Finance and strategy expert Sandy Helton appointed to News Literacy Project board
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 30, 2025 — Sandy Helton, a corporate and nonprofit leader with deep expertise in financial, strategic and risk management, has been named to the News Literacy Project board of directors.
Helton will chair the board’s audit committee and serve on its finance committee.
She also is on the board of directors of the specialty pharmaceutical company OptiNose and has chaired audit and finance committees for numerous public companies. In 2021 she was named to the NACD Directorship 100, an award from the National Association of Corporate Directors that honors excellence in board leadership.
“We all need to know how to find credible information to make informed decisions, but today’s students face a flood of misleading and false information online. The News Literacy Project equips young people with critical thinking skills they need, and I’m delighted and honored to support its continued growth as a board member,” Helton said.
Helton’s distinguished career includes C-Suite and executive positions at Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., Compaq Computer Corporation and Corning Inc.
Her service in the nonprofit sector includes leadership positions on the boards of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, the Chicago Architecture Center and the Metropolitan Museum of Art Business Council, among others.
Helton earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky, where she was inducted into the College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame, and a master’s degree in finance from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Sandy’s expertise comes at a pivotal time as the News Literacy Project continues to grow in reach and impact,” said Charles Salter, president and CEO of the News Literacy Project. “With her leadership and skills, our organization is well-positioned to navigate the increasing complexity of our operations and to sustain our momentum as we work towards our vision of ensuring that all students are skilled in news literacy before they graduate high school.”
About the News Literacy Project
The News Literacy Project is a nonpartisan nonprofit building a national movement to ensure that all students are skilled in news literacy before high school graduation, giving them the knowledge and ability to participate in civic society as well-informed, critical thinkers. Founded in 2008, NLP is the country’s leading provider of news literacy education and works with educators in all 50 states. Learn more at www.newslit.org.