Arts Together is excited to announce today that the Board of Directors has hired Cherrelyn Napue as the organization’s new Executive Director.
“After an extensive, nation-wide search led by Armstrong McGuire, the search team feels confident we have found the perfect person to lead Arts Together through the next period of our history,” said Arts Together Board President Andrea Osborne. “When the Board began our search for a new Executive Director, we listed cultural fit as our top priority. We wanted someone who would ‘get’ the special magic at Arts Together and embrace our wonderful organization where students of all ages thrive and grow. Cherrelyn not only immediately embraced the staff and board members she met in early April, every room she entered lit up with her glow.”
Napue hails from Denver, Colorado, where she is known in the community as an advocate and entrepreneurial leader. She comes to Arts Together from her role as Director of Alumni Engagement in the international office for Up with People, an international “gap year” touring program that immerses participants into many different cultures through an in-depth experiential learning environment and unique blend of performing arts, social action, travel, and host family stays. She has served Up with People in previous roles, including as a performer herself.
As an entrepreneurial leader, Napue has spent the last seven years in ventures which include co-ownership and manager of a Club Z! Tutoring and Test Prep franchise and as the CEO/COO (Chief Opportunity Officer) of Mustard Seed Educational Services, a consulting firm supporting NPOs, NGOs, and entrepreneurial-minded ventures where she has worked with organizations serving in Rwanda, Uganda, Liberia, New York, and the Denver area.
Additionally, Napue maintains strong bonds to her alma mater, Metropolitan State University of Denver, as an affiliate faculty member in the nonprofit management program, school of professional studies. She has also served MSU Denver as executive director of the alumni association and associate vice president of alumni and development. In addition, Napue has worked as the executive director of Black United Fund of Colorado.
She is excited to relocate to the Triangle and take the leadership post at Arts Together. “Arts Together has a wonderful history, full of magical stories. I am excited to be a part of its flourishing future, one that transcends space and creates community access to many more adventures through art,” said Napue.
Napue lives her belief in education and social justice throughout her career, volunteer, and board service. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Her leadership has been acknowledged by the Colorado Trust Foundation as a Fellow, the Denver Chamber of Commerce Leadership program, and the Colorado Black Round Table as a Woman of the Millennium. Named as one of Denver’s African Americans Making a Difference in Colorado, she received the “Salute to Black Women Award” from the National Council of Negro Women, Denver Chapter in 2017.
She holds an Associate of Arts in Human Services, a Bachelor of Science in Nonprofit Organizational Administration, and a Masters of Nonprofit Management from Regis University in Denver, Colorado.
Napue recently celebrated 20 years of marriage to Stanley Napue. They have a teenage son, a future Broughton High School student. They will be moving to Raleigh this summer. Outside of her working life, Napue enjoys singing, traveling, serving the community, and experimenting in the kitchen. She is slated to officially start her new role at Arts Together on Wednesday, June 19, 2019.
Napue replaces Meg Revelle, who retired on May 31, 2019, after nine years at the helm of Arts Together. “I know Cherrelyn is going to be a wonderful addition to the Arts Together family and a deft leader who will help us grow in our ability to reach underserved populations, enhance diversity, and continue along the positive trajectory on which Meg Revelle has so beautifully set us,” said Osborne.