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Samuetta Nesbitt 205-613-5373 mobile
United Way of Central Alabama is thrilled to announce that the position of Senior Vice President of their Community Impact department has been filled by Katrina Watson. Drew Langloh, President and CEO of UWCA, said, “She is the right alignment of personality, culture, leadership experience and passion for helping others.” Langloh added that her collaborative relations with United Way Agencies are an asset.
Katrina Watson, Executive Director of The Literacy Council, is an award-winning executive. The Birmingham Business Journal has recognized Katrina as an Executive of Influence, Top 40 Under 40, Who’s Who in Workforce Development Birmingham, and Who’s Who in Nonprofits. She has been honored as a UAB National Alumni Society Rising Star and a Birmingham Magazine Top Influencer Under 40. Katrina received the Sam Gaston Excellence in Mentoring Award from the UAB MPA Alumni Society. Katrina is a graduate of both Leadership Birmingham and Alabama Leadership Initiative. She is in the current class of Momentum’s Executive Leadership program.
Katrina has worked for United Way agencies for nearly a decade. From 2013-2017, Katrina led fund development at Oasis Counseling for Women and Children as Director of Development and Communications. In 2017, Katrina was named President and Executive Director of The Literacy Council of Central Alabama. Under her leadership, The Literacy Council’s annual revenue increased by 41% from $673,000 to more than $950,000. The Literacy Council’s (TLC) staff size grew 36% from 11 to 15 employees. Katrina and TLC’s board of director’s re-established TLC’s matching retirement plan. In conjunction with TLC’s board of directors and program staff members, Katrina launched the agency’s workforce development program, which is a fee-based program for employers to provide additional skills to their employees. The agency expanded its digital literacy program and began a device-lending program that provides laptops, tablets, wi-fi hotspots, and other technology to TLC learners. TLC has recently started providing services to Talladega and Winston counties, which are adjacent to TLC’s primary service areas of Jefferson, Walker, Blount, St. Clair, and Shelby counties. Under Katrina’s leadership, TLC earned the Birmingham Business Journal’s 2018 Nonprofit Award for agencies with budgets between $500,000 – $1,000,000.
After college, Katrina worked for her alma mater as Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions. She then worked as a Major Gifts Officer for UAB’s Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center, and as a Major Gifts Officer and Director of Marketing at UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center.
Katrina earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Public Administration from UAB. A Certified Fund Raising Executive, Katrina taught two fundraising courses at UAB. In 2021, Katrina earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University, and she is a National Certified Counselor. She completed her clinical internship at Impact Family Counseling, another United Way agency. Katrina is an Associate Licensed Counselor, currently working toward full licensure.
Katrina is a member of the Birmingham Change Fund, a giving circle of philanthropists who collectively give their time, talent and treasure, and have granted more than $50,000 to the community. In 2019 and 2020, she served on the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy’s Equity & Access National Working group to help develop the National Action Plan for Adult Literacy. Her previous board service includes being treasurer of the UAB MPA Alumni Society Chapter, Governance Committee Chair of the Jefferson County Children’s Policy Cooperative, Long-Range Planning Committee Chair of the Birmingham Public Library Board of Trustees, and Diversity and Youth in Philanthropy Chair of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Alabama Chapter.
A long-time United Way donor, Katrina is a member of the J. Mason Davis Leadership Society. She and her husband have been married for more than a decade and have two children.
United Way of Central Alabama serves Jefferson, Shelby, Walker, Blount, St. Clair, and Chilton counties by providing solutions for the most critical needs in the community. Through our partner agencies and community initiatives, we improve lives and community conditions by building and mobilizing resources. United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community. For more information, visit www.uwca.org.