Ruth Massinga is the retired president and chief executive officer of Casey Family Programs and retired chair of the Marguerite Casey Foundation board. Both Seattle-based private foundations are committed to supporting children, youth and families in reaching their full potential. Each foundation focuses on children in, or at risk of entering, the nation’s child welfare systems. Ms. Massinga also was co-chair of the initial board of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, a St. Louis-based private nonprofit focused on assisting youth to successfully transition from foster care to adulthood.

From 1983 to 1989, Ms. Massinga was secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Resources. She entered state government in 1979 as executive director of Maryland’s Social Services Administration. Two years prior to that appointment, she served as deputy director of the Child Development Associate Consortium in Washington, D.C. From 1972 to 1977, she was director of Berkeley Children’s Services, a child care resource development and referral organization. She holds a Master’s degree in social services from Boston University.

Currently, Ms. Massinga is co-chair of the board of The Finance Project, based in Washington, D.C., and has also served on numerous other boards of organizations that provide support and care for children and families. Ms. Massinga is the recipient of many awards and is the author of numerous publications.