Healthcare Initiative Foundation

For the past 2.5 years Townsend has served as the President of the Healthcare Initiative Foundationwhich supports organizations that offer solutions to improve the quality and delivery of healthcare for residents of Montgomery County, Maryland awarding on average $1.4 million in grants annually.  

Preceding her work with the Foundation, Townsend was the City of Gaithersburg's Community Services Director overseeing and coordinating the provision of health and human services for City residents. 
Prior to her service with the City, she worked as the Family Support Services Administrator for Family Services, Inc. (FSI) managing family support programs that served over 9,000 individuals and overseeing a 1.7 million contract/grant portfolio. Earlier in her career, she served as the Legislative Director for the U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council, as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Romania, and as the Domestic Violence Shelter Manager for Heartly House.

Townsend attained her Bachelor of Arts from Hood College and holds a Master of Public Administration from the International Public Service and Development Program at Rutgers University.