Dr. Naima Ricks Appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey (GSHNJ)
Debra Rutt, Marketing & Communications Manager
Mobile: 201-419-8085
drutt@gshnj.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dr. Naima Ricks Appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey
WESTFIELD, NJ (May 24, 2024) – The Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey (GSHNJ) proudly announce the appointment of Dr. Naima Ricks as the new Chair of the Board of Directors. Dr. Ricks brings a lifelong commitment to the Girl Scouts organization and a distinguished career in community leadership and education.
Dr. Naima Ricks has been an active participant in Girl Scouts since the age of four, beginning as a Daisy Scout and continuing her involvement through her senior year of high school. The Girl Scouts organization provided her with opportunities to engage in numerous community service initiatives and fostered the principles of courage, confidence, and character that she upholds to this day. She has previously served as the Service Unit Manager for GSHNJ for over three years and most recently served as the 1st Vice Chair on the Board of Directors.
In her professional career, Dr. Ricks serves as the Executive Director of After-School All-Stars New Jersey, where she demonstrates dynamic and visionary leadership to improve the community she has been a part of since the age of two. Her notable achievements include being elected Vice President of the Roselle Board of Education in 2013, making her the youngest elected official in her hometown of Roselle, NJ. Dr. Ricks has been recognized on InsiderNJ’s African American Power List for the past six years, awarded “Role Model of the Year” by the Roselle Branch NAACP, and recently named one of New Jersey’s Top Women Leaders.
Dr. Ricks’ extensive leadership experience and strong commitment to community service will be a tremendous asset to Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey. Her dedication to empowering young women aligns seamlessly with the organization’s mission, and the Council looks forward to the valuable insights and guidance she will provide.
Dr. Ricks holds a bachelor's degree from William Paterson University and both a Master's Degree and Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University. She is also a proud and active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Gamma Omicron Zeta Chapter. Additionally, she is the author of her first book, "The Empowerment ABC’s," available on Amazon.com.
About Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey
Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey (GSHNJ) believes in the power of every girl. Our leadership program is designed to help a girl discover who she is, what she can do, and connects her with a powerful community of girls and mentors to make it happen. With unique opportunities, Girl Scouts explore, learn, succeed and take action to make a difference in their community. Providing over 13,000 New Jersey girls access to premier leadership programs and mentors throughout Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, southern Warren, and parts of Middlesex counties, GSHNJ offers girls a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership. GSHNJ has two service centers located in North Branch and Westfield and operates three summer camps: Camp Hoover in Middleville, NJ, Camp DeWitt in Hillsborough, NJ, and The OVAL in Maplewood, NJ. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, please visit www.gshnj.org
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May 24, 2024
