Junior Achievement of the Heartland has announced that Lysa Hegland will be its new president and CEO, effective Wednesday, Aug. 20.
Ms. Hegland brings more than 25 years of leadership in education, nonprofit development, and community engagement across the Quad Cities area, a JA of the Heartland Thursday, Aug. 7, news release said.
She succeeds Dougal Nelson, who has led the organization since 2018. He announced his retirement in April.
“Lysa is a strong, community-minded leader who understands the power of education and connection,” Mr. Nelson said in the release.
“Her track record speaks for itself, and I am confident she will lead JA of the Heartland with integrity, energy, and a real focus on students. The future is bright under her leadership.”
Ms. Hegland joins JA during a time of growth, as the organization said it is focusing on ensuring more students gain access to real-world learning opportunities that help them explore careers, build financial knowledge, and develop key life skills.
Junior Achievement is deepening its partnerships with local schools, offering classroom programs, career fairs, and simulations like JA Inspire and the JA Stock Market Challenge, while also expanding district-wide efforts that embed JA programs into everyday curriculum.
“JA helps students see what’s possible – and gives them the tools to get there,” Ms. Hegland said in the release. “JA has always been about preparing young people for their future. I’m honored to join a team that’s so committed to making sure every student in our region has access to these kinds of meaningful learning experiences.”
Deep ties, strong leadership
Brian Duffy, immediate past chair of the Governing Board of Directors, added: “We are excited to welcome Lysa to JA of the Heartland. Her passion for education, deep ties in the community, and strong leadership experience make her a perfect fit for this role. We look forward to working together to expand our impact and ensure more students across the region are equipped with the skills and confidence to succeed.”
Before joining JA, Ms. Hegland spent 18 years at Scott Community College. There she served as director of operations and resource development and executive director of the Scott Community College Foundation.
She managed key campus operations and oversaw the foundation’s philanthropic efforts. That included leading initiatives to support students and advance educational programs. She is a member of a local women’s investment club – the Lucrative Ladies. She also previously held leadership roles at Renew Moline/Moline Center Partners and Simon Property Group. She also has been active in numerous community and professional organizations. They include various QCA Women’s giving and leadership networks and AFP Quad Cities.
Ms. Hegland holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in business management from St. Ambrose University. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).
Junior Achievement is dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices.
JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship.
Locally, Junior Achievement of the Heartland serves 24 counties in eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
