LINDA VAN BAVEL, Vice President
Linda van Bavel joined the St. Francis community and Board in 2011 and has served the school through Board service, serving as Gala co-chair in 2016, spearheading a virtual fundraiser “We Are St. Francis” in 2020, and many other ways, including teaching drum circle elective, co-leading Girl Scout troop 45402, homeroom parent, serving lunch and more. Her children Michael, Rebecca and Annika have all thrived at SFS.
Linda grew up in Austin graduated from AS Johnston high school, UT Austin and Baylor Law School. She worked in house at a manufacturing company, Acoustic Systems, and helped oversee its acquisition by a publicly traded company in 2002.
In addition, Linda has served as President and Chair of the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum and chaired the first Garden Party in 1999, an event that has raised substantial funds and awareness for the museum over the last 20+ years. Linda co-chaired the capital campaign for the Sustainable Food Center’s new home in East Austin. Linda has served in countless leadership roles for the Junior League of Austin and the Austin Symphony Board of Trustees, including on the search committee for the recently hired CEO. Linda also participated alongside Barbara Porter in Leadership Austin Essential Class of 2000-2001. More recently Linda is launching PlayHouse Coop with her daughter Rebecca, selling eggs, vegetables, herbs, and flowers sourced from her historic Hyde Park home.