Celeste Ford Appointed Chief Communications Officer of Carnegie Corporation of New York
New York, NY, July 24, 2023 — Carnegie Corporation of New York announces the appointment of Celeste Ford as chief communications officer. She is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive communications strategy that drives the creation and dissemination of all content and marketing activities promoting the foundation’s work, including audience engagement, media, and events.
Ford is a former TV news reporter and award-winning journalist with 30 years of experience in the journalism and nonprofit sectors, including 10 years with the Corporation. In her most recent position as director of special projects in the Office of the President, Ford oversaw the relaunch of the Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program with its 3-year focus on political polarization in the United States, among other high-priority initiatives.
Ford started at the Corporation in 2013 as the media liaison and primary spokesperson, and in 2017, she was promoted to the newly created position of director of external relations. In this role, she helped build the Corporation’s profile through content partnerships with media and a greater focus on influencer engagement; created a reputation management strategy; produced and placed content in top-tier publications to support thought leadership; and led the Corporation’s shift to virtual events during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are delighted to promote Celeste Ford to lead our outstanding communications team,” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York. “Having worked closely with Celeste for the past six months, I know that she has the commitment, integrity, creativity, and energy that we prize at the Corporation. Celeste stood out in an impressive field of candidates due to her deep knowledge of the institution as well as her track record as a dynamic manager, experienced advisor, and accomplished communications professional. We can rely on Celeste to help maintain the Corporation’s standing as a trusted source for unbiased and well-founded information about our work as we navigate the ever-evolving communications and media landscape.”
Prior to the Corporation, Ford was a TV news reporter whose work was recognized with numerous honors, including a Dupont Award, two national Edward R. Murrow Awards, and a national award from the Education Writers Association. During much of her 15 years on WABC-TV’s Eyewitness News in New York City, Ford produced daily news segments and live reports as well as investigative segments and primetime documentaries. As a beat reporter, she started and managed the station’s first unit dedicated to K–16 education. At different points in her career, Ford also reported for top network affiliates in North Carolina and Connecticut and on PBS and CNBC.
“The Corporation’s philanthropic mission and legacy inspire and motivate me every day, making it a pleasure to share our story through the efforts of our talented communications team,” said Ford. “This is an important time for the foundation. First, we have begun a new era under the leadership of Louise Richardson, a person known for driving transformational change at some of the world’s premier institutions. Second, the work of our grantees is exceptionally relevant in addressing some of society’s most pressing issues in the areas of democracy, education, and international peace. I look forward to contributing to our collective impact.”
Ford is a graduate of UNC at Chapel Hill, where she majored in broadcast journalism and was the recipient of a WSOC-TV (ABC) merit scholarship. She earned a certificate in integrated marketing and communications at New York University. Ford is also a highly networked professional with numerous board-level commitments, including serving on the advisory board of the Hechinger Report, which covers inequality and innovation in education, and working closely with the Off the Record lecture series on foreign policy.