Greetings! I am excited and humbled to begin my service as the next executive director of New Opportunity School for Women. I am ready to get to work to support the mission of providing under-resourced Appalachian and Kentucky women with skills and tools to improve their financial, educational and personal circumstances.
Being born and raised in Appalachia, I know first-hand the struggles many women in this region face. I lived in a small Eastern Kentucky town, I was a teenage mother, and I felt that I would never be able to provide for my son or ever have a fulfilled life. I never thought I would have the opportunity to attend college.
However, that all changed when I was 24. Although I felt I would never be good enough, there was a mentor who entered my life and believed in me. That one small act changed my life! I now hold a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and have a passion and zeal to help women like me!
I am beyond humbled and honored to serve along with the team at NOSW. Because I bring a unique first-hand experience of being an under-resourced Appalachian woman, I am proof of what the programs at New Opportunity School for Women provide. I am excited to share these experiences with you as I begin my journey as the next executive director of NOSW. My primary goal will always be to uphold the mission and values of this program and to bring about the services needed for those we serve. With the support of our dedicated team and Board, I am excited to see and experience the mission of NOSW come to fruition.
I am humbled to be of service,
Gina M. Riddell, MPA
Executive Director
