Cory Boatwright

About Cory Boatwright

I’m a mission-driven executive leader with more than 18 years of experience working at the intersection of workforce development, education, and social impact. I’m known for steady leadership, integrity, transparency, and leading with heart, especially during moments of change.Over the years, I’ve helped build and scale national programs, manage multimillion-dollar budgets, and bring together partners across government, nonprofits, and the private sector. My work has focused on improving veteran education outcomes, strengthening workforce development systems, and expanding access to meaningful careers through inclusive hiring practices. I care deeply about results, but I care just as much about how we get there.I currently serve as the Interim President and CEO of Student Veterans of America, where my focus is simple and demanding. Take care of people. Be honest and clear. Deliver real outcomes for student veterans. I believe strong organizations are built on trust, accountability, and a shared sense of purpose.I lead as a servant leader. I try to show up with humility, curiosity, and calm, while holding a high bar for performance and governance. I enjoy creating clarity, aligning diverse voices, and turning big ideas into action. At my best, I help teams do their best work and feel proud of how they do it.I’m also a public speaker and thought leader who believes systems can change when people are willing to challenge the status quo together. I’m in this work to make a difference and to create space for others to lead, grow, and thrive.I’m originally from Portland, Oregon, and joined the U.S. Air Force to begin a life of service and personal growth. I served as a broadcast journalist, with experiences that included humanitarian response efforts in Haiti and Japan, as well as a Special Operations deployment to Afghanistan. Those moments shaped how I think about leadership, responsibility, and care for others.I’m a lifelong learner and a recovering imposter syndrome survivor who believes growth comes from feedback, reflection, and staying open. My long-term goal is not personal recognition, but impact. I want to help dismantle barriers to education and career opportunity for veterans, underrepresented communities, and their families.I live in Lake Oswego, Oregon, with my partner, Melissa, and our two stubborn bulldogs, Mumford and Midas.

Experience

1. President & CEO

   Student Veterans Of America

   Jan 2026 — Present

   Leading Student Veterans of America during an important period of organizational transition, bringing enterprise-wide leadership to one of the nation\'s most impactful nonprofits serving student veterans pursuing higher education across the United States.• Providing enterprise-wide leadership across national staff, vendors, volunteers, and a distributed chapter network in service of SVA\'s mission to empower student veterans to succeed in college, career, and life• Driving a financial and operational review resulting in cost reductions exceeding $1.1 million annually while fully maintaining mission delivery and chapter support• Strengthening nonprofit governance and board partnership through improved transparency, disciplined reporting cadence, and clearer decision-making norms• Overseeing organizational priorities spanning programs, research, advocacy, partnerships, and national convenings, ensuring alignment with mission sustainability and long-term impact• Serving as the organization\'s primary external leader to partners, funders, policymakers, and the broader student veteran community• Ensuring seamless leadership continuity, preserving strong relationships with staff, partners, and stakeholders throughout the transition period

Education

• University of Pennsylvania

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Double Major–Philosophy, Politics, & Economics; and International Relations

  2011 — 2014

• University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business

  Master of Business Administration - MBA

Skills

• Communication
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Social Media
• People Management
• Project Planning
• Leadership Development
• Entrepreneurship
• Program Management
• Operations Management
• Market Research
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Strategic Planning
• Employee Relations
• Editing
• Risk Management
• Team Management
• Organizational Leadership
• Workforce Development
• Microsoft Office
• Strategy
• Veterans
• Portfolio Management
• Military
• Business Operations
• Training
• Business Development
• Military Operations
• Digital Marketing
• Government
• Public Speaking
• Product Management
• Public Relations
• Internal Communications
• Business Strategy
• Research
• Management
• Team Building
• Consulting
• Onboarding
• Sql