YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee announced Thursday that Sharon K. Roberson has been chosen as the organization’s next president and chief executive officer.

Roberson will replace long-time CEO Patricia Glaser Shea, who announced in early October she will be stepping down.

Roberson comes to YWCA from Direct General Corp., where she currently serves as senior vice president and general counsel. She begins her new role on Nov. 14, according to a release.

A graduate of both Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Law School, Roberson has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including those of the Nashville Symphony, YMCA, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, and the Nashville chapter of the Links, Inc. Roberson is currently serving her second term on the YWCA Board of Directors, and she was inducted into the Academy for Women of Achievement in 2011.

“Sharon is a well-established leader within the Nashville business community,” YWCA Board of Directors Chair Beth Chase said in the release. “She has a true passion for our mission, and her proven track record and strength in operating complex organizations will allow her to continue to build on the YWCA’s current vision.”

Source: http://www.nashvillepost.com/business/nonprofits/article/20840200/ywca-announces-new-ceo