Headwaters hires new director, executive assistant
The Headwaters Foundation announced earlier this month that now-former Executive Director Lynnie Genho stepped down from the role Sept. 1, citing the need to attend to her family.
Brittany Dwyer, who had been serving since July as acting executive director, was approved by the education nonprofit’s board to become the new full-time executive director having taken office on Sept. 1.
Genho “brought to the Executive Director position years of experience with the Rappahannock County public school system, and worked with energy and enthusiasm to further Headwaters' mission despite the challenges that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic,” the organization said in a news release.
“The Board appreciates her dedication and commitment as Executive Director, and wishes Lynnie and her family all the best going forward.”
Dwyer is a graduate of Rappahannock County High School, and a former Headwaters' intern and scholarship recipient. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from George Mason University, and recently completed her master’s degree in social work at the University of Southern California. Before joining the Headwaters staff, Brittany worked for the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation and the Mental Health Association of Fauquier County.
“When I was in college, I was known as the girl from the place with no stoplights. No matter where I go in life, that's who I'll always be. Coming back to Rappahannock to accept this role has been one of my proudest achievements,” Dwyer said in a statement.
“I'm grateful that the work I do and the money we raise at Headwaters directly benefits the youth in my hometown. The kids in this community are so bright and creative — I want them to know that the sky's the limit for what they want to achieve. In my wildest dreams, I never believed I'd go from a high school intern at Headwaters to being their executive director in the course of a decade,” she said.
The nonprofit’s board also announced Cierra Chambers, another Rappahannock native, was hired as the organization’s full-time executive assistant.
“It has been a pleasure to have been hired as Executive Assistant at Headwaters,” Chambers said in a statement. “It’s funny how life seems to always come full circle, as I was a past mentee for the Starfish Mentoring Program, a recipient of Headwaters scholarships, a former Headwaters intern, and speaker at the Taste of Rappahannock.”
“Headwaters seems to run in my blood. We have great things in the works here and I can’t wait to implement them and continue fostering educational excellence within our community,” she said.
Chambers also graduated from Rappahannock County High School and was a Headwaters scholarship recipient. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communications in 2021 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
“We're pleased to welcome both Brittany and Cierra to the Headwaters team,” the news release said.
BRITTANY DWYER: “When I was in college, I was known as the girl from the place with no stoplights. No matter where I go in life, that's who I'll always be. Coming back to Rappahannock to accept this role has been one of my proudest achievements.”