Wilkinson Center announces East Dallas resident Daley Ryan as new Executive Director

Photo courtesy of Wilkinson Center.

The board of directors of Wilkinson Center, a nonprofit organization aimed at transforming the lives of Dallas families by providing pathways to self-sufficiency, announces East Dallas resident Daley Ryan as the organization’s new executive director effective Jan. 8, 2024. Ryan will succeed executive director Anne Reeder, who will retire this month after 12 years of leadership at Wilkinson Center. 

The board of directors said in a statement that they are pleased to have Ryan as the new executive director of Wilkinson Center. The board added that his extensive leadership experience and East Dallas residency will help to effectively provide sustainable pathways to self-sufficiency to Wilkinson Center’s clients. 

“As a native Dallasite, Daley brings both a unique understanding of the challenges faced by our community and a sense of purpose grounded in the belief that together we can make a difference,” Atul Sethi, chair, of Wilkinson Center board of directors said in a statement.

Ryan’s first goal as executive director is to connect with the dedicated staff and volunteers, learn and meet with community members and set a strategic plan for Wilkinson Center to ensure the organization is operating efficiently and reaching as many families as possible.

As an East Dallas resident, Ryan said he knew all about the organization, it was basically in his backyard. When he was approached by the Wilkinson Center as a potential candidate for the executive role, he immediately jumped at the opportunity to serve his local community.

“One of the most compelling reasons I am excited to serve as executive director of Wilkinson Center is, as an East Dallas resident, it is a community that my family and I care deeply about,” Ryan said in a statement. “The opportunity to serve the community – to go to work every day with the knowledge that I am working alongside a dedicated team on the front line of driving progress and lifting our neighbors – is a privilege and a responsibility that I do not take lightly.”

With 13 years of non-profit management experience, Ryan looks forward to serving the East Dallas community that he also calls home. 

Before Wilkinson Center, Ryan served as director of the Texas Office for Refugees (TXOR) at Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth, where he led a team of 24 staff to administer $150 million in federal funding per year to refugee and immigrant service providers across Texas. 

His previous years were spent at the International Rescue Committee, serving as deputy director from 2015 to 2022. As deputy director, he ensured the sustainability and growth of programming, oversaw program departments, developed and maintained strategic partnerships, and served as the primary budget holder for over $6 million of programmatic funds.  

Prior to starting his career, Ryan attended the University of North Texas, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology. He says he was always fascinated by the experiences of others and how he could help individuals facing various challenges.

 Ryan contributes all of his successes and educational experiences to where he is now and looks forward to how it will contribute to his role at Wilkinson Center.