Mariko Silver Named Next President and CEO of Luce Foundation
The Board of Directors of the Henry Luce Foundation has named Dr. Mariko Silver as the Foundation’s fourth President and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Dr. Michael Gilligan, who last June announced his retirement after 16 years of leadership devoted to the foundation and its mission. She will take office on August 1.
Dr. Silver currently serves as President of Bennington College where she is responsible for all dimensions of life at the college and has become a recognized thought leader for her writings on experiential learning, the future of work, institutional innovation, and diversity in leadership. In her time at Bennington, Silver spearheaded the development of a 10-year strategic plan; forged lasting partnerships with some of the world’s premier arts and cultural institutions; oversaw a revitalization of the campus, including the iconic Commons building; quadrupled commitments to the endowment since 2013; and guided the establishment of the largest capital campaign in the school’s history, raising over $90 million.
“In a dynamic time for organizations in our sector, the Search Committee sought a President and CEO who would serve as a strategic and visionary leader committed to building upon the Foundation’s respected role – for over 80 years – in the practice of mission- and program-focused philanthropy,” said Margaret Boles Fitzgerald, Chair of the Luce Board of Directors. “With Mariko Silver, we found a highly accomplished organizational leader who will continue to strengthen our time-honored practice, inviting public discourse as we promote innovative scholarship, leadership development, and international understanding.”
Dr. Silver previously served in the Obama Administration as Acting Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Policy for the United States Department of Homeland Security. Prior to that, she served as Policy Advisor for Economic Development, Innovation, and Education in the administration of Arizona’s governor Janet Napolitano. During nearly a decade at Arizona State University, Dr. Silver was a lead developer and key strategist in what Newsweek called “one of the most radical redesigns in higher learning since the origins of the modern university.”
She is an expert in institutional transformation, organizational change, and intercultural program development. She has worked with governments, non-profits, and industry leaders in the United States with a particular emphasis on East Asia, India, and North America, as well as across Latin America...