MOUNT VERNON — New Directions welcomes Rupal Ramesh Shah as their fourth executive director, effective July 14.
With her extensive background in public health and non-profit organizations, Shah will bring a diverse, well-rounded approach to the leadership of this 40-year-old Knox County human services organization.
“I am excited to lead New Directions’ current team and to support the community,” Shah said. “As a social justice activist, my personal beliefs strongly align with what New Directions stands for.
“I’m looking forward to advocating for and supporting those who have experienced domestic violence and sexual assault through trauma-informed care and leadership.”
Shah is originally from Moshi, Tanzania. Her family moved to the United States in the late 1990s to pursue further education. Relocating recently from Portland, Maine, Shah moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 2022 to be closer to her partner, a medical doctor who runs his own medical practice.
In her spare time, Shah likes to bake, run marathons and, most of all, write. She has run marathons on all seven continents, and she looks forward to running a marathon at the North Pole next year.
Her passion for writing has led her to write content for various organizations, including street newspapers spanning across the country.
New Directions
New Directions provides resources for the safety, healing and freedom of individuals who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault while also offering preventative education to create an informed and supportive community. New Directions envisions a community of empowered individuals engaging in safe, respectful and healthy relationships.
The agency’s commitment to inclusion drives them forward every day to provide services to all survivors. To learn more, visit www.newdirectionsknox.org or call 740-397-4357.
