Cecelia (Cece) Gassner’s experience developing and implementing programs that support underserved members of her community spans decades and organizations. Throughout her 17 years in the Junior League of Boise (JLB), Cece’s ability to listen, strategize, and build consensus has ensured that all programs and initiatives make a measurable impact.

Since she joined JLB, Cece has held a host of leadership roles. She is currently a member of the Advancement Team and just completed service on the One League Ad Hoc Task Force, which explored eliminating categories from membership status. Past leadership roles include President, President-Elect, Community Research and Project Development Chair, Communications Team Lead, Sustaining Advisor to JLB’s chair and president, Board Chair, Gold Committee Chair, and Finance Council Manager. As President-Elect and President, she helped JLB become one of the first Leagues to transition from an internally-focused to an externally-focused governance model.

Cece has been on the Board of The Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI), first as a Board Member At-Large, and then as Secretary from 2018-2020. As Secretary, she served on the Strategic Linkage Committee, which provided mentorship opportunities between the board and some of the smallest Leagues. She received the AJLI Rising Star Award for her dedication to her community and her projects. She also served on the Search Committee from 2019-2020 to find the new CEO for AJLI.

Other nonprofits have benefited from Cece’s expertise as well. She was a board member of the Boise Valley Economic Partnership and was the first female Chair of the organization. She is currently on the board of directors and the executive committee for the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and is a North Texas Commission Finance and Audit Committee member.

As Vice President for Research and Development at Texas A&M University-Commerce, Cece oversees all university research, industry, and community engagement activities to ensure that the university’s assets benefit industry and communities in the region. Previously, she was the Economic Development Advisor to the mayor of Boise. As an attorney, she specializes in intellectual property and technology transactions, and information security.

Cece earned her Bachelor of Science in Engineering at Duke University and her Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law.