The SouthCoast Community Foundation Board of Directors announced the appointment of Leonard M. Lee as the organization’s new President and CEO in a March 31 press release.

Lee has over 30 years of public, private, and nonprofit experience, including leadership roles committed to advancing public health and advocating for historically underrepresented, marginalized communities, the organization said.

Lee is the fourth president to hold the position since the organization’s inception in 1995. He will start his new role at the end of April and succeeds John Vasconcellos, who retired from the position in December 2021.

“We are thrilled to have a leader of Leonard’s caliber joining the Community Foundation,” said Board Chair Linda Bodenmann. “His extensive management background and entrepreneurial spirit, combined with his passion for community service, make him the right leader for the organization and will serve our community well as he furthers the Foundation’s focus on education, economic opportunity, and elevating the arts.”

Lee most recently worked as General Manager and Curator for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and as a consultant to Kelley Chunn & Associates, a marketing and PR agency, according to the release.

Previously, Lee held senior leadership roles for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and acted as Deputy Commissioner of Public Health for the State of Connecticut.

A native Bostonian who grew up in the Franklin Field Housing Development in Dorchester, Lee holds a degree in business management from Johnson & Wales University and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Boston University.

“I’m beyond excited to be joining the Community Foundation, a well-respected organization known for championing important causes and supporting the vital work of nonprofits in the South Coast region,” said Lee. “I can’t wait to get started.”

The SouthCoast Community Foundation is a nonprofit serving the communities of Southeastern Massachusetts through philanthropy. For more information, visit www.southcoastcf.org.