May 1, 2025 – STERLING, VA – Lashon Brown, CGMS, is the new president of the National Grants Management Association (NGMA). Her three-year term began on May 1.
Brown is the Assistant Vice President, Grants Development & Compliance at Valencia College (FL). She has over 20 years of professional experience in state and higher education, including business operations, monitoring, compliance, and grants management. At Valencia College, Brown developed the grants management system and process for the college, including written procedures and internal controls. She also created the Project Director’s Orientation to Grants Management and developed curriculum design, assessment of knowledge and managed the training launch.
Brown has served on the NGMA Board since 2020 and previously held board officer roles of secretary and vice-president. She has also served as co-chair of the NGMA Education Committee. She is a Certified Grants Management Specialist (CGMS) and a Grants Management Body of Knowledge (GMBoK®) trainer with NGMA.
“I am truly honored to be elected chair of the board of directors and collaborate with my peers to strengthen our grants management profession and community. It is a privilege to serve an organization whose mission is to provide quality education and training specific to my career,” said Brown. “What excites me most is the opportunity to help shape the future of NGMA by empowering members with new resources and services to advance professionally and personally, just as I did when I joined NGMA in 2013.”
The NGMA Board of Directors is comprised of 12 member volunteers with experience in professional leadership roles and in grants management across numerous sectors including federal, state and local governments; education; and non-profits.
As of May 1, the NGMA Board of Directors are Lashon Brown, CGMS, president; Christian Jones, vice president; Stacie Massey, secretary; Lori A. Beeler, CPA, CGMS, treasurer; Divya K. Brown, member-atlarge; Scott Sheffler, Esq., past president; Lisa Anderson; Amy Bicek-Skog, CGMS; Rikitra Cephus, CGMS; Catharine Fan; DeMakus Staton, CGMS; and Lisa Stinson, CPA, CGMS.
NGMA supports more than 7,000 professionals across grants management, including supervisory, support, accounting and compliance roles. NGMA provides the education, resources, community and support that professionals need to understand grants management guidance; advance professionally and personally; and expand their network. For more information, visit https://www.ngma.org/.