The Arc of Massachusetts appoints Monica Garlick as director of external affairs

The Arc of Massachusetts has appointed Monica Garlick as its first director of external affairs, the Waltham-based organization announced Monday.

Garlick will oversee public-facing relationships with stakeholders and donors for the statewide advocacy organization, which supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism.

“We are thrilled to welcome Monica to The Arc at such a pivotal time for our advocacy and community initiatives,” CEO Maura Sullivan said in a statement. “In addition to her background in state policy and quality management, her authentic perspective as a sibling of an individual with IDD gives her an intuitive understanding of the families we serve.”

Garlick brings more than a decade of experience in public policy, health and community advocacy, along with leadership roles in quality management. Most recently, she served as vice president of quality management at Riverside Community Care, where she oversaw patient rights protections for 40,000 clients.

Her previous work in state government includes serving as research director for the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies and as a research analyst for the Joint Committee on Public Health.

Garlick said her personal connection to disability advocacy has shaped her career.

“When I was 3 years old, my sister Beth was born with global developmental delay,” she said. “From my earliest years, I understood instinctively that inclusion is not a favor extended to those who are different — it is the foundation of a just community.”

Garlick holds a doctorate and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a bachelor’s degree from Smith College. She has also served for eight years on the board of Newton Athletes Unlimited, a nonprofit that provides recreational programs for individuals with disabilities.

The Arc of Massachusetts is a statewide organization that provides advocacy, education and outreach to support individuals with disabilities and their families.