer and Kameron represent the innovation and dynamic energy that drive our successful community initiatives,” said Dr. Mark S. Pritchett President|CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. “I am thrilled to welcome them both into this leadership role to drive our work forward and serve our incredibly strong nonprofit community.”

Johnston has served on the community leadership team since 2017, working closely with Senior Vice President for Community Leadership Jon Thaxton on critical initiatives fueled by research- driven Regional Scans. She leads the Here4YOUth Mental Health initiative together with Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, and drives change to positively influence the long-term health and wellbeing of our region. Johnston’s background is in public health, and she received her Master of Public Health (M.P.H) from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Kameron Partridge Hodgens joins Gulf Coast from The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center where she served as the CEO|Executive Director since 2014. In her role, she was responsible for the management of the five-acre campus that houses regional nonprofit partners, fundraising efforts for the sustainability of the organizational mission, vision, and values, as well as overall strategic planning. She received her Masters and Ph.D. in Lifespan Developmental Psychology from University of Alabama at Birmingham, and brings a breadth of knowledge in the areas of health and human services, and public policy influence. 

“Stepping into these roles, Jennifer and Kameron will be able to leverage their proven skills to accelerate our impact in the community,” shared Jon Thaxton, Senior Vice President for Community Leadership. “They will directly impact the lives of our community members by living our mission, and bringing us closer to our vision of thriving communities with opportunities for all.”