New Hanover Community Endowment announces two new hires
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover Community Endowment announced two new hires on Tuesday.
Dr. David Stegall will join the endowment as Director of Education.
Mary Vail Ware will join the endowment as Director of Community Safety.
In these roles, the endowment said they will partner closely with the community to develop long-term, community-rooted solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing New Hanover County.
According to a news release, “Dr. David Stegall brings nearly three decades of transformative leadership in education at every level in North Carolina, nationally and internationally. His career is defined by turning underperforming schools into top achievers and leading systemic reform through innovation and equity. Most recently, Dr. Stegall served as Chief of System Innovation for the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity, where he designed and scaled educational frameworks that serve military-connected students around the world. He previously held the role of Deputy State Superintendent of Innovation at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, where he led statewide efforts to advance educational innovation and support local school districts. As Superintendent of Newton-Conover City Schools, Dr. Stegall led a full turnaround of the district. All schools exceeded growth targets. Graduation rates climbed above 95 percent. The district became one of the top five in the state, year after year.”
At the endowment, Stegall will guide strategy and grantmaking across early learning, K–12 outcomes, higher education, and workforce readiness.
According to a news release, “Mary Vail most recently served as Senior Director of Justice and Victim Services at ICF International, managing a $75 million portfolio of national initiatives funded by the U.S. Department of Justice. Her work helped shape response strategies for gun violence, mass violence incidents, and survivor support programs across the country. At the state level, she led innovative campaigns through the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, including the highly successful Respect Richmond campaign, which contributed to a 16 percent reduction in gun violence. Earlier in her career, she served as Executive Director of Quin Rivers Agency for Community Action, where she expanded funding, launched prevention and housing programs, and built cross-sector alliances with tribal nations, local governments, and faith communities.”
At the endowment, Ware will lead a comprehensive community safety strategy that builds on community strengths and promotes youth development and opportunity.
The endowment said she will also help with preparedness and systems coordination.
President and CEO Dan Winslow stated, “Our lean staffing model requires that we hire highly talented team members in each role. Mary Vail and David bring leadership and expertise as change agents to two key pillars for our community. I look forward to their continued success in our work.”
The New Hanover Community Endowment was established from the sale of the county-owned New Hanover Regional Medical Center to Novant Health in 2020.
The endowment said the initial fund has grown from nearly $1.3 billion to allow millions of dollars to be awarded as grants each year in perpetuity.
