Message from the Chairman of the Board: Dr. Sally Ann Zoll to Retire in 2022
December 20, 2021
United Through Reading’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sally Ann Zoll, has informed the Board of Trustees of her intent to retire in 2022 after 15 years of invaluable service to military families and a career dedicated to promoting education and literacy.
Under Sally’s leadership, United Through Reading has thrived in fulfilling the incredibly important mission of connecting service members who are separated from their families due to deployment, training, or active-duty assignment, through the act of reading aloud.
From her first position as an elementary school teacher to her role as CEO, Sally integrated her knowledge of education and educational technology with her talents for building and leading organizations in public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Since she became CEO in 2007, United Through Reading has delivered millions of bedtime stories to military families. These stories have touched two and a half million beneficiaries in the organization’s quest to make sure no military child goes to sleep without a story.
Sally has broadened the financial support for United Through Reading’s mission through new partnerships with corporations, foundations, and individual contributors that has allowed the organization to transform how it delivers stories through digital technology. Additionally, she has formed ever-lasting bonds with current and former military leaders and their spouses in recognition of this essential service provided to military families.
Because of her leadership, United Through Reading was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s inaugural Community Service Hero Award in 2016, the first of its kind recognition for a community-based organization for its exceptional impact or mission in supporting our nation’s service member community. And in 2015, United Through Reading accepted the American Prize of the Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program for its significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels and the national awareness of the importance of literacy.
Sally has agreed to remain in her role as CEO through June 2022 to ensure a successful leadership transition. A selection committee comprised of select Trustees has been formed and will lead the search for internal and external candidates.
We would also like to thank the talented staff at United Through Reading and the many partners and volunteers – who work tirelessly each day to support the mission – for their support through this transition.
We owe Sally a debt of gratitude for her service to United Through Reading. We have little doubt she will continue to support UTR and military families while having more time to spend with Jim and her family.
Thank you Sally!
Brian Roehrkasse, UTR Board of Trustees, Chair Sean McHugh, UTR Board of Trustees, Chief Financial Officer and Incoming Chair