YouthBASE after-school education program announces retirement of Linda Tassie and names new Executive Director
January 20, 2022
YouthBASE announces the retirement of Linda Tassie who served as Executive Director for more than a decade and names Melissa Huff as its new Executive Director effective January 18. Huff takes the reins of the organization as it continues to meet the educational needs of Greenville’s growing community.
“Over the past 11 years, Linda’s leadership has been invaluable to ensuring we met the behavioral, academic, social, and emotional needs of children in the Greenville area,” said Nancy Rice, YouthBASE Board Chair. “Her effectiveness, warmth and ability to move our vision forward – even during the past two years of the pandemic – will be sorely missed by everyone she’s touched.”
Tassie was instrumental in the selection of her successor and worked closely with the YouthBASE Executive Board to identify a candidate who will continue to accelerate YouthBASE’s impact in the community.
“We’re incredibly excited to have Melissa join us,” said Rice. “Her unique combination of strategic skills and passion for advancing educational equity in the Greenville community will help us take YouthBASE to the next stage of its journey.” Huff who was formerly the Development Director of Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) said, “I am honored to lead an organization that is helping to close the achievement gap by providing individualized attention and holistic support to children and their families. It has never been more critical that we work together as a community to help young children who have fallen behind academically and may also be struggling emotionally due to the effects of the pandemic.”
Huff brings 18 years of experience in nonprofit management and development working with a broad range of organizations, including education initiatives. Prior to working with GCCA, Huff held development roles at Miracle Hill Ministries and Hispanic Alliance. She has also directed the iMAGINE Upstate STEAM Festival of Clemson University and BOOST education initiative at the United Way of Greenville County. Huff holds a master’s degree in social sciences from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Samford University.
About YouthBASE
YouthBASE equips children in K5-2nd grades and their families to build the child’s behavioral, academic, social and emotional competencies so they may succeed at school, home, and in the community. We envision a community where all children succeed. Success to us means that children have age-appropriate behavior and social/emotional capacities/opportunities and grade level academic proficiency to experience success at school, at home and in community. For details, visit https://youthbase.org, call 864-326-0676.
