The New Hanover Community Endowment has promoted Emily Page to vice president of its newly established department of research and impact.

According to a news release, the department "is designed to leverage cutting-edge data analytics, thought leadership, and
innovative strategies to drive measurable outcomes, setting a new standard in philanthropic effectiveness."

The release stated, "With an extensive background in nonprofit and executive leadership and an MBA from Duke University, Page will lead the charge in defining how The Endowment evaluates and amplifies the impact of its initiatives.

She will oversee the research and innnovation, impact and accountability units. The three units of the new department will be headed by external advisors and transition into in-house hires planned by late fall. 

Under the leadership of Chris Prentice (pictured at right), acting director of research and innovation, this unit "will focus on exploring bold, data-driven solutions to tackle complex challenges and curate solutions-focused scholarship," the release stated

Prentice, who will continue to serve as a professor of nonprofit management at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, "is known for his expertise in advancing innovation and data-informed decision-making in the nonprofit sector," according to the release. He has a doctorate in public adminstration from N.C. State University, an MPA from George Washington University and an undergraduate degree from UC Irvine. 

Gabriel Rhoads (pictured at left) is acting director of the impact unit, bringing years of experience as a senior advisor at Project Evident, where he will continue to serve, and as the former director of evaluation and learning at the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, according to the release. He also has a background in theater and film, where his work on storytelling has garnered him an Emmy Nomination.

According to the release, Rhoads has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago.

Bethany Hengsbach (pictured below, at right), acting director of the accountability unit, will focus on the design and implementation of an accountability program that prioritizes compliance with legal and ethical standards across all operations, the release stated.

"Hengsbach, an authority in ethics and compliance, is managing director of Corporate Global Compliance at Affiliated Monitors Inc. She holds a JD from DePaul University College of Law and a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign," according to the release.

The endowment has also appointed Christine Tobias (pictured below) as chief people officer.

Tobias will lead all aspects of human resources, including recruitment, training, policy, and the development of iinnovative programs that connect the organization with the community," the release stated.

A Wilmington resident, Tobias has held roles at Accenture, Medly, Pharmaca and the Movado Group.

Tobias will also launch two community-centered initiatives: The Endowment Internship Program, providing college and graduate students with hands-on learning experiences, and The Endowment Fellows Program, offering volunteer opportunities with local nonprofit organizations for retirees, stay-at-home parents and other community members, according to the release.