Obama Foundation Hires New Executive Director for My Brother’s Keeper Alliance

Obama Foundation

Adren Wilson, deputy chief of staff to the governor of Louisiana, will serve as executive director of the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, the program set up by the former president’s foundation to expand opportunities for young Black men. His new role is effective March 7.

Previously, Wilson was CEO of Public Allies from 2014 until 2018.

Bank of America

Jennifer Chandler has been named head of philanthropic solutions, overseeing the private and institutional philanthropy businesses within the Bank of America Private Bank. She has worked at the bank since 2001 and will retain her title as president of Bank of America’s market in Dallas.

In addition, Don Greene has been promoted to lead the Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund, the bank’s donor-advised fund strategy. His previous role was head of private-bank family office solutions.

William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

Marcus McGrew was hired as director of grant-making operations, insight, and learning. He has worked for more than a decade at the Kresge Foundation, where he was most recently director of program operations and information management.

In addition, Jonathan Pershing will return to the foundation as director of its environment program. He spent the past year as deputy special envoy for climate at the U.S. Department of State and previously worked at Hewlett as environment program director from 2017 to 2021.

The Hewlett Foundation is a financial supporter of the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Meyer Foundation

George Askew will serve as the foundation’s next president and CEO, beginning April 1. A pediatrician, currently he serves as deputy chief administrative officer for Health, Human Services, and Education for Prince George’s County in Maryland.

He succeeds Janice Thomas, who has served as interim CEO since March 2021 and will return to her role as vice president for finance and operations.

More New CEOs

Eric Asche, chief marketing officer at the Truth Initiative, has become president of Potential Energy, an organization that combats misinformation about climate change.

Ivy Barsky is joining the Capital Jewish Museum as its next executive director. She is a consultant to a variety of nonprofits in New York and Philadelphia; she previously served as CEO of the National Museum of American Jewish History.

Tia Dole, a licensed clinical psychologist and chief clinical operations officer at the Trevor Project, has been tapped as executive director of the Steve Fund, a charity that promotes the mental health and well-being of young people of color.

Derik Frederiksen will be the next president of Forest Stewardship Council U.S. He joins the environmental charity from Sealaska, the Native Corporation for Southeast Alaska, where he was most recently vice president. He also founded Sealaska Environmental Services there.

William Hite Jr., superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, will become CEO and president of KnowledgeWorks on July 1. He will follow Holly Brinkman, who has been serving as interim CEO and president since Charles Ambrose resigned in March 2021. She will return to her roles as chief operating officer and vice president of finance.

Jeniece Jones, executive director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Greater Cincinnati, has become executive director of the Public Justice Center in Baltimore.

Dan Lambe has been promoted to CEO of the Arbor Day Foundation. He has worked there for 17 years and has served as its president since 2014.

Crystal Orr, co-founder and president of the Urban League of Union County Young Professionals, has been tapped as interim CEO and president of the Urban League of Union County. She succeeds Donna Lowe Alexander, who is departing after 35 years at the Urban League.

Fatima Djelmane Rodríguez, executive director of Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, has been named CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California. She will be its first Latina leader as she succeeds Vince Bryson, who is retiring after 22 years there.

Ilya Sheyman has been appointed president of the Good Food Institute. A strategic consultant for nonprofit groups, foundations, and public-interest campaigns, he previously served as executive director of the progressive group MoveOn from 2013 until 2019.

Kay Takeda, deputy director of artist programs at the Joan Mitchell Foundation, will take the reins of the Foundation for Contemporary Arts as executive director on March 28. She will succeed Stacy Tenenbaum Stark, who led the $35 million foundation from 2005 until last year.

Steven Taylor has been promoted to president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. He succeeds Ann Palmer, who has retired after leading the organization for eight years. Taylor joined the charity a year ago as executive vice president for mission and strategic initiatives.

Ellyn Toscano, senior director of programming, partnerships, and community engagement at New York University, will be the next executive director of the Hawthornden Literary Retreat.

YR Media

The nonprofit media group has named three new senior executives.

Cari Campbell was promoted from technology director to chief technology officer.

Rochelle Reeder has been appointed chief development and growth officer. Until 2020, she worked in leadership gifts and institutional advancement at Spelman College.

Pedro Vega Jr., creative director, has been promoted to chief creative officer.

Other Notable Appointments

Nicole Bronzan has joined the Council on Foundations as vice president of communications and content. Most recently she was a senior communications officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Michael Chitwood, executive director of church and ministry partnerships at World Vision USA, has joined Opportunity International as chief philanthropy officer.

Kathleen Collins, a campaign strategist at the Climate Reality Project, was named U.S. marine campaign manager at the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Dena Craig, director of communications for Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, will now be director of media relations at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the Leadership Conference Education Fund. Anita Banerji, a data consultant, has also joined the organizations as senior program director for media and tech.

Kristi Craig, director of private investments at Georgetown University, has been named chief investment officer at the National Geographic Society. In addition, Tony Luckett has joined the charity as vice president of business development. Previously he led several strategic partnerships at Facebook.

Nikki DiCaro has been promoted from chief financial officer to senior chief of finance and operations at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. In addition, Jeffrey Lasday was hired as senior chief of external affairs. Previously he was chief operating officer at the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit.

Heidi Hamilton, who was most recently chief real estate, facilities, and legal officer at Amber Charter Schools, has been appointed general counsel and chief compliance officer at the Urban Resource Institute. Jacqueline Gibbons has also joined the organization as vice president of people and culture. She had been senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens.

Michele Harper, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Office of Race Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, has been appointed director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Evident Change.

Kauthar Rahman will now be chief operating officer at Meridian Institute, a nonprofit consulting organization that focuses on conservation and climate change. Most recently she was chief operating officer at the Juvenile Law Center in Philadelphia.

Almas Sayeed, deputy director of programs at the California Immigrant Policy Center, has been appointed vice president for public partnerships at the Liberty Hill Foundation.

Marcq Sung, director of program strategy and development for the Community Reinvestment Fund USA, has joined the McKnight Foundation as a senior program officer in its Vibrant and Equitable Communities program.

Theory Thompson has been promoted from division director of in-school community-based programs to chief program officer for educational and vocational programs at Good Shepherd Services. In addition, Elizabeth Garcia was promoted to chief program officer for community-based programs. Previously she was division director for supportive housing and outreach initiatives.

Departures

Cathy Edwards, executive director of the New England Foundation for the Arts, will depart on May 31 after seven years there.

Michael Marsicano will retire after 23 years as president and CEO of the Foundation for the Carolinas in January 2023.

Ashindi Maxton is stepping down after six years as executive director of Donors of Color. She was featured on the cover of our March 2020 magazine in a special report.

Steve Seleznow plans to retire as president and CEO of Arizona Community Foundation on March 31, 2023. He has led the fund since 2010.

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