Forman Acton Foundation Appoints Kortney Swanson Davis, Esq., as Next President and Chief Executive Officer
Swanson Davis initially joined Foundation in 2017 as organization’s Chief Operating Officer,
most recently served as interim President and CEO
SALEM CITY, NJ – The Forman Acton Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Kortney Swanson Davis, Esq., as the organization’s third President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Foundation’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted to confirm Swanson Davis, who officially assumes the role today. She most recently served as the Foundation’s interim President and CEO following the retirement of Larry Van Meter, now a Trustee Emeritus, in June 2023. As President and CEO, Swanson Davis will be responsible for working with internal and external partners to align the Foundation’s programs with its mission and vision, ensure the prudent investment of the organization’s endowment and other financial assets, and chart a strategic course for the Foundation’s future operations.
“Over the past six years, I have witnessed countless examples of the Foundation’s transformative impact on the students of Salem City, and it is an immense honor to now have the opportunity to lead the organization and continue working with the young people of our community who I care about so deeply,” Swanson Davis said. “I believe wholeheartedly in our mission, and together with our dedicated staff, trustees and supporters across Salem, I pledge always to ensure our work honors the legacy of Dr. Acton and our commitment to the students we serve. The future of the Foundation is bright, and I look forward to our organization connecting with even more students and their families because, together, we enhance the lives and education of Salem’s youth.”
Swanson Davis, an attorney by trade, joined the Foundation in November 2017 as its Chief Operating Officer. In that role, she oversaw the development and execution of the organization’s programs and initiatives, including the Acorn Fund and Forman Scholars Program. Before joining the Foundation, Swanson Davis litigated creditors’ rights cases as an Associate with Schachter Portnoy, LLC. She remains an active volunteer in her church and local community.
“Kortney has been instrumental to the growth of the Foundation’s reach, resources and reputation since she joined the organization over a half-decade ago, and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone more understanding of and passionate about our mission,” said Darrell Edmonds, M.S., Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “With her legal savvy, business acumen and record of advocacy, Kortney is the ideal leader to usher in a new era of growth and success for the Foundation. I join my fellow Board members in expressing full faith and confidence in Kortney as she takes on this vital role, and I thank her for remaining so devoted to our work here in Salem.”
Swanson Davis graduated from Howard University with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration before earning a Juris Doctor from the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School f/k/a Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She currently resides with her family in Burlington County.
About the Forman Acton Foundation
The Forman Acton Foundation’s mission is to inspire, educate and empower Salem youth. Founded in October 2014, it is named after Forman S. Acton, a Salem resident, pioneering computer scientist, engineer and university professor who sought to provide children from his hometown with the same access to education that made him successful. Through his endowment, the Foundation provides educational opportunities through financial assistance and inspirational support that removes barriers and creates pathways for students to advance their education and achieve career success. Learn more at www.FormanScholars.org.
About the Acorn Fund
The Acorn Fund is an initiative to create and invest in college savings accounts for Salem City’s youth. Any child from birth through 12th grade who lives in or attends public school in Salem City is eligible to establish and receive money from an Acorn Fund college savings account.
About the Forman Scholars Program
The Forman Scholars Program is one of the Foundation’s cornerstone initiatives, through which exemplary 12th-grade students who live in or attend school in Salem City are awarded $50,000 for use toward their higher education expenses. In order to qualify for acceptance as a Forman Scholar, students must meet certain educational, financial and demographic requirements aligned with the policies of the program and the Foundation’s Certificate of Incorporation.