Vanessa Briggs has resigned as President and CEO of The Alliance for Health Equity, after five years in the role. Her last day with The Alliance will be Aug. 19.

Briggs will be the new Vice President for Health Equity in Woods System of Care and Executive Director of Woods’ New Jersey healthcare ventures.

Briggs joined The Alliance in 2017, bringing with her three decades of public health and leadership expertise to Chester County.

During Briggs’s tenure, she led The Alliance through a strategic and business planning process that centered equity, community voice, and partnerships within the mission. She launched the Nonprofit Justice & Equity Institute and implemented the Coatesville Homelessness and Unemployment Collective and Coatesville Black Media Renaissance.

She also led The Alliance’s rebrand and name change and expanded the staffing model to support the organization’s transformation and the launch of mission-aligned investing.

“Words cannot express how honored I am to have led The Alliance for Health Equity and to humbly serve the Greater Coatesville community during these last five years,” said Briggs. “I have learned a great deal from so many special people who care deeply and carry such deep pride for their hometown. Thank you to the incredible Alliance team who journeyed with me as we strived to improve the health and well-being of the community, and to the Board of Directors for their partnership and commitment in helping to ensure The Alliance’s vitality and ability to respond to community needs in innovative ways.”

“Under Vanessa’s leadership, The Alliance has played a pivotal role in the City of Coatesville and throughout the Greater Coatesville community because of her holistic approaches and strategies on health and, more importantly, her ability to effect much-needed change for all residents,” said James Logan, City Manager of Coatesville. “She was instrumental in building authentic relationships and partnerships across community leaders and advocates and many groups representing health, social services, and economic development. Vanessa has laid the path forward and the City of Coatesville is committed to remaining a strategic partner with The Alliance for Health Equity.”

Newly appointed Board Chair Valerie K. Martin said, “We are so grateful to Vanessa for all her hard work, leadership, and innovation. The board ensures that The Alliance will remain fully aligned with our mission in all funding and programmatic activities going forward. The board and the staff look forward to continued partnership with the community, county, and our grant partners to foster integrated services and a more-healthy environment for the Greater Coatesville area.”

The Board of Directors will appoint Nicholas Torres, current Chief Operating Officer for The Alliance, to serve as interim CEO.