Please join us in welcoming Meleah Bauman, the new Executive Director for the Hood River County Education Foundation (HRCEF). Ms. Bauman succeeds Laurie Stephens who has been the Foundation Executive Director for the past five years.
Ms. Bauman has lived in Hood River for seven years and worked as a volunteer at Westside and Hood River Middle School, as well as United Way of the Gorge. She was named 2020 Volunteer of the Year at Hood River Middle School. She coached Special Olympics Basketball, and was a
Team Parent for Hood River Youth Lacrosse.
Prior to moving to Hood River, Ms. Bauman served as a US Air Force officer, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel and managing many major projects during her 20-year military career. She was also a Program Manager for Insitu for four years. Moving to the non-profit world, with management skills she has gained in government and private industry positions, was a career goal for Ms. Bauman. “Serving students and teachers is the community that I am most passionate about,” she said.
Board President Jan Veldhuisen Virk said, “We are so pleased to have Meleah joining HRCEF. Her diverse experience and her passion for increasing educational opportunities will serve the Foundation well. At the same time, we are thanking Laurie Stephens for the tremendous job
she did in directing the Foundation with dedication and outstanding leadership.”
