Ascencia’s board of directors announced that Dr. Laura Duncan, the director of Programs who has been serving as the organization’s acting executive director since July, is the new executive director of the 12-year-old, nonprofit homeless services agency based in Glendale.

As the executive director of Ascencia, Dr. Duncan “considers it a privilege to invest in the mission of Ascencia and an honor to have been entrusted to lead this agency.”

Hired in 2014 as director of Programs, Duncan has a Ph.D. in psychology from Alliant University (formerly United States International University), a B.A. in psychology and M.S. in counseling from California State University, Fullerton. Duncan is a state-approved instructor for Title 22 Laws and Regulations and curriculum developer whose course outlines were chosen as the State of California best practice model in 2017. Her experience includes clinical services, residential treatment, adjunct faculty, vocational rehabilitation, workforce investment, non-public education, veteran services, and homeless services. Under her leadership at Goodwill Industries, programs grew from $9 million to $21 million within three years. 

Dr. Duncan had been overseeing all of Ascencia’s program operations, building a cohesive team that has earned high reviews from stakeholders and consistently meeting or exceeding contract standards. Through program expansion, Duncan has helped more than double staffing from 15 in 2014 to 33 in 2018, which factored into The Honorable Laura Friedman awarding Ascencia the 2018 California Nonprofit of the Year for Assembly District 43rd.

Deacon Ron Baker, president of the board of directors, stated, “Dr. Duncan’s extensive knowledge and passion to address homelessness is very impressive. I along with the board are excited to have Laura serve as executive director, and we are looking forward to exploring the future of Ascencia under her leadership.”

The board of directors will invite all members of the Ascencia community to celebrate Dr. Laura Duncan as the new executive director of Ascencia in January 2019.