The Pando Initiative Board of Directors has been working diligently over the past few months to identify a new Executive Director to take over from Penny Olsen as she retires. We are excited to announce that Nichole “Niki” Childers has been selected by the Pando Initiative Board as the new Executive Director! Niki will join the organization on July 15th. Penny Olsen will be officially retiring on August 1st.
Niki has spent the last 20 years of her career in education and nonprofit work, most recently as Sr. Director of Strategic Growth & Corporate Initiatives with Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), where she was responsible for the design, management, and implementation of JAG’s national partnerships for the 1,450 communities in its national network. Niki began her career with JAG in the classroom at Wichita North High School where she worked directly with students, preparing them to achieve successful employment outcomes following high school as well as advocating for the program and developing a pool of effective community support resources.
Niki is a long-time Wichitan and has maintained a strong connection to the community throughout her career. In addition to her recent JAG responsibilities, she serves as an adjunct lecturer at Wichita State University where she teaches a course on cultivating culture and change as part of the organizational leadership and learning program.
“I am thrilled to become part of this exceptional organization, which serves a vast number of students in Kansas. The unwavering commitment of the Pando Initiative to enhancing student engagement and promoting success in education and beyond aligns seamlessly with my personal dedication to community service,” shared Niki. “I eagerly anticipate collaborating with the devoted staff, students, and community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission and vision.”
“Recognizing her passion for helping students reach their full potential, the Pando Board is excited to introduce Niki Childers as the new Pando Executive Director,” said Karl Hesse, incoming Pando Board Chair. “She brings a considerable amount of experience to the Pando organization that ranges from hands-on work with students in USD 259 to top-level leadership positions in a national youth development organization. The Pando Board looks forward to working with Niki as our amazing Pando staff members continue helping students thrive in schools across Sedgwick County and also continue providing financial literacy education across Kansas through Pando’s financial literacy program Reality U.”
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Pando Board’s Transition Committee Chair Tim Link at tim@linkresourcegroup.net.