Special to IFN
Iredell County Crosby Scholars announced Wednesday that Jennifer Christian has been promoted to executive director of the nonprofit, effective July 1. She succeeds Suzanne Wegmiller, who recently retired from that role.
“I am excited to continue the work that has been done by the Crosby Scholars team, our Board, and our volunteers,” Christian said. “It is an exciting time for Crosby as we celebrate our 10-year anniversary serving students in the Iredell County community.”
Christian has served as Iredell County Crosby Scholars’ High School Program coordinator since 2021, leading student-centered programming while collaborating with staff in traditional public schools and public charter schools.
Her passion for public education, however, precedes her time with Crosby Scholars. She is a decade-long volunteer with PTO organizations at numerous schools in Iredell County. She has helped generate funding for student initiatives and teacher support. Her service as chair of the Iredell County Education Facilities Task Force and as a member of Our Schools First has helped secure more than $125 million in capital investments for local schools and community college facilities.
Christian currently serves as vice chair on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont and continues her long-standing service as a Girl Scout Troop leader.
“I live here, my children go to school here, and I care about how we support our students and all of the teachers and staff that support them, too,” she said.
In prior roles, Jennifer held senior marketing and communications leadership positions with healthcare organizations and PR agencies, where she developed campaigns, led corporate communication strategy, and managed brand portfolios. Her early career in broadcast media gave her an understanding of audience engagement and campaign execution. Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and a Master of Business Administration degree.
Wegmiller honored for service to community
A reception for Wegmiller was held last week, honoring her decade of service with the organization. She will remain as a consultant through August 1 to provide a smooth transition.
Under her guidance, Crosby Scholars has benefited more than 7,000 students, awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships, and celebrated more than 1700 program graduates. The program has hosted hundreds of academic and career exploration sessions, reviewed thousands of student essays, and hosted campus visits to dozens of colleges. The community has also benefited. As a part of the program requirements, Iredell Crosby Scholars have completed more than 100,000 hours of local volunteer service.
Wegmiller’s influence will also continue in the future, with the newly created Wegmiller Volunteer Learning Scholarship. It is a $500 renewable scholarship for graduates of the Iredell County Crosby Scholars program. Qualifying students must write an essay detailing lessons learned through volunteer service. Students must also maintain a 2.0 GPA.
“When I was in college, I was lucky to receive a scholarship through a community program in my hometown,” Wegmiller said. “I’m thrilled to be able to offer this same kind of help to local Crosby Scholars. My family and I are proud to continue our support with this scholarship knowing that Jennifer will lead the program to new levels of excellence and success.”