Alyson Reed is an experienced nonprofit and association executive who is currently working as a freelance consultant, serving a diverse population of clients with a range of projects, including strategic planning, fundraising, conference planning, start-up infrastructure, and interim leadership staffing. A selected client list of recent interim engagements includes: the Society of Interventional Radiology, the Neurocritical Care Society, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (Maryland Affiliate), and the National Communication Association. Other non-interim clients include the ABC Parenting Institute, a start-up nonprofit transitioning from a university affiliation to an independent organization, and Healing Politics, a start-up nonprofit dedicated to training nurses and midwives to run successful campaigns for elective office on a nonpartisan basis.
Over a professional career spanning more than three decades, Ms. Reed has developed extensive expertise in all aspects of association and nonprofit management, including governance, operations, program development, government relations, grassroots mobilization and chapter support, financial oversight, human resources, member recruitment and retention, communications, media relations, publishing, and efforts to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion. She has also developed significant knowledge and expertise in the following topical areas and sectors: Higher Education; Science Policy; Health Policy; Gender Equity; Civic Engagement; Mentoring; Social Sciences & Humanities; Human and Civil Rights.
In 2022, Ms. Reed concluded 14 years of service as Executive Director of the Linguistic Society of America (LSA), a scholarly membership association dedicated to advancing the scientific study of language. Prior to that, Ms. Reed served as the Executive Director of the National Postdoctoral Association (a new start-up organization), the Maryland Commission for Women (a state government agency), and the National Committee on Pay Equity (a coalition of more than 64 member organizations). She has also worked in senior management and policy posts at the National Kidney Foundation of the National Capital Area (a voluntary health organization) and the American College of Nurse-Midwives (a professional association of clinicians). Early in her career, Ms. Reed worked as a radio news reporter for an NPR affiliate in upstate New York, and also as a Project Manager for the League of Women Voters Education Fund (an association with over 100,000 members and chapters in every state).
In addition to her professional experience, Ms. Reed earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Women’s Studies from the George Washington University and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from SUNY-Binghamton. She is also active as a volunteer in her community and nationally, having served on the Boards of many nonprofit organizations, including: the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS); the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA); the National Humanities Alliance (NHA); and the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS).
LinkedIn: Alyson Reed