Dr. Reginald Porter Named President and CEO of Leadership Memphis and Volunteer Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – November 3, 2025 – The Leadership Memphis Board of Directors has named Dr. Reginald L. Porter Jr. as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. A two-time past Board Chair and a 2013 graduate of the Leadership Memphis Executive Program, Dr. Porter is a deeply respected leader in both the business and nonprofit sectors, bringing decades of executive-level experience and community engagement to the organization.
“Reginald Porter Jr. brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership in our community, including his invaluable contributions to the Leadership Memphis program as both a participant and a former chair of the board,” said Joanna Crangle, Leadership Memphis Board Chair. “His proven leadership, strategic vision, and commitment to service make him uniquely qualified to guide the organization into its next chapter of growth and community impact.”
Dr. Porter is the Founder of RSPorter Consultancy, LLC, specializing in governance, institutional advancement, strategic development, donor stewardship, and executive leadership coaching. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where he led enterprise-wide prioritization, transformation, development, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Recognized as the 2023 Leadership Memphis Kate Gooch Leader of the Year, Dr. Porter holds a Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University, an Executive MBA from the University of Memphis, and a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Porter has held pivotal leadership roles with Shelby County Schools, FedEx Services, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Arkansas State University, University of Evansville, and Maryville College. As Chief of Staff for Shelby County Schools, he played a key role during the nation’s largest K–12 education merger and subsequent formation of seven independent districts.
An active community leader, Dr. Porter currently serves as Chair of the Shelby Farms Conservancy Board and on boards for Leadership Memphis, Peer Power Foundation, University of Memphis Foundation, and University of Tennessee National Alumni Board. He is also a Leadership Tennessee Cohort VIII Fellow and a lifetime member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Leadership Memphis, celebrating 46 years of cultivating leaders for community change, boasts more than 4,000 alumni across the Mid-South who serve as executives, educators, nonprofit innovators, entrepreneurs, and civic champions. Under Dr. Porter’s leadership, the organization will continue its mission of empowering leaders to create a more connected, inclusive, and thriving Memphis.
Volunteer Memphis, a partner organization of Leadership Memphis, builds capacity for effective volunteering and connects people with opportunities to serve throughout Memphis and Shelby County. The organization helps individuals, families, corporate teams, and community groups strengthen the Mid-South through service at more than 300 nonprofit organizations and schools.
Leadership Memphis’ President & CEO Dr. Reginald Porter (EC2013).
About Leadership Memphis:
Leadership Memphis is a non-profit, community leadership development organization. Its mission is to prepare and mobilize leaders to work together for the good of the whole community. Originally founded in 1979 as The Memphis Institute of Public Responsibility, Leadership Memphis has graduated more than 4,100 leaders from its programs. For more information, please visit LeadershipMemphis.org.
About Volunteer Memphis:
Volunteer Memphis builds capacity for effective volunteering and connecting people with opportunities to serve throughout Memphis and Shelby County. The organization helps individuals, families, corporate teams, and community groups strengthen Memphis and the Mid-South through service at more than 300 nonprofit organizations and schools. Our volunteers are at work every day of the year, tutoring and mentoring children, helping individuals and families make pathways out of poverty, improving our Memphis and Shelby County environment, and more. Volunteer Memphis is an affiliate of the Hands-On Network, an association of 250 volunteer service organizations across 16 countries and an action Initiative of Leadership Memphis. For more information, please visit VolunteerMemphis.org.