New Hempstead leaders empower Girl Scout mission

Three Hempstead residents earned new positions within the Girl Scouts of Nassau County. They were sworn in during the organization’s 59th annual meeting at the Ruth S. Harley University Center on the Adelphi University campus on May 16.

Angela Stanley and Katrina Rochelle Sims were nominated as Members-at-Large to the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Board of Directors, and Deandra Denton was reappointed to the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Board Development Committee, where she will carry out her second term through 2026. Their first meeting in their new roles was on June 18.

They will be monitoring the implementation of the new Girl Scout strategic plan, which includes increasing visibility of the organization, improving access to membership, supporting volunteers, and growing revenue to provide high quality programs, according to Randell Bynum, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Nassau County.

They will also be focusing on preparing in advance for two upcoming fundraisers–the Thin Mint Sprint in September and Raise A Glass in November.

“Being part of Girl Scouts of Nassau County on a grander scale means contributing to a network of dedicated individuals committed to empowering young girls and making a positive impact in our community,” Stanley said.

Stanley works in the mayor’s office of Hempstead village, where she assists with the board of trustees and special community projects. In addition to her new position on the Board of Directors, she also serves on the Board Development Committee for the Girl Scouts of Nassau County, which she joined four years ago.

The new appointment, she said, will allow her to “contribute to the organization on an even broader scale and support its mission more effectively.”

Stanley was a Girl Scout for a brief time in her youth, and she has three daughters who were Girl Scouts. She was deeply involved as a troop leader and troop mom for all three of their Girl Scout troops.

“This experience allowed me to witness firsthand the positive impact that Girl Scouts can have on young girls’ lives,” she said.

Sims is an assistant professor and Faculty-in-Residence at Hofstra University, as well as an author of several publications and books. She is inspired by the Girl Scouts’ outstanding organization and its mission to help girls grow and become empowered young ladies through their membership, as stated in a news release, and she works to emphasize how women entered public spaces to challenge inequities through their leadership, activism, and influence.

Denton works as an associate member of the Investment Management Group at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, where she has been working since 2023. It is “an absolute pleasure and privilege” to be a member of the Board Development Committee, she said, because of her involvement in advancing the Girl Scout mission.

She was a Girl Scout for over a decade, starting as a “Brownie” in elementary school and eventually earning her Gold Award, the highest achievement.

“As a Girl Scout of Nassau County alum, it is important for me to stay involved because it allows me to give back in meaningful ways and hopefully inspire others to get involved with the Council,” Denton said.

Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s Board of Directors and Board Development Committee will “help raise vital funds to expand access to Girl Scout experiences that socially, academically, and emotionally empower girls throughout our community,” according to the news release.

“Girl Scouts of Nassau County is proud to have such prestigious and accomplished members on its Board of Directors who inspire and empower our Girl Scouts,” Bynum said in the news release. “I am confident that this group of leaders will help cultivate the Girl Scout experience and help fulfill our mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.”

For more information about Girl Scouts of Nassau County, and to join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit GSNC.org.