Chief Operating Officer 

Yasha Williams Robinson serves as the Chief Operations Officer for Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas, where she provides strategic, operational, and quality leadership across the organization’s full portfolio of direct service programs.

Yasha brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience across government and nonprofit sectors to her role. As a native of Washington, D.C., Yasha is known for her ability to align strategy with operations, build high-performing teams, and lead with a deep commitment to equity and service. 

Before joining VOACC, Yasha served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff for the District of Columbia’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, where she rebuilt agency infrastructure, managed a $30M+ budget, and advanced citywide violence prevention and community-based initiatives. She also held senior leadership roles at the DC Department of Employment Services, overseeing a $260M operating budget and implementing fiscal and compliance reforms that strengthened accountability and program effectiveness. 

Yasha holds a Master of Social Work from Howard University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Hampton University. She also completed professional certificates in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Public Management, as well as the Executive Leadership Program at George Washington University. 

Dedicated to lifelong learning and community service, Yasha has served on the Board of Directors for the Government Finance Officers Association, where she chaired the Education Committee. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. 

Outside of her professional work, Yasha enjoys life with her husband, Nigel, and their energetic Yorkie, Nasir (“Nas”). Her leadership and passion for whole-person care will play a vital role in strengthening VOACC’s mission to inspire self-reliance, dignity, and hope through housing, health, and human services.