June 1, 2022- Darsonya Switzer has been promoted to executive director of Dove, Inc. after the board of directors elected to hire her in May.
Switzer previously served as the director of Dove’s Homeward Bound Program, as well as the Macon County Continuum of Care Chair. She has been with Dove, since 2004. She has lived in the Decatur/Mt. Zion area all her life. In addition to working with Dove, she previously worked with Heritage Behavioral Health Center, Decatur-Macon County Opportunities Corporation, and the Decatur Housing Authority.
She will be replacing Tamara Wilcox, who has served with Dove for over 24 years. During her time with Dove, she was the assistant director and finance director. Wilcox will be with Dove, until June 30th.
Wilcox believes Dove is in a good place, and is confident it will continue to thrive under Switzer’s leadership.
“She couldn’t be a more perfect fit to be the next executive director Dove, and we are really excited about where she will take Dove in the future,” Wilcox said.
Switzer has been involved with Dove since her childhood, having participated in different programs as a youth.
“I came in crawling, and now hopefully I can soar with the amazing backing and support from Tammy [Wilcox] in me making my decision to apply and then interview,” Switzer said.
Switzer knows that she has the ability to do this job and believes her passion is what will drive her to be successful in this new role.
“I am passionate about what we do here at Dove,” Switzer said. “I am passionate about helping the people we provide services to. I am passionate about the mission of Dove. All of that is who I am; it is a part of my soul.”
Ray Batman was Dove’s first employee and was a leading force in the organization’s mission, and Switzer credits Batman with instilling his leadership, guidance, and passion in her. It is because of his support that she wants to ensure that she does not disappoint him and lives up to his image of her.
“I do not want to disappoint him, but I also believe his leadership, his guidance, his passion, he instilled in me,” Batman said. “He sat me down early on when I was the program director.I told him I don’t think I can do this. He said well, you will figure it out, one way or the other. And he was right; I figured it out, but not on my own. I had the support then and I know I will continue to have the support. For a long time I believed in doing the work, and now I am seeing the work be done. Not just through the work I am doing, but through the staff and the volunteers Dove has had for 50 plus years. I am honored to have the opportunity to lead.”
Dove will be hosting a dedication event on June 11th, at 10:30 a.m. where Dove’s 788 E. Clay Building will be named the Ray Batman Center for Social Justice, in honor of Ray Batman. The public is invited to join. Those interested can RSVP at dove@doveinc.org
For more information about Dove, Inc., please call 217-428-6616, or visit their website and Facebook page.
