NEW YORK, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is pleased to announce that Joyce Nelson has been selected as the new President and Chief Executive Officer when General Michael J. Dugan, its current president and CEO, retires January 1, 2005.
Joyce started her 21-year career with the Society as Development Manager with the Northern California Chapter. After two years in that position she was selected to be Executive Director in the Mid America Chapter, serving the greater Kansas City area, western Missouri and eastern Kansas. In 1991, she joined the Society's national staff and re-located to Denver, CO where she established the position of National Director of Campaign Development. Three years later she was promoted to Vice President of Chapter Programs. For the last five years she has been Vice President of Field Operations, encompassing all responsibilities for the Society's fund raising and for its relations with chapters. During this time she was instrumental in managing significant organizational initiatives including the Research Challenge of Champions, the Promise: 2010 research campaign, the Corporate Star Program to recognize outstanding corporate commitment to the MS cause, and the determination of Society governance practices.
"The National Board conducted an exhaustive search across the country seeking someone with the skill, dedication, and experience to replace the outstanding President & CEO we had in Mike Dugan," says National MS Society Chairman, Ed Kangas, "and it became apparent that the best candidate we had was working in the office right next to Mike's. Joyce brings diverse and exceptional insight to the table on effective ways to enhance chapter growth, strengthen Society ties with corporate leaders, and advance the Society's mission to end the devastating effects of MS."
"I am honored to be selected to lead the National MS Society and by the Board's vote of confidence in entrusting me with this awe-inspiring responsibility," Joyce said in her acceptance speech at the Society's recent National conference. "I am humbled to be chosen to continue General Dugan's legacy of unifying the Society into a chapter driven organization and of funding all approved research grants. As I move forward in my current role of CEO of this determined 58-year old organization that serves over one million people each year," Joyce adds, "I intend to apply the life lessons I learned in the field such as ensuring I receive input from the broadest possible audience when making important plans, leading from the front where I'll spend much of the coming year listening to our constituencies, and tapping into the talents of the thousands of people who want to help the Society eradicate MS."
Born in Chicago, Joyce received her bachelor's degree in English and Secondary Education from North Park University. She lives with her husband Dr. John Hansell, an endodontist, in Evergreen, Colorado.
Note to Editors: For further information about multiple sclerosis and the programs of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, please contact the Society through its 24-hour information line, 1-800-FIGHT-MS, or visit its Web site at http://www.nationalmssociety.org/. The National MS Society is dedicated to ending the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis. It funds more MS research, offers more services for people with MS, provides more professional education programs and advances more MS advocacy efforts than any other MS organization in the world. In 2003, alone, the Society spent nearly $34 million to support over 300 research projects internationally and $104 million on programs to improve the lives of people with MS. It costs the Society less than 17 cents to raise a dollar.
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, chronic, and often disabling disease of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal chord. It is the most common neurological disease affecting young to middle- aged adults and virtually each hour someone is newly diagnosed. More than twice as many women as men contract MS. Symptoms vary dramatically from person to person and in the same person over time. These symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and complete paralysis. MS is not fatal, contagious or directly inherited. Over the past decade there have been dramatic advances made in treating and understanding the disease and there are now six FDA approved therapies available that can impact underlying disease process.
Some prominent Americans with MS are: Annette Funicello, Teri Garr, David Lander, Alan Osmond, Richard Pryer, Clay Walker, Victoria Williams, and Montel Williams
Please contact Arney Rosenblat at the National MS Society, 212-476-0436, for a high-resolution photo of Joyce Nelson.
Contact: Arney Rosenblat/ 212 476-0436/ Arney.Rosenblat@nmss.org
The National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyCONTACT: Arney Rosenblat of the National MS Society, +1-212-476-0436,Arney.Rosenblat@nmss.org
Web site: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/
