Sylvia Watts McKinney

Sylvia Watts McKinney has had a diverse work experience spanning several decades. Sylvia has worked as the Chief Executive Officer and President at Thompson Island Outward Bound since 2023. Prior to that, they served as the Executive Director and a Member of the National Senior Management Team at Summer Search from 2017 to 2023, where they were responsible for operations, planning, personnel, and fundraising. McKinney was also an Adjunct Instructor at The Philadelphia Center Albion College from 2022 to 2023.

In their earlier career, McKinney served as the Regional Director at the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) from 2015 to 2017, and later as the Executive Director in Philadelphia from 2008 to 2015. At NFTE, they focused on providing entrepreneurship education to students from low-income communities and empowered thousands of Philadelphia youth with critical entrepreneurial skills.

McKinney also has experience as an independent contractor at McKinney Strategic Planning from 2006 to 2008. Before that, they served as the Executive Director at the Museum of Afro American History from 1994 to 2000, where they were responsible for various aspects of the organization, including administration, finance, staff development, and fundraising. Sylvia also worked as the Chief of Staff at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Construction from 1991 to 1993 and as Vice President at Taylor Properties from 1985 to 1991.

Sylvia Watts McKinney has a diverse education history. Sylvia attended Harvard Business School in 2020 for the Executive Program, where they specialized in Leading Differences for High Performance. In 1997, they participated in the Getty Leadership Institute's GLI program, focusing on Museum Innovation and Management. From 1981 to 1983, they pursued Urban Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MCP). Sylvia'sundergraduate studies took place from 1976 to 1980 at the University of South Carolina, earning a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and English. Additionally, Sylvia has obtained a certification as a Certified Entrepreneurship Teacher from the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), although the specific year and month of acquisition are not available. Sylvia also engaged in further executive education at Wharton Executive Education, although details regarding the degree obtained and field of study are not provided.