National Service Agency Announces Appointments To Three Key Positions

Washington D.C. – The Corporation for National and Community Service announced the appointments of three top social sector experts in key positions – Heather Peeler, Chief Strategy Officer; John Gomperts, Director of AmeriCorps; and Nicole Gallant, Director of Learn and Serve America and Strategic Education Advisor.

The appointments come as the Corporation marks the one-year anniversary of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act – landmark legislation that calls for a historic expansion of national service – and amid growing recognition that service is an effective means to advance our national priorities.

“The need for a robust answer to the persistent problems facing communities has never been greater,” said Patrick Corvington, CEO of the Corporation. “Service is part of the solution – and the Serve America Act provides us with the tools to transform more lives and communities. These new additions to our team will ensure that we have the right people and strategies in place to help us take service to the next level.”

Below is background on the three appointees:

Heather Peeler – Chief Strategy Officer

Heather Peeler comes to the Corporation from Community Wealth Ventures (CWV), where she served as Managing Director, focusing on nonprofit services, business development and strategy. Heather brings an expertise on nonprofit sustainability, social enterprise and nonprofit strategy to her position at the Corporation. She has consulted and coached nonprofit leaders on best practices to identify and execute strategies that lead to greater mission impact and organizational sustainability. Prior to joining CWV, Peeler held leadership positions with nonprofits and for-profit companies. She served as the Executive Director of Small Press Distribution, a nonprofit located in Berkeley, CA; Managing Editor for Foundation News & Commentary; and co-founder of GenArt/SF, a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to increasing young people's participation in the visual arts.

John Gomperts – Director of AmeriCorps

John Gomperts has amassed unmatched success in both government and the nonprofit sectors. He is beginning an encore career at the Corporation, where he served as the Chief of Staff for the Corporation's former CEO, Harris Wofford. Most recently, he served as the President of Civic Ventures, an initiative to promote the engagement of millions of experienced baby boomers in encore careers in senior leadership positions in both government and the nonprofit sector. Gomperts also lead Experience Corps, a nonprofit designed to recruit and engage people over 55 as tutors and mentors in urban public schools. Prior to joining Civic Ventures and Experience Corps, Gomperts served in a variety of positions including Chief Operating Officer at Public Education Network; the first legislative director for Senator Harris Wofford of Pennsylvania; and deputy director of the Senate Democratic Leadership Committee, working for Senators Tom Daschle of South Dakota and John Kerry of Massachusetts. Before heading to Capitol Hill, Gomperts practiced law and clerked for a federal judge.

Nicole Gallant – Director of Learn and Serve America and Strategic Education Advisor

Nicole Gallant has been working in education and community engagement for more than 17 years. She recently served as Program Executive at The Atlantic Philanthropies, overseeing the group's education portfolio for the Children and Youth Program. Prior to that, Gallant was a Fellow in the Children and Youth Program at the Hewlett Foundation, where her research included disconnected youth, leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and funder collaboratives. Before moving into philanthropy, Nicole was a business analyst and project manager for Knight Securities, a global trading firm based in New York, and coordinated an education program for youth and a jobs program for adults at Community Impact, Columbia University. From 1996-1999, Nicole served as a part-time AmeriCorps member at Community Impact, where she managed an award-winning America Reads program.