Charlotte Alexander has been named executive director of ARTS Obispo, the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council, effective September 1.

Alexander, a resident of Nipomo, has been active in the SLO County nonprofit community for more than 20 years in both executive and volunteer positions. She was CEO of United Way of SLO County from 2004 to 2007, and most recently was executive director of the SLO County Emergency Medical Services Agency. Elected in 2010 as a trustee of Cuesta College, she taught journalism and public relations at both Cuesta and Cal Poly.

As a volunteer, Alexander served as president of the board of directors for the North County Humane Society and the Central Coast Natural History Association, and was chair of SESLOC Federal Credit Union’s Supervisory Committee for several years.

State Senator Jack O’Connell named her the Woman of the Year for California Senate District 18 in 1998, citing her work as director of public affairs and community relations for Cuesta College at the time, as well as her contributions to the community.

Alexander and her husband, radio talk show host Dave Congalton, were co-directors of the Cuesta College Writers’ Conference for 11 years, and they are the authors of an award-winning book, When Your Pet Outlives You: Protecting Animal Companions After You Die. As a contributing writer to the Tolosa Press newspapers, Alexander also reviews theatre productions on the Central Coast.

Alexander graduated from DePauw University with a bachelor of arts degree in communications with an emphasis in theatre, and she holds a master of arts degree from Ball State University. She is a graduate of the first SLO County Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy as well as the SLO Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program (Class III).