Harrisburg, Pa. – The National Sexual Violence Resource Center announced that Yolanda Edrington will be the new Chief Operating Officer serving as the leading nonprofit’s Director. Edrington will replace former NSVRC Director Karen Baker, who was recently named the Chief Executive Officer of PCAR/NSVRC.
Formerly NSVRC’s Associate Director, Edrington has served as the organization’s Interim Director since Baker took the helm of PCAR/NSVRC as CEO. Prior to joining NSVRC, Edrington had over 15 years of experience in leadership and community engagement from organizations including Hamilton Health Center and the American Cancer Society.
“For the past fifteen months, Yolanda has helped NSVRC and PCAR strengthen our internal processes and communication as well as our outreach to new local partners,” said Baker. “I look forward to introducing her to our colleagues throughout the United States and supporting her leadership of NSVRC through its next chapter.”
In this role, Edrington will manage operations of the national center in its mission to provide leadership in preventing and responding to sexual violence through collaborating, sharing and creating resources and promoting research. This includes collaborating with a variety of national partners and funders including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).
“I believe a bright light is being shone on sexual violence, harassment and abuse from the entertainment industry to workplaces across the country,” Edrington said. “I’m excited for this incredible opportunity to lead NSVRC into our next phase. I look forward to continuing relationships with current partners and to developing new partnerships.”
The new NSVRC Director also seeks to incorporate issues of diversity, inclusion and anti-oppression across the organization’s activities.
Edrington is professionally and personally committed to social change. Currently she serves as the Vice President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Harrisburg Chapter. She also advocates for HIV/AIDS awareness through volunteering for community-based programs in Central PA.
ABOUT NSVRC
NSVRC is the leading nonprofit in providing information and tools to prevent and respond to sexual violence. NSVRC translates research and trends into best practices that help individuals, communities and service providers achieve real and lasting change. The center also works with the media to promote informed reporting. Every April, NSVRC leads Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a campaign to educate and engage the public in addressing this widespread issue. NSVRC is also one of the three founding organizations of Raliance, a national, collaborative initiative dedicated to ending sexual violence in one generation.