BOSTON, March 1, 2016 — The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) announced today that Shannon Shy, Esq., was voted to be the new President of the Board of Directors at the organization’s February board meeting. Shy succeeds Denise Egan Stack, LMHC, who has held the role for the past 4 years and overseen major growth at the Foundation.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Shannon will be an effective leader,” says Egan Stack. “Shannon is proud to tell people about our cause and brings people to into the IOCDF community to see our mission in action.”
Shy is an attorney for the U.S. Navy, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, and the author of two books about obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), “It’ll be Okay”: How I Kept OCD from Ruining My Life, and Hope Is on Your Side: A Motivational Journal for Those Affected OCD. He joined the board in 2011 and previously served as the board’s secretary. As someone who has dealt with OCD himself, he is uniquely positioned to bring insight and compassion to the board.
“I want to really focus on developing relationships with all of our members — those who suffer from OCD, their loved ones, those who treat them, and those who support the IOCDF,” says Shy. “It gives me great comfort and positive energy to know that the IOCDF helps millions across the world, and I am truly honored to be even just a small part of that.”
“Shannon has proven to be a consistent leader in the community and during his time on the board,” says IOCDF Executive Director Jeff Szymanski, PhD. “I’m looking forward to seeing how he can move us forward as an organization.”
Shy will begin his role as president immediately, while Egan Stack will continue to serve on the IOCDF board and continue her work in private practice treating children and families affected by OCD.
About the IOCDF
The International OCD Foundation is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a donor-supported nonprofit organization, working to increase access to effective treatment, end the stigma associated with mental health issues, and foster a community for those affected by OCD and the professionals who treat them. Based in Boston, the IOCDF has affiliates in 22 states and territories, as well as 11 global partners. The IOCDF has a $2 million annual operating budget, has granted millions of dollars for OCD research, and is a vital resource for the estimated 1 in 100 individuals with OCD around the world. For more information, visit www.iocdf.org.
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Media contact:
Carly Bourne
IOCDF Director of Marketing & Communications
cbourne@iocdf.org
617-973-5801