The Southern AIDS Coalition Board of Directors officially announces today, Derick Wilson as its new executive director. Wilson’s selection was the result of a national search led by Elinvar Corporation. Wilson will begin serving as executive director for Southern AIDS Coalition in March 2020.
“We are thrilled that Derick Wilson will be joining our team as its next executive director. Derick has been a leader in addressing HIV and sexual health in Georgia, and we know his broad leadership and skills will advance our mission to end the HIV epidemic in the South,” Lee Storrow, Board Member and Search Committee Chairperson.
Wilson brings broad experience to Southern AIDS Coalition. In his previous role as the director of sexual health for Fulton County Government in Georgia, Wilson emerged as a leader in his work to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Fulton County. In doing so, his leadership brought diverse stakeholders together to increase the number of people tested and in care.
As an executive, Wilson has more than 25 years of experience implementing, and monitoring, highly effective health interventions, with a focus in HIV. His career has been rooted in a commitment to eliminate the HIV/AIDS epidemic across the South. To achieve this, Wilson has earned a reputation for being bold and innovative. At Fulton County, Wilson developed an award-winning HIV prevention media campaign called #StopHIVATL.
“I am honored and energized to serve as executive director for Southern AIDS Coalition. Southern AIDS Coalition has done amazing work for people living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS across the South. Working with this committed staff and board, I believe we will be able to continue building strong and community focused southern solutions to the HIV epidemic. The road to ending the HIV epidemic in America begins and ends in the South.” said Wilson.
Dafina Ward was previously appointed to serve as interim executive director in July 2019. She will continue to serve as a part of the Southern AIDS Coalition team and ensure a seamless leadership transition.
About Southern AIDS Coalition
Southern AIDS Coalition has become one of the most consequential HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations in America. Southern AIDS Coalition is a Gilead COMPASS Initiative Coordinating Center, and convenes key influencers annually via its signature programs that include Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. SAC is a non-partisan coalition of government, community, and business leaders working alongside thousands of individual members to end the HIV epidemic in the South. We do this through intersectional advocacy; capacity-building assistance; PLHIV leadership development; research and evaluation; and strategic grant making. To learn more or to join us, visit www.southernaidscoalition.org.
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