Tracy “Sunny” Swanson comes to Merrimack County with a long and accomplished professional experience in developing high-quality youth development programs with substantive volunteer engagement. Before coming to the position in 4-H, she was the volunteer supervisor for Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, where she was responsible for all volunteering, including restarting the Junior Volunteer Summer Program and Pet Therapy after the COVID-19 pandemic. Swanson also served as volunteer development manager for Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council in Houston from 2015 to 2021.
She is excited to be returning to the Granite State where she earned a graduate certification in elementary education from Franklin Pierce University and a Master of Science in Teaching from the University of New Hampshire. While in the state, she worked at various New Hampshire community-based organizations, including Southern New Hampshire Services.
"My family is from the Midwest and came to New Hampshire via Massachusetts. I graduated from Exeter High School and McGill University before moving going to Washington, DC to start a career. I moved back to raise my son in Portsmouth and stayed for 21 years. After living in Texas and North Carolina, I am returning to my home state, coming full circle. You can take the girl out of New Hampshire, but you can't take New Hampshire out of the girl," she says.
Swanson brings a wealth of logistical and event planning experience to the program manager role and knows the importance of connecting with 4-H families. Being a seven-year Big Sister mentor and trainer for Girl Scouts and the Hospital program, Swanson understands the importance of engagement, communication and character between youth and adults as the essential glue to program success.
“I am so eager to return to my New Hampshire roots and work creatively and responsively with families, communities and strategic partners to establish areas of growth and innovation, engagement and sustainability for the 4-H program in Merrimack County. Let's nurture these roots together and watch each other grow!” she says.
