Passing the Torch: Award USA Announces Departure of Buffy Higgins-Beard, CEO

April 23rd, 2024

Press Release

Release April 19, 2024

After co-founding The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award USA during the past seven years, offering tireless efforts to further Award USA’s mission and values, Buffy Higgins-Beard has announced that she will be departing from her role as Chief Executive Officer this spring. Since 2017, Buffy has been a driving force behind Award USA’s opening and strong establishment of the US national offices for the Award.

A few highlights of the work accomplished at Award USA in those seven years includes:

• Inspiring over 3,500 to register for the Award in the USA. Growing the US presence from 7 to 34 states and 13 to 42 Award Centers. See 2023 Annual Report.
• Opening a US chapter of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award which operates in 130 countries and territories helping young people improve their leadership, employability, connectedness to nature, and wellness.
• Building the foundation for the Award to thrive in the USA, adapting donor outreach, impact reporting, training, licensing, branding, and recruitment practices to have relevance for the US.
• Setting a dynamic Strategic Plan 2020-2025 for improving reach, impact, and access as the Award started up in the USA.
• Weathering the pandemic with online innovations in the global framework, training, and taking fundraising, including multiday patron visits as well as events like national award ceremonies, into virtual settings.
• Growing the Award USA commitment to connecting with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and integration of DEI in annual planning cycles.
• Leadership with global peers on communications especially on how to reflect the diversity of young people engaging with the Award. Year over year over 50% of participants in US report they come from a marginalized race, ethnicity, or ability status.
• Launching an ambitious Business Plan 2023-2027 with a roadmap for scaling first in four urban markets, school systems, and large networks to see the Award grow nationally by reaching 10,000 new entrants a year in 2030.

“It has been an honor to bring The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award to the USA and to work with a talented team of staff, volunteers, and supporters to establish it in country.  In 2023 we reached nearly 1000 young people active or receiving Awards across the US. I’m proud of the manner in which we’ve met challenges throughout my tenure in start-up, responding to the pandemic, hosting our global patron multiple times, and growing the organization’s foundational pieces. I feel such tremendous momentum and hear regularly from young people and their mentors, the Award framework makes a difference to their well being and future. I look forward to the Award being available across the US as it ambitiously scales,” said Buffy Higgins-Beard, Award USA’s CEO.

“Buffy has built a solid foundation for Award USA on every level, from donors to staff to program partners, that positions us well to achieve our next set of aggressive goals to become the leading youth achievement organization across the country,” shared Ryan Ruskin, Award USA’s Chair of the Board of Directors. “She brought the ideal combination of competent leadership, collaborative spirit, results focus, and professional management that is needed to launch and scale a new business model. Yet, I believe that her legacy will also include her unwavering dedication to young people’s well-being, while always seeing the best in those she works alongside, as evidenced by the deep respect of her Duke of Edinburgh Award peers and colleagues in the U.S. and in so many other countries around the world. I cannot thank her enough for her incredible passion and partnership in our work together to help young people become #worldready.”

During this time of transition, the Board voted to approve the appointment of Dr. Lisa Metzger-Mugg, Award USA’s current Vice President of Program and Operations, as Interim CEO.

“I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Buffy for her exceptional leadership in building our organization to where it is today. It has been a privilege to work alongside her to empower young people in America through Award USA. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I’m thrilled to take on this role and continue our mission of inspiring young people from every background and community to discover their purpose, passion, and place in this world. I am inspired by the positive impact of our participants, the dedication of my Award USA colleagues, and the enthusiasm of our Award Centers,” said Dr. Lisa Metzger-Mugg.

Lisa is passionate about youth education and has been with Award USA for over five years. Previously, Lisa was Chief of Staff in the Office of the Executive Vice President at Northwestern University and teaches in their School of Education and Social Policy. Lisa will be supported by the Governing Board’s leadership team. The Board has set up a Transition Committee to search for a permanent CEO.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a global, non-formal education framework which challenges young people to develop new skills, get physically active, learn about teamwork and leadership through adventurous journeys and volunteer giving back within their communities.  The US office is entering in 2024 its 8^th year of operations since opening July 2016.  It is part of the world’s leading framework operating in over 130 countries and territories around the world, available to all young people ages 14 to 24 inclusive of their background, culture, physical ability, skills, and interests.

The transitions taking place at Award USA will showcase our organizational values in perseverance, inclusivity, leadership, and teamwork. We look forward to finding our next dynamic leader with a deep dedication to Award USA’s mission to help more young people find their purpose, passion and place in the world.

 

NOTES FOR EDITORS

• Over 800 young people are currently pursuing their Award in the United States
• 42 schools, after school programs, and youth groups are now signed up as Award Centers, offering their students the experience of and for a lifetime.  Participants, including those active in the virtual Open Award Center, come from 41 states and the District of Columbia.
• The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a global, non-formal education framework which challenges young people to develop new skills, get physically active, learn about teamwork and leadership through adventurous journeys and volunteer within their community.
• The #WORLDREADY campaign is a global effort amongst the Award family, to showcase the inspirational activities of young Award participants around the world and how, through the development of skills such as resilience, confidence, adaptability and communication, young people can be ready to take on the world of today and tomorrow.
• Leaders of industry recognize the Award provides applicants with quantifiable traits. The Award is a prestigious achievement for resume listing and college/university applications.
• There are currently over 1 million young people completing their own unique program, via hundreds of thousands of youth-focused partners and operators – including schools, youth organizations, examination boards and youth offender institutions.
• Since its launch more than 65 years ago, millions of young people have participated and received Awards, with millions more benefitting from its impact in communities around the world.
• Both national and international case studies, imagery and additional video content are available on request: jpower@usaward.org