The Family Success Institute (FSI), a New Jersey-based nonprofit dedicated to proactively strengthening families and communities, announced the appointment of three distinguished leaders to its Board of Directors.
Joining the board are Bryan Evans, chief executive officer of The Father Center of New Jersey; Kathy Collins, LCSW, retired executive director of MonmouthCares; and Diana Cooper-Vanderlip, retired president and CEO of the Community Planning and Advocacy Council.
The new appointments bring decades of collective expertise spanning nonprofit management, behavioral health, workforce development, and community advocacy to the organization as it expands its statewide impact.
“Bryan, Kathy and Diana each bring extraordinary experience and an unwavering commitment to strengthening families and communities,” Tim Carden, executive director of The Family Success Institute, said. “As FSI continues to expand its statewide impact, their perspectives and expertise will help guide our work to build stronger, more resilient communities across New Jersey.”
Bryan Evans joins the board with over 25 years of experience in strategic communications and community development across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. In his current role as CEO of The Father Center of New Jersey, Evans directs programs designed to empower fathers and support families through data-informed strategies. His extensive background also includes past leadership roles as Senior Vice President of Greater Trenton and Policy Director for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
Kathy Collins is a clinical social worker and behavioral health leader who spent 22 years as the Executive Director of MonmouthCares before retiring in 2023. Over her 40-year career, Collins has been instrumental in shaping New Jersey’s children’s behavioral health systems, managing care for youth with complex emotional and developmental needs. Her background also includes tenure at Jersey Shore Medical Center’s Community Mental Health Center and serving as an adjunct professor for the Rutgers School of Social Work.
Diana Cooper-Vanderlip is a lifelong Camden County resident and veteran community advocate who led the Community Planning and Advocacy Council as President and CEO for over three decades. Throughout her career, Cooper-Vanderlip has focused on building collaborative programs to support local neighborhoods, including launching the Youth Volunteer Corps during her time directing the Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Camden County. Her advocacy has earned her numerous honors, including the NAACP Frances Hooks Award and the Non-Profit Advocate of the Year Award.
