The Lumbee Regional Development Association is proud to announce that Natascha Wagoner Tilson has officially been appointed CEO of LRDA after serving as the interim CEO, becoming the first woman in the organization’s more than 50-year history to serve in this role.

Tilson's connection to LRDA began at just 12 years old in the Center of Arts program, where her passion for culture and community first began. In 1993, she was crowned Miss Lumbee and later made history in D.C. as the eighth National Miss Indian USA, becoming the first Lumbee woman to earn the national crown. She traveled the country as a cultural ambassador for Native communities.

For more than 30 years, Tilson has served through mentorship, public speaking, pageantry and community leadership. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Wingate University and a Master of Social Work from UNC Pembroke, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate.

Tilson’s journey has come full circle as she now leads the organization that helped shape her path. Tilson returned to LRDA in 2021 as a ROSS program coordinator and was later promoted to director of the WIOA program. Under her leadership, initiatives like the People’s Table have strengthened community connections and supported local businesses.