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Lake’s appointment, which is effective July 1, comes as the result of a lengthy executive search process. She will succeed longtime Executive Director Cora Greenberg, who is retiring.
Lake joined the 104-year-old advocacy organization in 1998 as program director and was promoted to deputy director in 2008.
As deputy director, Lake oversaw all of WCA’s program initiatives, and also managed a number of core, administrative functions. One of her most important contributions to the field of youth development was the leadership role she played in the successful effort to raise the age of criminal responsibility in New York.
New York was one of the last two states in the nation to automatically prosecute 16- and 17-year-old adolescents in the adult court system.
Late last year, state policymakers agreed that the Fiscal Year 2018 budget would include legislation that raised the age of criminal responsibility to 18. Now, under Lake’s direction, WCA is well positioned to influence the complex process of implementing the new law.
Lake has deep experience working in the youth development field. Prior to joining WCA, she held positions with YWCA of White Plains and Central Westchester, Associated Black Charities, and National Civic League. Her volunteer work speaks volumes of her commitment to giving back, starting with her Peace Corps service in West Africa and extending to a wide range of groups, including REACH Prep in Stamford, Greenburgh Public Library, Lois Bronz Children’s Center in White Plains, and Greenwich Academy.
Lake holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Amherst College and an MBA with focus on finance and international business from New York University. In her junior year at Amherst, she studied at The Institute for American Universities in Aix-en-Provence, France.
“I feel empowered by the unanimous decision of the board to offer me this significant position and am grateful for the chance to lead WCA into its second century,” Lake said.
For more details, click here: www.wca4kids.org.
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