YWCA Southeast Wisconsin has named
Tracy Williams as its next president and chief executive officer.
Williams takes the helm of the Milwaukee-based organization, which is a member of a national network of more than 200 affiliates, on Jan. 1. She most recently was senior director of external relations, partnerships and development at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also was director of supplier diversity and interim assistant vice provost of strategic diversity, equity and inclusion administration for the university.
Appointed by the Finance and Administration Division at UW-Madison, she was responsible for developing a campus-wide strategy and program to increase the university’s spend with diverse businesses. In that role, she oversaw the multimillion-dollar high impact practice fund, donor relations and stakeholder engagement.
She previously was a diversity and inclusion advisor for American Family Insurance and director of diversity and inclusion at the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association. Williams is a native of Milwaukee.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tracy Williams to the YWCA SEW family at an exciting and important time in our history,” said Lindsey Davis, chair of the YWCA board of directors. “She brings a wealth of experience leading and growing highly impactful organizations, combined with extensive knowledge of southeast Wisconsin and a passion for igniting positive change in her own community.”
Williams succeeds
Ginny Finn as president and CEO of YWCA. Finn, who was formerly its chief development officer, has led the organization since the
retirement of Paula Penebaker in December 2019.
Finn will return to the CDO role when Williams assumes her role.
YWCA SEW serves more than 10,000 individuals annually, offering an array of empowerment and racial justice/gender equity programming and services for women and their families. Its programs include its “Unlearning Racism: Tools for Action” class, anti-racism workplace consulting, adult education, financial literacy and employment readiness.
“At this time in history, our mission is an imperative. Now is the time to create sustainable change by eliminating racism and empowering women. It is truly an honor to lead a mission that I embrace as my own purpose,” Williams said. “From championing civil rights and affordable housing, to connecting local residents to health care services and promoting racial justice and economic empowerment, YWCA SEW’s impact on Milwaukee, Racine, and residents of the surrounding area is immeasurable.”
