United Way of Hall County has hired Jessica Dudley as the agency's new president and chief professional officer.
Dudley steps into the position on April 22 as current President/CPO Joy Griffin prepares to make her departure on April 30.
Dudley currently serves as the executive director of Community Helping Place (CHP) in Dahlonega, according to information released Monday by United Way of Hall County officials. Since 2015, she has led and overseen all programs and operations at CHP, the largest outreach program in Lumpkin County, providing basic needs such as food, clothing, health care and emergency financial assistance to community residents.
Dudley graduated with her Masters in Social Work from Edinboro University. She has worked with the Department of Family and Children Services, Flowering Branch Children's Shelter and a private mental health and substance abuse agency.
"Jessica's experience offers her a unique insight in addressing the challenges faced by underserved and underprivileged populations," said Melissa Tymchuk, United Way board chair. "In a short amount of time, she has made a tremendous impact on the Lumpkin County community, and we look forward to her doing the same in Hall County."
Dudley also serves as the project director of the Two Georgia Initiative, a collaborative effort with Lumpkin County government, nonprofits, businesses and residents. She has used this funding to strategically work in the areas of indigent health care and equalization measures to address health equity barriers. Dudley is also the chair of the Lumpkin County Board of Health, a member of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board and past secretary of the Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary Club.
In addition to her involvement in the Lumpkin community, Dudley is involved with organizations in Hall County, serving on the Northeast Georgia Health System Advisory Board and participating in the Lead Forward Executive Leadership Program with the North Georgia Community Foundation.
Dudley and her husband, Brandon, have three children.
