Veteran executive will drive expansion in evolving nonprofit workforce development landscape
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — March 3, 2026 — City Year Jacksonville, the local chapter of the national nonprofit City Year, announced today the appointment of Dawn Emerick as Senior Vice President and Executive Director. This strategic leadership promotion marks the next chapter of growth and deepened community impact for the organization. Emerick began her new role on March 2, 2026.
“Dawn’s appointment as Executive Director represents a continuation of City Year Jacksonville’s commitment to bold leadership and strategic growth,” said Tammy Butler, Board Chair of City Year Jacksonville. “Her history of building community connection, advancing equity-centered solutions and strengthening organizational effectiveness positions City Year Jacksonville to elevate its impact for students, partners and communities across Northeast Florida.”
In her new role, Emerick will provide strategic leadership to empower City Year employees and AmeriCorps members to ensure their success. She will also drive operational success and revenue generation by generating resources and developing partnerships to build support in both public and private sectors. In addition, she will oversee student impact and school partnerships, expense management, AmeriCorps member and staff recruitment and retention, and board development and relations.
Emerick will serve as a vital link between the local Jacksonville chapter, the City Year Market Group and the City Year national office. City Year’s national organization is actively protecting and strengthening AmeriCorps while simultaneously preparing for a future that may require new funding models, innovative service designs, and greater economic resilience. That means diversifying public and private funding (nationally and locally), designing lower-cost, high-impact service options, leveraging new workforce pathways, and building strong financial reserves to weather disruption.
Emerick brings more than 30 years of executive leadership experience across nonprofit, public sector and civic organizations — guiding transformational work in organizational design, strategic planning, people and culture development, and community partnerships. In her prior role as City Year Jacksonville’s Managing Director of People, Operations and Strategy, she was responsible for developing and implementing a long-term recruitment and culture plan, leading the execution of the strategic planning process and evolving the organization’s operations. She is the former CEO of the Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida, Groundwork Jacksonville and the Health & Human Services Administrator in Corvallis, Oregon, where she created the first Academic Health Department in the state. Before joining City Year, Emerick served as the Chief Strategy Officer and later the Chief Research Officer at the Jacksonville Civic Council.
Emerick’s academic credentials reflect her lifelong dedication to leadership and community wellbeing. She holds a Bachelor’s in Health Education from Frostburg State University, a Master’s of Public Administration and Health Administration and a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Social Marketing from the University of North Florida. She also completed advanced studies in Population Health Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and holds certifications in Change Management and Mental Health First Aid. Beyond her professional achievements, Emerick is a nationally recognized TEDx speaker, podcast host (“Leadership Uncensored”) and author — bringing thoughtful insight into trauma-informed leadership and workplace resilience.
“This is a defining moment for City Year Jacksonville, not just to sustain our impact, but to expand it. We are strengthening schools today while creating clear workforce pathways for tomorrow. That requires disciplined strategy, diversified investment, and courageous partnerships. Together, we will protect what matters, innovate where needed, and ensure every young person we serve is prepared to thrive in school, career, and life.”
This school year, City Year Jacksonville returned to serving Jacksonville middle schools, with student success coaches in place at Landmark and Westside Middle Schools. The organization also serves at seven local elementary schools, including Jacksonville Heights Elementary School, Northwestern Legends Elementary School, Highlands Estates Academy, San Jose Elementary School, Andrew Robinson Elementary School, Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary School and Smart Pope Livingston Elementary School.
City Year is now recruiting 18-25-year-olds interested in completing a paid year of service during the 2026-2027 school year. For more information visit www.cityyear.org/jacksonville.
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About City Year Jacksonville:
City Year helps students and schools succeed, while preparing the next generation of civically engaged leaders who can work across lines of difference. Teams of City Year Student Success Coaches provide holistic support to students, classrooms and the whole school. A 2020 study shows that the more time students spend with Student Success Coaches, the more they improve on social, behavioral and academic skills – skills that help students thrive in school and contribute to their community.
A proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network, City Year is supported by AmeriCorps, local school districts and private philanthropy. City Year partners with public schools in 29 communities across the U.S. and through international affiliates in the U.K. and South Africa. Learn more about City Year Jacksonville at https://www.cityyear.org/jacksonville.