Pearl S. Buck International Announces Christy Holland as New President and CEO

Pearl S. Buck International’s Board of Directors is thrilled to announce Christy Holland as the organization’s new President and CEO. Holland brings a wealth of non-profit executive leadership experience supporting their mission by aligning operations and sustainability. Her passion to support people living with intellectual disabilities and mental health diagnoses closely aligns with Pearl Buck’s legacy of caring, educating, and advocating for the most vulnerable and marginalized populations.

Holland comes to Pearl S. Buck International from PLAN of PA, where she served as Executive Director since 2014. Originally founded by families, PLAN of PA serves as a Fiduciary for Special Needs Trusts and supports clients to secure public benefits, gain safe housing, maintain health and wellness, strengthen their support systems and manage finances. In collaboration with the Board of Directors, Holland led PLAN of PA to revitalize the mission and achieve stability and growth. Together they reorganized operations, created family-based programs, and led signature events that increased community stakeholders and funds raised. Holland assisted the Board of Directors to reorganize in alignment with Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organization (PANO) guidelines. She served as a Volunteer Board Member on the National PLAN Alliance Board, where she chaired three national conferences.

Prior to her work at PLAN of PA, Holland served as Director of Organizational Dynamics and Leadership at Dunleavy & Associates, building capacity for nonprofit organizations through project management, contracted leadership, and advisory services. Her experience also includes various leadership roles at Elwyn, Inc. where she grew their Training and Development services to support all areas of service and was pivotal in support of several Informational Technology and Marketing initiatives.

A native of the area, Holland graduated from Christopher Dock Mennonite High School (now Dock Mennonite Academy) in Montgomery County and received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English with a concentration in Women’s Studies from Goshen College. She attained her Master of Arts in Group Process & Group Psychodynamics with a concentration in Organizational Dynamics from Drexel University, formerly Hahnemann University.

Holland’s start date was April 26. When we spoke to her, she quoted the mission saying, “There has never been a more critical time to Bridge Cultures and Change Lives. All children need access to nutrition, healthcare and education. This will ensure their talent, voice and perspective lead and shape our world. We need to regularly clear our lens to see the ways we can remove barriers and promote diversity, equity and justice. Finally, we can make a significant impact by engaging in the challenging but rewarding work of healing the trauma embedded within individuals and cultures. Contributing to these aspirations here and around the globe is not only the right thing to do, but also what our communities need from us in order to truly thrive.”

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Pearl S. Buck International^® provides opportunities to explore and appreciate other cultures, builds better lives for children around the globe and promotes the legacy of our founder by preserving and interpreting her National Historic Landmark Home.

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