Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), announced she will resign once a suitable successor is selected. Lavizzo-Mourey has served at the helm of RWJF since January 2003. During her nearly 14-year tenure she has led the foundation in its mission to build a national Culture of Health and, more specifically, its effort to reverse childhood obesity. In addition to contributing more than $1 billion toward reducing obesity and investing in children’s health issues monetarily, RWJF also developed strategies which have greatly simplified enrollment in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by working closely with community leaders, civic groups, nonprofits, churches, schools and businesses. Lavizzo-Mourey has been named to the Forbes list of the most powerful women in the world eight times and has been selected nine times by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 most influential people in healthcare. With these recognitions, authorship of books and scholarly articles, and more than 30 years of experience as a medical executive, practitioner, professor and policymaker, Lavizzo-Mourey is a globally-recognized industry leader. Chairman of the RWJF Board of Trustees Roger Fine said in a written statement: “Risa’s commitment to improving the health of this nation during her tenure as CEO is simply unparalleled, and she has led this Foundation with an extraordinary sense of purpose and passion. It is difficult to see her leave but we are fortunate that she will remain at the helm until a successor is in place.”
Jeanné Isler was recently appointed as the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy’s (NCRP) new vice president for learning and engagement. Isler has been at NCRP since early 2014, serving as its field director. In her new position she will engage with members and ally organizations in important philanthropic projects and goals. Isler first arrived at NCRP from Search for Common Ground, an international nonprofit focused on conflict prevention and resolution between diverse groups and interests in 34 countries. There Isler served as director of U.S. programs, where she spearheaded bipartisan congressional efforts to address issues of racism in policymaking. Her career also includes helping build a network of nonprofit support organizations for military families affected by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as leading a restorative justice program for New Hanover County Public Schools in North Carolina. After earning an undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s in conflict resolution from Antioch University Midwest, Isler started her career as a community organizer in Ohio and Florida. Isler also serves on Talent Philanthropy’s advisory council and still routinely assists in several volunteer roles in faith-based organizations in Washington, District of Columbia, where she is from and currently resides.
The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) announced the appointment of Jewel D. Malone as its new chief operating officer. Malone comes to YoungArts from the Chicago Children’s Choir, one of the nation’s most expansive choral music education organizations, where she served as COO. Born in the Philippines and raised in Chicago, Malone received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and a master’s of business administration from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Prior to her time at the Chicago Children’s Choir, Malone was the deputy commissioner at the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, where she was responsible for overseeing strategic partnerships, initiatives and grantmaking. She is known for her role in the creation and development of the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan, a groundbreaking cultural and economic public engagement project. Malone previously served as JPMorgan Chase’s vice president for corporate responsibility and global philanthropy, where she administered the distribution of more than $14 million in charitable grants in the areas of community development, education and cultural programs. At YoungArts, Malone will work with the president and CEO, Carolina García Jayaram, to focus on improving the foundation’s disbursement system and team-building processes to maximize its ability to help young artists across the country pursue their artistic visions and goals. “I am thrilled that Jewel Malone has joined us as chief operating officer,” said Jayaram. “Over the years, I have witnessed first-hand her remarkable strategic intuition and singular dedication to helping institutions—cultural and corporate alike—achieve new areas of growth and success. Her passion for philanthropy and the arts, coupled with her proven leadership skills, make her the perfect candidate to help take YoungArts to the next level as a dynamic force in our nation’s cultural landscape.”
The Board of Trustees of the March of Dimes Foundation unanimously approved the selection of Stacey D. Stewart as its next president. She replaces outgoing president, Dr. Jennifer Howse, who has served at the helm of the March of Dimes Foundation since early 1990. Stewart was selected after a six-month national search aided by the executive search firm, Diversified Search, which considered more than 200 candidates. She comes to March of Dimes from United Way Worldwide, where she served as the president of its U.S. operations after working as executive vice president of the Community Impact Leadership and Learning division. Stewart’s previous executive experience includes chief diversity officer and senior vice president for the Office of Community and Charitable Giving at Fannie Mae as well as CEO of the Fannie Mae Foundation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Georgetown University and a master’s of business administration from the University of Michigan. She has also been the recipient of several honorary degrees from Trinity University, Morgan State University, Texas Southern University and Alabama A&M University. “We are very excited to have Stacey join us as the next President of the March of Dimes,” said Gary Dixon, Chairman of the March of Dimes Foundation National Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Search Committee. “She brings a wealth of experience as a non-profit CEO, a leader of complex organizations with national and global footprints, a fundraiser and a national spokesperson. Stacey is mission-driven and results-focused and is deeply committed to our mission and public service.” Stewart begins transitioning to her new position as president of the foundation on Nov. 7 and will officially assume all duties of leadership on Jan. 1, 2017.
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) recently announced the promotion of Donzelina Barroso to the position of director of global philanthropy. With more than a decade of experience at RPA in project management and international grantmaking, Barroso has worked in the areas of education, health, arts, poverty alleviation, human services and environmental issues. She is known for designing and implementing education funding programs for disadvantaged communities, developing and launching arts centers, and creating policy and operations frameworks for new foundations. Barroso previously served as a consultant to corporations in efforts to expand technology and knowledge access to small farmers in Angola and other African nations. She currently serves on the board of the Portugal-U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Steering Committee of Philanthropy New York’s International Grantmakers Network. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Barnard College, a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and a master’s degree in public administration from the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University. Barroso is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Portugal and is fluent in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish. Barroso is already laying the groundwork for the launch of RPA’s London office and will relocate there in January. “Donzie is an invaluable asset to our team, and her global philanthropic experience makes her the perfect candidate to lead our London office,” said Melissa Berman, RPA president and CEO. “Her exceptional track record and global perspective will help RPA in our continued efforts to create thoughtful, effective philanthropy throughout the world.”
In Memoriam:
Dr. John R. Coleman, the ninth president of Haverford College and former president of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, has passed away at the age of 95. A native of Ontario, Canada, Coleman served in the Royal Canadian Navy as a young man during World War II. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Victoria University in Toronto and later a master’s and Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago. He worked as a professor of economics and labor relations at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) until 1955, when he moved to Carnegie Mellon University where he continued work as a professor, becoming head of the economics department and then dean of the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences in 1963. In 1965, Coleman was recruited by the Ford Foundation to serve as associate director of economic development and administration, and later as program officer in charge of social Development. After a few years at the Ford Foundation, Coleman was hired to lead Haverford College, where he supported arts development on campus through the creation of the college’s fine arts department, ended the college’s wasteful football program and pushed to transition the traditionally male college to become a co-educational institution. He resigned from his position as president in 1977 after the college refused to turn Haverford into a fully co-educational institution. Three years after his resignation, the board recognized Coleman’s efforts and awarded him with an honorary doctorate. He then served as president of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation for several years and retired in 1986. His family opened a country inn, which he helped run until recently. He is survived by two sons, one daughter and seven grandchildren.
