Meredith Dixon - 50CAN National

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National Team

Meredith Dixon

Director of Finance

Meredith has spent the last 15+ years working for non-profits. She grew up surrounded by female public-school teachers. Supporting education – in all its many forms – has been the arc of her professional journey.

A North Carolina native, Meredith moved north following her graduation from UNC-Chapel Hill and called New York City her home for nearly 10 years. There, she worked as the Finance Director for Atlantic Theater Company and Acting School, an off-Broadway theater company and NAST-accredited acting school, and as the Business Associate for Wingspan Arts, a non-profit providing after-school arts education programs in New York City public schools. Meredith also spent eight summers working as the Associate Division Director for the National High School Institute Theatre Arts Division at Northwestern University, a residential summer learning program for high-school students.

Upon returning to NC in 2017, Meredith worked as the Director of Finance & Operations for The Hunt Institute. Founded in the legacy of Governor Jim Hunt, The Institute equips and empowers educators and policymakers to drive equitable reforms and become audacious champions for education. Most recently, Meredith served as Chief Financial Officer at The Montessori School of Raleigh, a private Infant through 12th grade Montessori and IB school. At MSR, Meredith oversaw a team responsible for functions such as financial strategy & accounting, human resources, auxiliary programs, student billing & tuition assistance, facilities, and technology.

Meredith lives in Cary with her partner and their rescue dogs. In her free time, she likes to hike, garden, and cook.

More about Meredith Dixon

I aspire to be like My mom. . Here's why:

She served public school special education students in Michigan, Virginia and North Carolina for 30+ years. She did so with a deep affection for her students, believing that each one of them was capable of amazing things and believing that the public school system should work for them. She puts everyone before herself, modeling compassion, grace and courtesy. She's also your quintessential southern mama - she'll offer you four different beverage options after you tell her you're not thirsty.

Why I love my job:

I love when I get to take day-to-day details, monthly actuals, and nitty-gritty data and translate it to institutional fiscal strategy. I love that I get to the tell the story of 50CAN through numbers. The work I do provides support to those on the frontlines as they make the operational decisions needed to advance our mission. And I should also admit: I love a good spreadsheet with built-in formulas.

My connection to public schools:

I am a graduate of North Carolina public schools, grades K-20. My mother, aunt, and two cousins have also worked as public school teachers. Through my own experiences and that of my mom/aunt/cousins, I have seen what public education can offer and where it falls short. I'm thrilled to be working for an organization that advocates for stronger public schools across the country.

What I’m bad at:

I am the spill-iest person you’ll ever meet.

The image that represents why I work at 50CAN:

Let's face it: I could do my job at a for-profit corporation, but it wouldn't mean anything. My goal is to make an impact on education in my own way. I'm not a teacher or a policy analyst or a lobbyist... but I am a systems thinker and an analyzer. For me, working at 50CAN is how I "do something great" every day.