Connecticut Community Foundation’s board of trustees proudly announces the appointment of Kathy Taylor as the organization’s next president and Chief Executive Officer. Taylor, currently a professor at Connecticut State Community College, Naugatuck Valley and a former chair of the Foundation’s board of trustees, will succeed Julie Loughran, who plans to step down from the position in June after ten years at the Foundation, more than six of them as its leader.
Taylor will be only the fourth CEO in the history of the 100-year-old Foundation, which operated as a volunteer-driven entity until Ingrid Manning became its first staff member and leader in the early 1980s.
Reflecting on Loughran’s tenure, Michael Giardina, chair of Connecticut Community Foundation’s board of trustees, expressed gratitude, saying, “As CEO, Julie has led with vision, perseverance and deep sense of collaboration through a transformative period in which the Foundation has centered racial equity in our work and pushed with intensity and focus toward our vision of an equitable, inclusive, just and vibrant community in which all residents have what they need to thrive.”
The Foundation’s board has planned for this transition over the past year, conducting a rigorous nationwide search to identify Loughran’s successor. Taylor’s deep experience with the Foundation and as a leader in the community made her a standout candidate and the clear choice to lead the Foundation’s work. Taylor previously served as a trustee of the Foundation for six years and chaired the committee that developed the Foundation’s current strategic direction in 2019.
Commenting on Taylor’s selection, Loughran stated, “I can’t imagine a better candidate to lead the Foundation in the years to come. I have deep respect for Kathy’s judgment and leadership, which is rooted in her keen understanding of the Foundation’s mission and values, as well as the community’s needs. I can’t wait to see where the Foundation will go with her leadership.”
Expressing her enthusiasm, Taylor remarked, “Being a part of the Foundation’s work for many years as a volunteer, I am very excited to step into a new role that will challenge me to look at our work through a different lens. I am eager to listen to and learn from the rich diversity of voices and perspectives in our community as we chart the path ahead. It will be a tremendous privilege to lead Connecticut Community Foundation’s work in partnership with community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and donors as we foster an equitable and inclusive community throughout Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills.”
Taylor brings a wealth of experience to her new role. A graduate of Hampton University and the University of Connecticut School of Law, she has been a professor of legal studies at Connecticut State Community College (formerly Naugatuck Valley Community College) for 17 years. During her tenure at the college, Taylor has served as interim associate dean of academic affairs, special assistant to the president, founding director of the Academic Center for Excellence, and president of the Faculty Senate. Outside of the college, she advises nonprofit organizations, corporations, law enforcement agencies, and K-12 school districts on bias, structural barriers, inclusive workplaces, and equitable hiring practices. Taylor lives in Waterbury with her husband and three children.
Giardina expressed confidence in Taylor’s leadership and the Foundation’s future, saying, “Kathy brings deep knowledge and connection both to the Foundation and to the community we serve. Her vision, passion, and integrity will enable us to continue on our path as we strive always to expand our reach and increase our impact. As we bid farewell to Julie and welcome Kathy into her new role, our board of trustees and staff are partnering to ensure a transition that values continuity in our relationships with the donors, nonprofit partners, and community leaders whose partnership is central to our work.”
Taylor will officially assume her new role on June 17.
