Senior Staff

Photo of Katrina Watson, Vice President of Community Initiatives at United Way of Central Alabama

Senior Vice President of Community Impact

Katrina Watson

Katrina Watson serves as the Senior Vice President of Community Impact at United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA). In this role, she oversees the distribution of approximately $30 million annually to organizations across United Way’s six-county footprint. Katrina leads UWCA’s strategic, place-based efforts and its collective impact strategy.

Prior to joining UWCA, Katrina spent 10 years at United Way partner agencies, including five years as President and Executive Director of The Literacy Council of Central Alabama.

Katrina holds a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, a Master of Public Administration from UAB and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and a National Certified Counselor.

Katrina is actively involved in the community, serving on the board of Momentum and as a member of the Rotary Club of Birmingham. She is a graduate of Momentum’s Executive Leaders Program, Alabama Leadership Initiative and Leadership Birmingham. Additionally, she has held leadership positions with the UAB MPA Alumni Society, Children’s Policy Cooperative of Jefferson County, Birmingham Public Library and Birmingham Change Fund. Nationally, she served on the Barbara Bush Foundation’s Equity & Access National Working Group, helping to create the National Action Plan for Adult Literacy.

Her accolades include being named a Rising Star by UAB’s National Alumni Society, receiving the UAB MPA Alumni Society’s Sam Gaston Excellence in Mentoring Award and being recognized as a Top Influencer Under 40 by Birmingham Magazine. The Birmingham Business Journal has honored her as a Top 40 Under 40, Who’s Who in Workforce Development, Who’s Who in Nonprofits, an Executive of Influence and a Woman to Watch.

Katrina and her husband have two delightful children.