Heather Reynolds is returning to lead Catholic Charities Fort Worth more than a month after the nonprofit suddenly parted ways with its former CEO.
Officials from the nonprofit announced Reynolds, who oversaw the charity from 2005 to 2018, as its next president and CEO on Tuesday. For the past seven years, she’s been at the University of Notre Dame, where she has served as the Michael L. Smith managing director at the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities.
The appointment drew support from members of the nonprofit’s board and Fort Worth Catholic Bishop Michael Olson, according to an Oct. 7 press release.
In August, Catholic Charities Fort Worth officials announced that former CEO Michael Iglio was no longer with the nonprofit. No details of the separation were released, and Beth Kwasny was appointed interim leader. Iglio’s departure came after the nonprofit reversed a decision to end its federally funded role in leading Texas’ refugee resettlement.
Catholic Charities Fort Worth “took a different approach with the hiring of this CEO role by seeking out talent ourselves,” said Allison Rix, the interim board chair who oversaw the CEO selection committee.
“When the selection committee heard Heather was returning to Fort Worth, we actively pursued her given her unmatched strategic vision, fundraising and leadership skills both at this agency and at Notre Dame,” Rix said. “It’s one of the most exciting hires we’ve made as we have agreed to a long-term tenure to ensure not only stability for today, but also the runway and planning required to eventually hire and train a successor under her leadership someday.”
Reynolds was with Catholic Charities Fort Worth for 17 years. She joined the organization as a 22-year-old intern in the clinical counseling department. She became its CEO at 25.
The Catholic nonprofit has a long history of serving the most vulnerable, Reynolds said.
“There is so much work to be done in service to those struggling in poverty,” she said. “I can’t wait to help take what we started and scale it with the people and community that already have my heart.”
Reynolds will formally step into the role in February. Kwasny is to remain interim CEO until then.
Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org.
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