Kathy Oaks is returning to the AJLI Governance Committee after serving previously in 2022-2024. She has been a member of The Junior League of Lubbock, TX, since 2011 where she held numerous leadership roles including Community Impact Vice President, Nominating Chair, Bylaws Chair, and Diversity and Inclusion Chair. As a Sustaining Advisor, she continues to provide mentorship and strategic insight, ensuring the League’s continued growth and effectiveness. 

Beyond The Junior League, Kathy is a respected leader in nonprofit strategy and volunteer engagement. She currently serves as the National Strategic Director for Volunteer Engagement at the American Cancer Society (ACS), where she oversees the national volunteer engagement strategy, manages 45 area boards, aligns enterprise-wide volunteer efforts, and leads the Volunteer Leadership Summit. In her previous roles at ACS, she led a team responsible for volunteer recruitment, training, and retention, integrated fundraising and mission efforts through community mobilization and strategic partnerships, and managed millions in annual fundraising. 

Her expertise in governance and community leadership extends across several organizations. She served on the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for five years, holding multiple Vice Chair roles, and chaired the Young Professionals of Greater Lubbock. Currently, she is a Board Member for Ballet Lubbock and actively contributes to local education initiatives through her leadership within the All Saints Episcopal School Parent Group. Kathy has presented at the Texas Tech Alumni Association Chapter Leader Workshop, where she trained leaders on volunteer management best practices, and was a featured guest on the Tennessee Commission on Disability and Aging podcast, discussing effective collaboration between nonprofit staff and volunteers. 

With her strong background in governance and volunteer engagement, Kathy is committed to strengthening The Junior League and selecting future leaders that will drive meaningful and lasting change. She looks forward to continuing her work on the AJLI Governance Committee, ensuring the organization’s leadership remains dynamic, inclusive, and forward-thinking.