Welcoming our New Executive Director

Welcoming Incoming Executive Director Lis DuBois

Santa Cruz, CA — On May 20, 2022 the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County appointed a new Executive Director to succeed Bob Langseth upon his retirement in June 2022.  Lis DuBois, who has served as the Club’s Director of Strategy for the past 9 months, will assume the role of Executive Director effective June 1, 2022.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, it is my honor to announce the appointment of Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County to Lis DuBois” said board chair Teresa Swart. “Lis has already made a lasting impact on the clubs and our kids and we have tremendous faith that she will help us guide the clubs into the future with a keen eye for fundraising, finance and operations while also being a respected member of the community and the face of the organization. As we say goodbye to Bob Langseth, who has dedicated 38 years to the clubs, we thank him for his dedication and hard work and wish him happiness in his well-deserved retirement.”

After a comprehensive search guided by local HR consultant Lisa Murphy, the search committee unanimously agreed that DuBois is the right candidate to step into the Club’s Executive Director role. Over the past 20 years, she has built a career focused on providing administrative and operational leadership for mission-driven nonprofits, with a focus on the arts and youth development.  As a member of the BGCSCC staff, DuBois has worked with the staff leadership team and Board of Directors to develop strategy, raise funds, and implement systems improvements across the organization.

DuBois came to the Club as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. After supporting her kids through more than a year of school closures and distance learning, she witnessed firsthand what it meant for families to lose access to the safe spaces and activities that keep kids engaged, learning and thriving. “I’m thrilled and humbled to be stepping into the Executive Director role to support the youth our Clubs serve. I have been deeply frustrated by how the pandemic has impacted kids and families over the past 2+ years, and am grateful for the opportunity to be part of a positive response in our community.”

Going forward, DuBois will work with the staff and board to build upon the Club’s strong foundation and ensure that offerings are aligned to meet the evolving needs of local youth and their families. This includes an ongoing focus on youth mental health, trauma-informed care and social-emotional learning; reactivating the aquatics program at the Downtown Santa Cruz Clubhouse; increased community collaborations like the recent partnership with the Scotts Valley Farmer’s Market; and working to expand the Joe & Linda Aliberti Clubhouse in Scotts Valley.

Prior to the pandemic, DuBois had the privilege of serving as Director of Operations at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History during 7+ years of tremendous growth, as the organization increased its audience and impact, scaled operations, and revitalized Abbott Square. She has served as a board member for Central Coast nonprofit Positive Discipline Community Resources for the past 3 years.

DuBois earned a Master’s degree in Arts Administration from Boston University and a B.A. in Art History from Scripps College, where she was a member of the school’s NCAA Division III swim team. She loves living in Santa Cruz, is a proud mom of two kiddos, and is happiest when hiking with her family in the redwoods or open-water swimming in the Monterey Bay.

DuBois will officially assume the role of Executive Director on June 1st.  Her tenure overlaps Langseth’s until his official retirement on June 30th.  The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County will host a retirement party on June 16, 2022, to celebrate Langseth’s many years of service to the Boys & Girls Clubs movement as well as provide an opportunity for people to meet DuBois. 

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