LAFAYETTE, La — Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Chasah West as its new Director of External Affairs & Communications. With a background in public relations, strategic communications, and branding, West will spearhead internal and external communications to tell CFA’s story and further advance the organization’s mission of connecting generous donors to the causes they care about.

“On behalf of the CFA Board of Directors, I am excited to welcome Chasah to the team. Her extensive skills, insights, and talents developed within a multifaceted regional organization is sure to be a tremendous asset to the Community Foundation,” said Clay Darnall, CFA’s current chairman of the board.

West brings with her over 10 years of experience in communications. In 2016, West joined One Acadiana, Lafayette’s chamber of commerce and Acadiana region’s economic development agency, as a Communications Manager. She served as the Senior Manager of Communications in 2020 and became the organization’s Director of Marketing & Communications in 2021. In this role she managed the One Acadiana brand and its sub-initiatives; marketed the organization’s services and events; and oversaw a wide range of written, digital, print and visual communications projects. Video series she produced have earned the Award of Distinction (silver) in the 2020 Communicator Awards, and an Award of Excellence (gold) and an Award of Distinction (silver) in the 2021 Communicator Awards.

“As an organization, one of our greatest opportunities is to better communicate the unique role Community Foundation of Acadiana can play at the critical intersection of philanthropy and opportunity to bring transformational projects to life. Chasah’s professional experience and fresh perspective will position CFA to take our communications efforts and storytelling to the next level,” stated Missy Bienvenu Andrade, President & CEO of Community Foundation of Acadiana.

Troy Wayman, President & CEO of One Acadiana, shared: “Since One Acadiana’s launch nearly 10 years ago, the Community Foundation of Acadiana has been both a partner and investor in our work. Chasah has been a valuable member of the 1A team and will be missed. We wish Chasah well in her new role and look forward to continuing our efforts together to further enhance the quality of life for all of Acadiana.”

West earned a bachelor's in Public Relations and a master’s in Communications from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. A recipient of the university’s inaugural Outstanding Graduate Master's Student Award, West is also a graduate of Leadership Lafayette Class XXXV and among the Acadiana Advocate’s 20 Under 40 honorees for 2023. Her creative writing projects, which often spotlight Creole and Louisiana culture, have garnered local, regional, and national recognition: she is a 2023 ArtSpark Grant recipient, a 2023 National Performance Network Take Notice Fund recipient, a 2023 New Orleans Film Society Emerging Voices Directors Lab Fellow, and a 2022 We Are Family Foundation Youth To The Front “Frontliner”.

West will assume her new role in January.

About Community Foundation of Acadiana CFA is one of south Louisiana’s premier philanthropic organizations benefiting our region, with a focus on the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Martin and Vermilion. CFA’s core purpose is to build legacies and improve communities by connecting generous people to the causes they care about. Since its inception in 2000, CFA has realized cumulative gifts exceeding $364 million and has made cumulative grants of more than $191 million. You can learn more at www.cfacadiana.org.