Erin O’Brien

Co-Director, National Leadership Conference

Erin began her time with AYF in the summer of 2000 as a participant in the ILC (now NLC) at Miniwanca representing her home state of Maryland’s 4-H. Erin graduated from the NLC with the class Leaders for a New Beginning and never left! She has been a volunteer on staff every year since her participant graduation in many different roles on staff.

Erin is a current NLC co-director, as well as former mentor of the NLC class Deeply Rooted.

Erin strives to be a lifelong learner. After earning two bachelors degrees (theater from Eckerd College and elementary education from the University of Tampa), Erin became an elementary public school teacher until having her two children with her husband, Shannon, in the Tampa Bay area.

Erin, alongside her Co-Directors Beth Wilson and Michael Harter and the incredible volunteer NLC staff, stewarded the return of the NLC after the pandemic. In order to rejuvenate the NLC curriculum for today’s participants, Erin completed a graduate certificate from Ball State in curriculum and leadership development, and is currently working on a graduate certificate from the University of Kentucky in positive youth development.

The National Leadership Conference is Erin’s greatest passion outside of her devotion to her family, and she is enthusiastic about the future of the program and the future of the American Youth Foundation.