Staff Leadership

Zenae Campbell

Chief Executive Officer

Zenae Campbell brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in youth-focused nonprofit work, with a commitment to empowering young people. Before joining Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area (BGCAA), she served for over a decade as Vice President of Programs and Club Operations at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, where she made a lasting impact on thousands of young people.   

Since joining BGCAA nearly two years ago, Zenae has led with vision and purpose, quadrupling the number of youth served, forging strategic partnerships, and advancing the organization’s long-term strategic ambition. Her leadership has laid the foundation for a bold, sustainable future, launching new initiatives that continue to expand access and opportunity for Austin-area youth. 

Zenae’s career began in public service, holding leadership roles in the Sacramento Unified School District, Sacramento County Child Protective Services, and the Anti-Defamation League of Sacramento. In these roles, she managed multimillion-dollar budgets, implemented district-wide summer learning programs, and led efforts to reduce inequities in child welfare. 

She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Golden Gate University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, along with a Certificate of Leadership from Harvard Business School. 

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Zenae is a founding member of 100 Black Women of Austin and an Assistant Dean at the Society of African American Professionals, reflecting her ongoing commitment to advocacy and community empowerment. Her leadership and impact were recently recognized with a nomination for the 2024 Austin Business Journal’s Women in Business Award.