New Executive Director for Merged Organization

Former Deputy Director Barbara Carswell has taken the helm of the newly merged Springboard to Learning & Young Audiences of St. Louis. Carswell, a native German speaker, is also fluent in English, Spanish, and French, having spent a substantial part of her education abroad. “It was not the educational material that affected me most from my many studies abroad,” she notes, “but rather being together and forming friendships with people from all over the world.”

A lawyer by training, Barbara is well aware of both organizations’ histories of service. “I am proud that, combined, Springboard to Learning & Young Audiences have 89 years of experience in cultural enrichment and arts education and that our programs provide excellent opportunities for children,” she said.

Her most immediate tasks are to successfully merge Springboard & Young Audiences, work with a new Board, bring old and new staff together, and continue the high quality Springboard & Young Audiences programs and promote the new organization in the community, she said. “My goal is create an organization that is known in the entire area as the premiere organization for cultural and academic enrichment and arts education programs in schools.”

Barbara practiced international tax and business law in Germany, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. before coming to St. Louis. She and her attorney husband, Matt Carswell, have a six-year old son, Jack, and three dogs. Before assuming the position as Deputy Director of Springboard, Barbara was an active community volunteer, working mainly with the Junior League, the St. Louis Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and the Forsyth School.