The Tompkins County Legislature, by unanimous vote, confirmed County Administrator Jason Molino’s appointment of Kate Shanks-Booth as the County’s Director of Youth Services. (Legislators Leslyn McBean-Clairborne and Amanda Champion were excused.) Ms. Shanks-Booth brings to the position more than 15 years of experience in not-for-profit leadership, more than a decade of that working with youth. For the past two-and-a-half years, Shanks-Booth has led the Women’s Opportunity Center as Executive Director, leading the community non-profit with offices in both Ithaca and Syracuse. She previously served for six years as Assistant Director of the Cayuga Heights School Age Program; and before that as the Director of Research and Planning for Community Action Partnership, and as Director of Childcare Services for the St. Joseph School District, both in St. Joseph, Missouri.
The new Director of Youth Services holds a Master’s of Business Administration degree and an Advanced Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the State University of New York Empire State College, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, Missouri.
County Administrator Jason Molino told Legislators that the new Director was selected from a field of more than 25 applicants for the position.
“It is indeed an honor to serve in Tompkins County as the Director of Youth Services,” Director Shanks-Booth said. “I am thrilled to be joining a fantastic team, that doing amazing things in our local communities.”
Kate Shanks-Booth will begin service as Director of Youth Services March 11.