Sacramento (November 2022) – Shahnaz Van Deventer of El Dorado Hills has been named chief of strategic partnerships at United Way California Capital Region. In her role, she will develop relationships across government, philanthropic and private sectors to position the local United Way as a leading hub for resources, knowledge, data and equity-centered decision-making for ending family poverty in the region.
Prior to joining United Way, Van Deventer was director of marketing and development for the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity, spearheading the last half of a capital campaign that raised $83 million to build the center.
“We witnessed Shahnaz’s deep commitment to our region, as well as her creativity and collaboration, as we watched the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity grow,” said Dr. Dawnté Early, president and CEO, United Way California Capital Region. “We are proud to bring Shahnaz onto our team as we use our Square One approach to end poverty for local families through school.”
Born in Guyana, South America, Van Deventer and her family immigrated to New York when she was 6 years old. After earning her master’s degree, she moved to Asia for an entrepreneurial venture and became a director of sales and marketing in the aviation industry with a portfolio of clients in 17 countries. When she returned to the United States, she moved to California and accepted the position with the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Colgate University in New York and an MBA in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. She was recently honored by the Sacramento Business Journal as part of the 2022 Women Who Mean Business.
United Way California Capital Region has been working to fight poverty for nearly 100 years by creating stronger, healthier, more compassionate communities, now serving Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties. The local United Way has found one place in each community to reach the most families in need: School is square one for ending family poverty. United Way uses its Square One approach to end poverty for local families by helping children excel in school, investing in families, and strengthening schools with resources to address increased poverty and deep roots of racial inequality. To learn more and make a donation: YourLocalUnitedWay.org.