AMHERST — Bringing 30 years of experience in social services and housing, Shari Carlson is the new executive director for Craig’s Doors: A Home Association, Inc.
The board for the agency announced Friday that Carlson started on Dec. 15, coming to the job after previously being director of resident services at Fellowship Square Foundation, the developer and owner of a regional portfolio of HUD-subsidized supportive housing for extremely low-income seniors in the Washington, D.C. area.
“At this unprecedented time of uncertainty and instability across the U.S. and globally, I cannot think of a better place for me to be than joining the team at Craig’s Doors,” Carlson said in a statement. “Craig’s Doors has an incredibly talented and caring staff who serve unhoused and marginalized community members with tremendous compassion. I am honored to join this team.”
Carlson replaces the last permanent director, Tim McCarthy, who left earlier this year. Former Tapestry Health Director Cheryl Zoll had been the interim director since July.
“Shari brings both expertise and vision to Craig’s Doors,” said Gerry Weiss, president of the Craig’s Doors board. “Her extensive background in organizational leadership at social services and housing providers will help the organization build on its strong foundation and ensure it can respond effectively to the increasing need for shelter and resources in our community.”
Craig’s Doors runs a year-round shelter from the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Amherst and has rooms available in the former EconoLodge hotel in Hadley.
Carlson began her professional journey as a Peace Corps volunteer, serving in the Republic of Congo and Côte d’Ivoire. There she developed hands-on experience creating programs in communities with limited resources.
She holds a bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley, with a double major in social welfare and dramatic arts. She later earned a master of business administration from George Mason University, deepening her leadership, operational and strategic skills needed to guide a nonprofit organization.
Carlson has extensive experience managing trauma-informed programs across nonprofit agencies and state government social services. Her work has supported diverse populations, including underserved individuals, seniors, and families navigating homelessness, domestic instability, and health or mental health challenges.
The board of directors issued a statement that with her leadership, Craig’s Doors is well positioned to strengthen its programs and partnerships while remaining grounded in compassion and dignity, and remaining committed to providing emergency shelter and essential resources to the unhoused population in Amherst and Hadley.