TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy’s board of directors announced today that British A. Robinson has been selected as the Foundation’s new president and CEO, effective October 1, 2018.

“We are so pleased to welcome British to the Barbara Bush Foundation. She brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership, as well as proven expertise in building the partnerships necessary to effect real, transformative change in areas of enormous need, like literacy,” said Mark Kaplan, chair of the Barbara Bush Foundation board of directors. “Perhaps just as importantly, she infuses her work with warmth, compassion and a heart for service – values that were touchstones for our founder, former first lady Barbara Bush, and continue to guide our work to carry out her vision of literacy for all.”

Robinson is a visionary leader with more than 20 years of experience leading initiatives in international and domestic health, corporate social responsibility, public-private partnerships, government relations, and advocacy and policy development. In her most recent role as founding CEO of the Women’s Heart Alliance, Robinson oversaw all aspects of the initiative, including its education/awareness campaign, advocacy and fundraising efforts, operations, program implementation and strategic alliances.

Her extensive nonprofit leadership experience also includes service as senior vice president of innovation and strategic initiatives at Women for Women International, and as vice president of global strategy and programs at Susan G. Komen. Robinson also served at the U.S. Department of State as the deputy coordinator/director of private sector engagement for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

“I am thrilled to join the Barbara Bush Foundation, and excited by the opportunity to advance its work to transform the lives of the 36 million low-literate adults in the U.S.,” said Robinson. “I’ve dedicated my life and career to advocating on behalf of the most underserved communities in our society and working to solve the challenges that prevent them from fulfilling their potential. Literacy is absolutely critical to the success of not just individuals, but our nation as a whole, and should be on the hearts and minds of every American.”

Over the past 29 years, the Barbara Bush Foundation has been the nation’s leading advocate for family literacy, raising and providing more than $110 million in support to create or expand family literacy programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Through its groundbreaking Barbara Bush Foundation Adult Literacy XPRIZE competition, launched in 2015, the Foundation is now the single largest provider of literacy services to adults in the U.S. who read below a third-grade level. Under Robinson’s leadership, the Foundation will build on these achievements with the implementation of a new strategic plan aimed to accelerate and amplify the development of innovative strategies to expand access to education for Americans of all ages.

“The Barbara Bush Foundation is poised to write the next chapter of its nearly 30-year story, and we are so happy that British will bring her thoughtful, innovative leadership to our efforts,” said Doro Bush Koch, Barbara Bush Foundation honorary chair. “My mother’s passion for literacy has impacted countless lives over the years. We are committed to honoring her legacy by sharing the life-changing gift of literacy with many more families in the years to come.”

Robinson holds a master’s degree in government from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in public policy and business administration from George Washington University, and has received an honorary doctorate from Fairfield University. She serves on the boards of the Center for Migration Studies, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and the Mercy Health Clinic, and on the advisory council of the Inter-American Foundation.