Donna Smythe, Executive Director

Donna Smythe was appointed Executive Director of the Child Development Association in 2005.

Donna has more than thirty years experience devoted to non-profit organizations, tackling an array of issues including education, child welfare, health, housing, employment, environment, and criminal justice. She has assumed a variety of leadership roles, serving at various times as executive director, development director, board member and consultant.

Prior to joining the CDA, Donna was the Development and Marketing Director for The Clean Air Campaign. Since moving to Atlanta in 1991, she has served on the boards of Habitat for Humanity Atlanta, the Horizon Theatre, and Telltale Theatre. She currently serves on the board of the Alliance Theatre and is president of the Alliance STARS board. In 2004, Donna co-founded Ovarian Cycle, which has raised almost $500,000 for medical research into a diagnostic test for ovarian cancer.

Donna grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and graduated from Wellesley College in 1974. She has an M.S. in the Administration of Justice from the University of Louisville and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the College of St. Thomas (Minnesota). Her husband Alec is the President of TeamForte, Inc., a marketing consulting firm. They have three daughters. Laura is a graduate of Vassar College and works in international relief and refugee resettlement. Their identical twins, Langdon and Louisa, are recent grads of Wellesley College and Bryn Mawr College, and are pursuing public health and marine ecology respectively.

Donna is pleased to be at the helm of an organization with a rich history of broad community support.

Staff

The CDA employs 28 full-time teachers, six full-time management and administrative staff and three part-time management and administration staff.

To make a personal difference in a child’s life, spend an hour a week mentoring one of our kids. Contact our Volunteer Coordinator at 770.992.4339