M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Taps Microsoft Executive as Next CEO

M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust

Romanita Hairston, global technical content director at Microsoft, will rejoin the $2.1 billion grant maker as its CEO and executive director in July. She had worked there as a program director from 2016 until 2018.

Hairston will succeed Steve Moore, who is retiring after 16 years there.

Easterseals

Kendra Davenport has been named president and CEO of the group for Americans with disabilities. She was most recently chief development officer at Operation Smile.

She succeeds Angela Williams, who departed in October to become president and CEO of United Way Worldwide.

Ford Foundation

Manuela Arciniegas, director of the Andrus Family Fund, is now a program officer on the Civic Engagement and Government team at the Ford Foundation.

Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the Leadership Conference Education Fund

Maya Wiley, a civil-rights lawyer and legal analyst at NBC News and MSNBC, will next serve as president and CEO of the human-rights groups. She will join the sister organizations on May 2.

More New CEOs

Mohamed Osman, British director at Spring Impact, has been promoted to CEO and will oversee its U.S. operations as well. He succeeds its founder, Dan Berelowitz, who is departing after 10 years.

Mike Nylund, vice president for product strategy and partner solutions at Scholarship America, has been promoted to president and CEO. He succeeds Robert Ballard, who has retired.

Vicki Phillips will become CEO of the National Center on Education and the Economy on July 1. Most recently she was executive vice president and chief learning officer at the National Geographic Society.

Marlene Sanchez has been promoted from deputy director to executive director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. She is the first woman of color to lead the center.

Debbie Weir, chief mission officer at Everytown for Gun Safety, will now serve as CEO of the Cancer Support Community.

Surdna Foundation

Adam Connaker, director of innovative finance at the Rockefeller Foundation, has been appointed director of impact investing.

In addition, the $1 billion foundation promoted three staff members.

Alison Corwin has been promoted from senior program officer to program director of sustainable environments. She has served as interim co-director of the $9.2 million grant-making portfolio since April 2021.

Alya Davis, program associate for sustainable environments, is now senior program associate for sustainable environments.

Sarian Sankoh was promoted from program assistant to senior program associate for thriving cultures.

Other Notable Appointments

Elizabeth Davidson, an associate focused on innovation and growth strategy at Innosight, has joined the Kresge Foundation as a portfolio manager for its Social Investment Practice.

Lea Gutierrez, chief diversity and inclusion officer for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office in Chicago, has been appointed chief diversity and inclusion officer at the American Lung Association. In addition, Joenell Henry-Tanner has joined the organization as chief of staff and senior vice president for governance and strategic initiatives. Most recently she was chief racial-equity officer at the Heartland Alliance.

Anil Hurkadli has been appointed senior vice president of community impact at the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation. Previously he was a graduate lecturer on management and leadership at the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

Donna Murray-Brown, president and CEO of Michigan Nonprofit Association, will join the National Council of Nonprofits as vice president of strategy and development on July 1.

Kevin Russ, director and senior consultant at BCT Partners, has joined the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as its director of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Christopher Toft, vice president of development at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, has been named vice president for institutional advancement at Adler University.

Jay Vogelsang, chief development officer at Swedish Health Services and president of the Swedish Medical Center Foundation, and John Zabinski, chief development officer at Wills Eye Hospital, have joined the fundraising consulting company Graham-Pelton as senior vice presidents.

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